Continued from page 2

6. Noise Restrictions

Check with your site manager: There may be time-of-day restrictions on music or limits on noise levels.

7. Give 'Em A Break

Keep in mind that your band or DJ may need to take a break during the night, so discuss how you'll want to fill this time. A DJ can just throw on a compilation CD of your favorite music, or you may be able to coordinate the band's break time with the toasts.

8. Putting It All Together

There are a few parts of your reception you'll need to decide in advance:

  • Talking Points: Do you want your DJ or bandleader to announce the wedding party and reception events? Then arm him with information. Write down people's names (with pronunciations), wedding roles, and their relationship to you (groom's brother, bride's parents, and so on). If someone else is handling the task, make sure the entertainment knows their sole duty is turning out tunes.


  • Your Dances: The band or DJ will need to know how you want to handle a few key dances, that is, your first dance, your last dance, any of the parent dances,, and possibly the cake-cutting song.


  • Your Vibe: Want your 15-year-old cousin Jane, 46-year-old Auntie Lou, and 75-year-old Gramps to all boogie down together on the dance floor? Focus on variety. Ask your musicians or DJ to play songs that span several decades, from Big Band standards to Bob Dylan and the Justin Timberlake -- and everything in between. Kick off the night with intergenerational songs so popular that everyone will know and enjoy them: the Beatles, Sinatra, Aretha, and Patsy Cline. As the evening progresses and curfew-bound relatives start to say adieu, feel free to rock the house with your favorite age-appropriate tunes.

previous 1 2 3 4 next