Hi guys

Doing a wedding disco tomorrow Saturday 7th July.

Couple of questions as this is my 1st wedding disco...

> Any suggestions on how to announce the first dance (what is the standard)

> Any key things I should know

> and finally any suggestions for old skool dance music which the B&G have requested for the last 2 hours of the party, they like things like Cascada etc Pop Dance style music with some old classics thrown in? I have got a few but just wondered if anyone could add to my list so I can buy them?


Cheers guys
Dave

Its hard to tell each DJ what to say on the mic as you need build up your own style.

Check with the bride and groom what time they want to start the first dance, most B&G will want to wait for there evening guest to arrive before they dance, I normally start it around 8.30 - 9pm.

With regards to old school dance why not try:

U sure do - Strike

Get up everybody - Byron Stingly

Hideaway -???

The Bomb - The Bucketheads

Set you free - N trance

Closer Than Close - Rosie Gaines

Frankie is quite right, there is not really a set way to introduce the first dance. It really depends on the character of the couple and the guests, and the general atmosphere of the evening.

I have done from one extreme
(Formal - Ladies & Gentlemen, please welcome onto the dancefloor "bride first name" and "groom first name" for their first dance as husband and wife)

to the other extreme

(OTT - Ladies & gentlemen, it's here, the moment we've all been waiting for, our star attraction of the evening, please welcome on to the dancefloor and make lots of noise for "bride first name" & "groom first name" as they have their first dance as husband & wife.

Try and ask them first how they want to be introduced. I have been asked for all combination

The Bride and Groom
Anything but the Bride and Groom

Mr and Mrs X
trev and sharon

etc


My most important tip - definately know their real names before announcing them - it is very embarassing to be corrected half way through. Has only happened to me once (last minute rush) and the earth totally failed to open up and hide me away from my own shame.

I always call the B & G up as Mr and Mrs abc. The bride likes this as she has a new sir name and groom also likes it as he`s proud to have his new wife with the same name as his..



De, Lacy.

Ive done a few weddings and they are all different, deffinately get their names right and correct pronounciation of sirname,

" good evening lady's and gentle men, welcom to , venue name, congratulatulations to shaz and kev, on thier marrage, and if shaz and kev can take the floor for the very first time as husband and wife, a big round of applause for mr and mrs chavvies"

works every time
most of all dont panic

Thats the one just couldnt get the name. Cheers Steve.




P.S Loving the new SURNAME

I always have cued up....the first dance obviously...and the bridal march music

I play the bridal march music just after checking the Bride and groom is ready for their dance

On goes the bridal march (classical version) for about 30 seconds.....whilst i'm saying "ladies and gentlemen, please will you give a huge round applause for Mr and mrs Smith" everybody is clapping, the bridal march music is playing....hit the first dance start button!!

sometimes if permission is granted by the B+G, i will say "Mr and Mrs Smith would like their guests to join them on the dance floor"

Or whatever....maybe both sets of parents and bridesmaids etc...whatever has been arranged with B+G

usually works fine, because the bridal music gets everybodys attention

"ladies & gentlemen will you please put your hands together and give a very warm welcome to the brand new Mr & Mrs Smith as they take to the dancefloor for the all important first dance........<pause for applause to die down>.........<start the track>........Angela and David...."

I could be wrong but I "think" its etiquette or maybe just polite to allways say the ladies name first whenever making announcements.

Most importantly, like others have said......make sure you ASK them how they want to be introduced, and make up your introduction based around that.

I have on a number of occasions also asked all the guests to surround the dance floor for the first dance, but only asking the B&G first if they thought it was a good idea.....some have liked the idea some haven't. It does give all the guests a nice opportunity for photos that way too. And it also gives the DJ some nice photo opportunity's of the bride and groom with their guests in the background.

When I first stared if I needed to do a big introduction for anything I used to write it down like a script.....quickly found that this don't work too well, much better to just freestyle it and make it up on the spot, I think it sounds more natural and genuine that way.

Jeff, I like your idea of having the bridal march music.......I will give that a try at my next wedding I think.

Good luck with your first wedding chap!

A few months ago I prepared a guide for another DJs 1st wedding - this can be found in the Knowledge Base.

I don't ask for a round of applause because if the intro is done in a particular way then this will be spontaneous. Hard to describe in words but watch how chat show hosts introduce their guests & how announcers use infliction in their voice as the cue for applause.

we normally give an anouncement 5 or 10 minutes before to allow everyone to get their cameras ready,check with the couple first to make sure its what they want.keep any anouncement simple.good luck
andy

Good luck on your wedding big guy....hope it goes well
I 've over the last few years noticed that not the start of the "first dance" ( with the exception to civil partnerships where you remember not to call them the bride and.....er......bride. or groom and groom )
But the bit after the first few dances have elapsed. Do you keep the slow stuff going till there drunk and want to party ????? or, as i find more popular now, straight onto some catchy tunes like abba..dancing queen, frankie valli....Dec 1969 etc etc
Also the introduction of party games has raised its ugly head again......even if its just for them to take photos as ransom for the rest of the poor participants life.

thanks a lot guys for all your help :)

i'll let you know how it goes!

Next problem to solve is finding my copy of Elvis Costello - She lol

many thanks

Dave

I think the best solution is make sure the first dance is at an appropriate time to kick off straight afterwards. Having everyone gathered round the floor is the best opportunity to get people up dancing, so if you do the FD too early you can lose this.

So far this summer I don't think i've had the first dance before 9pm yet.. sometimes closer to 10pm!

Nottinghill Sound track album, if my memory serves me correctly.



English wasn`t my strongest subject..

Hi guys

All went really well thanks for the music suggestions!

Manic evening and had mic problem as announcing last dance but apart from that went very well.

Cheers guys

Dave

Well done - bet you're looking forward to the next one now.