The names may be contrary elsewhere in the trade, but the concept is the same. Give a name to a style of reception planning to make it easier to remember. Below are four different reception styles you may choose for your special day. You can customize any of these styles or come up with your own style.
We look forward to entertaining you…
NEW ENGLAND STYLE WEDDING RECEPTION
An afternoon into evening wedding may serve the meal halfway through the reception! With this one, anything goes, but the average might go as below. Shortened Cocktails, Introductions, First Dance, Toast, Party, Meal, Formalities, & More Partying
With this plan, we’re expecting the couple 10-20 minutes after the guests arrive. During this time, we’ll be playing your chosen background or dinner music and taking requests. Romantic, epic, classical or New Age Jazz is ok here as things are about to heat up quickly.
When the bridal party arrives we’ll spend some time lining you up for the introductions. Then we get you caught up on what’s happening with the caterers and the day. Now it’s show time. We introduce the bridal party directly to the dance floor for the first dance. Then for the best man’s toast of the new couple. Next we take care of the parental dances and snowball the bridal party dance into a full party. As the evening approaches, we move the party towards the Dollar Dance and then announce the meal
Before anyone is served, we give away the centerpieces. Light jazz, classic swing, or eclectic music is still the typical choice for the background. It’s good to keep the music peppy here so your guests don’t fall asleep in their meal. When the meal is finished, we’ll do the cake cutting. Now it’s time to Macarena and Electric Slide to get people back in the partying mood for the next hour or so.
Of course, this is just a suggestion, we are always open to personalizing any of our standard styles, or using one of your own!
BOSTONIAN STYLE WEDDING RECEPTION
The Bostonian Style Reception for us means the first dance will happen before the meal. Cocktail Hour, Introductions, First Dance, Toast, Meal & Formalities
With this plan, we’re expecting the couple to arrive 30-45 minutes after the guests arrive. During this time, we’ll be playing your chosen background or dinner music and mingling with your guests to get an idea of the type of music they are expecting to hear during the party. We’ll even take requests. When the bridal party arrives we’ll spend some time lining you up for the introductions. Then we get you caught up on what’s happening with the caterers and the day. Now it’s show time. We introduce the bridal party directly to the dance floor where they’ll form a semi arch as a backdrop to your first dance.
When the dance is complete, we’ll give you a glass of champagne and the best man toasts the couple. Now we get to the good stuff. The food. Have a seat, the best man and maid of honor get your meal if it’s a buffet, or the caterer serves and we go on with the dinner music. Later, we’ll get to the cake cutting, parental dances, and crank up the party!
HOLLYWOOD STYLE WEDDING RECEPTION
The Hollywood Style Reception means the bridal party arrives early and we’ll be having a true cocktail hour before the meal. Introductions, Toast, Cocktail Hour, Meal, First Dance & Formalities
(This one works best when pictures will be taken at the reception site after the party arrives.)
With this plan, we’re expecting the couple 5-10 minutes after the guests arrive. During this time, we’ll be playing your chosen background or dinner music and taking requests.When the bridal party arrives we’ll spend some time lining you up for the introductions. Then we get you caught up on what’s happening with the caterers and the day. Now it’s show time. We introduce the bridal party directly to the dance floor where they’ll form a semi arch as a backdrop to the best man’s toast of the new couple.
Everyone is then informed that the meal will be served in approximately an hour, and to feel free to mingle and partake in the bar. Light jazz or classic swing is the typical choice for the background music. During this time, we’ll mingle with your guests and ask what they want to hear. This is a good time to get those pictures in the garden or the gazebo.
When the caterer is ready and the pictures are done, we’ll announce the dinner and invite your guests to be seated. The best man and maid of honor get your meal if it’s a buffet, or the caterer serves and we go on with the dinner music. After dinner, we do the first dance and cake cutting. Later, we’ll get to the parental dances, and crank up the party!
Of course, this is just a suggestion, we are always open to personalizing any of our standard styles, or using one of your own!
ATLANTA STYLE WEDDING RECEPTION
The Atlanta Style Reception means the bridal party arrives late and we’ll be having a true cocktail hour before the meal.
Cocktail Hour, Introductions, Toast, Meal, First Dance & Formalities
(This one works best when pictures will be taken at a site away from the reception.) With this plan, we’re expecting the couple 45-60 minutes after the guests arrive. During this time, we’ll be playing your chosen background or dinner music and taking requests. Often, light jazz or swing even some easy-listening contemporary music is used to keep people in the partying mood. We might even do some games like trivia, or simple card tricks.
When the bridal party arrives we’ll spend some time lining you up for the introductions. Then we get you caught up on what’s happening with the caterers and the day. Now it’s show time. We introduce the bridal party directly to the head table for the best man’s toast of the new couple and the serving of the meal.
Light jazz, classic swing, or eclectic music is still the typical choice for the background, because of the time involved from the start of the cocktail hour and the actual partying, it’s good to keep the music peppy here so your guests don’t fall asleep. When the meal is finished, we’ll do the first dance and cake cutting. Later, we’ll get to the parental dances, (if you didn’t decide to do these before the meal) and crank up the party!
Of course, this is just a suggestion, we are always open to personalizing any of our standard styles, or using one of your own!