Congratulations from Minnesota wedding DJ, Pro Sound & Light Show. After performing at over 14,000 weddings and events in Minnesota and Wisconsin, we have learned several things. First and foremost is that great events don’t just happen. The best events take A LOT of preparation, and that is exactly why we have put together this list of wedding reception activities. We have found that the more information we have from you in advance of your wedding, the more memorable we can help it become. After all, this is your wedding and our goal is to make it just the way you dreamed it would be.
There are many different ways to perform most of the standard wedding events such as Grand Entrances, Garter and Bouquet Toss, and even the Money Dance. Your Minnesota wedding DJ, Pro Sound & Light Show also knows over 200 different games, contests, and interactive fun things to do at any reception.
Minnesota Wedding DJ Top Wedding Reception Activities:
Grand March Entrance: Upon arrival at your reception site, we suggest formally starting the event with the Grand Entrance of the wedding party and Bride & Groom. This announcement serves as the kick-off to the party. There are 2 basic styles that we can use:
– The Basic Grand Entrance. We will coordinate the entrance order of each couple in the wedding party and announce each name as they enter to upbeat music.
– Extended Intro Grand March Entrance. (Packages 2-4 only) This entrance can be a lot of fun. It depends on how much effort you want to put into this. Typically the Bride or Groom will write 3 – 5 sentences about each member of the wedding party. Your Minnesota wedding DJ then announces your introductions of the wedding party as they enter the room. This works best if the wedding party does not know this is going to happen. The more fun you have with what you write, the more fun the rest of your guests will have with this as well. Your Minnesota wedding DJ can also have specific songs picked out for each couple in the wedding party. If you decide to do the Extended Intros, we will need you to mail, e-mail or fax that information back to the office 30 days or more prior to your reception. Be sure to include the Bride & Grooms names and the reception date on this information.
Bride / Groom Welcoming and Thanking Guests: After completing the Grand Entrance we encourage you to acknowledge your guests. This is a wonderful opportunity to welcome everyone and do any special acknowledgments, such as guests who have traveled a long distance, or friends and family who have contributed in the preparation of the ceremony or reception. It is especially meaningful to hear from the Bride and Groom how important their friends and family are to them. Your Minnesota wedding DJ will make a corded or cordless microphone available for this.
Blessing: If you are going to have a blessing it is done right before dinner is served.
Dinner Music: Reserving your Minnesota wedding DJ for dinner music is an excellent way to add an element of mood and character to the beginning portion of the reception. From the sophistication of classical music all the way up to toe tapping hits that will get your guests ready to dance the night away.
The Dinner Kisses: The Dinner Kissing is a wedding tradition. This is one of those moments that you can really customize and have fun with. Traditionally we have seen the clinking of the glasses to get you, the newly weds, to kiss. Here are some other fun ideas:
– Have guests come up to the microphone and sing a song with the word “love” in it.
– Bride and Groom trivia. One idea would be for each table to get a trivia question that you would write out before the reception, or you can give a list of questions to your Minnesota wedding DJ prior to your event.
– After the clinking of the glasses the Bride and Groom get to pick out another couple who would also have to kiss.
– A couple that wants you to kiss, would come up to the head table and kiss in front of you, and then the Bride and Groom would have to out-do that kiss.
– Game style. Try having a guest hula-hoop. If they can do it, the Bride and Groom kiss.
– Ring little bells instead of clinking glasses.
Toasts: The toast is usually done at the conclusion of the meal. Your Minnesota wedding DJ will coordinate all aspects of this event. After the champagne has been poured, we will have a corded or cordless microphone available for your best man, maid of honor, fathers, or any others to say a few words. We strongly discourage open toasting, that is allowing just anybody to grab the microphone and make a toast.
Cake Cutting Ceremony: Do you happen to know why everyone has that beautifully decorated cake at their wedding? It’s actually another very important ceremony of the day, yet chances are that few, if any, of your guests have any idea what this ceremony involves either. Let us bring this part of your day to life in a way that makes your day even more memorable and unique. Your Minnesota wedding DJ will share with everyone the history (it dates clear back to the early Roman times!) as you make your way to the cake and narrate the ceremonial vows as you go. By sharing the cake with you, your guests actually become part of this ceremony as they support you in these vows – and they will love being so connected to you in this wonderful moment!
Love Story: The Love Story is a fantastic addition to any wedding. This event is included with package 4 and is an optional upgrade to package 3 for an additional fee. The Love Story is professionally written and read just before your first dance. Please refer to the Love Story section for further details or read a sample love story.
Bride & Groom First Dance: All of the attention is now focused on the dance floor. The first few notes of your special song begins to play as you begin to share your first dance as husband and wife. Many couples choose to have the wedding party join them halfway through the first dance. By doing this, you give the photographer an opportunity to get photos of your wedding party, plus it shortens the amount of time the two of you are dancing alone. Here is a list of suggested first dance songs.
Father Daughter – Mother Son Dances: One of the most traditional events at the reception is the moment the father of the Bride dances with his daughter, and a lot of weddings now also include the mother of the Groom dancing with her son. We have seen several variations of these treasured moments. Some couples choose to do just the father-daughter dance, or we have seen them combine the two dances into one rather than spotlight both with individual songs. Another popular thing to do is having all fathers/daughters, mothers/sons join the dance(s) halfway through the song(s). See these lists for suggested father daughter and mother son dances.
Parents Dance: You can choose a special song for the parents of the Bride and Groom. Each set of parents is invited to the dance floor to share a special dance with their children. Another option here is to have all of the parents and their children join in halfway through the dance.
Other Spotlight Dances: For some Brides, a special dance with a Stepfather, Uncle, Brother, or close friend is done in lieu of, or in addition to, the parents dance.
Money Dance: If you decide to do a money dance, your Minnesota wedding DJ will announce it as an opportunity for your friends and family to share a special slow dance with the Bride or Groom. The best man and maid / matron of honor will be asked to collect the money and will also help ensure the timely flow of guests.
Bouquet Toss: As your Minnesota wedding DJ invites all the single ladies to gather on the dance floor, you will want to be sure to have your throw bouquet handy. The energy of the room rises as your Minnesota wedding DJ counts the throw with you, 5-4-3-2-1. Following the catch, the photographer will want to get a special photo of the Bride with the woman who caught the bouquet. If you would like an alternative to this tradition, please let us know, we will be happy to suggest other options that will allow you to give away your bouquet and still create a unique and memorable moment for you and your guests.
Garter Removal & Toss: Your Minnesota wedding DJ will next invite all the single men to the dance floor. For the garter removal, the Bride can sit on a chair or on the best man’s knee. The Groom will then get down on one knee in front of the Bride. Once the garter has been removed, your Minnesota wedding DJ will begin the countdown for the toss, 5-4-3-2-1. the gentleman who catches the garter can then be joined on the dance floor with the woman who caught the bouquet. If the Bride and Groom join them this can be a fun, candid photo.
To pick out which of these wedding reception events you would like your Minnesota wedding DJ to do and to customize them to your wishes, just log in to your free online planning account.
