Does anybody have a timeline of when each dance or introduction should be made for say a 4 or 5 our wedding gig?
For Example :
START - Introduce Bride Groom
1st Hour hour (cocktail and dinner) (play soft dinner music)
Start of Second Hour - First Dance (pre-selected tunes)
Father / Daughter
Mother / Son
Dance Music
Etc............ you get the idea....
I am looking for a set time and place that each part should take place...
I have my first wedding gig lined up for April. I have all the songs and shared them with the future bride for approval.
Full Version: Timeline
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This is quite a difficult one to answer because weddings being the animal they are each one is different!!! My answer would be if you have checked with the Bride, Groom, and both sets of parents then be guided by their wishes. It is after all the Brides day and they know what they want!
Spin
Spin
Howdy
Agree with above posting. Be guided by the bride.
All Weddings are totally different and very rarely run to a schedule. If you want to get some ideas, try contacting a Wedding Planner for some tips. For sure giving the bride some help with organising her day will give you some well earned brownie points, but don't sweat it too much.
Darren
Agree with above posting. Be guided by the bride.
All Weddings are totally different and very rarely run to a schedule. If you want to get some ideas, try contacting a Wedding Planner for some tips. For sure giving the bride some help with organising her day will give you some well earned brownie points, but don't sweat it too much.
Darren
Not too much to add but i always have a couple of meetings with both bride and groom to make sure i know exactly what they want. To a certain extend you have to trust your instincts and adapt accordingly.
I think that it would be almost impossible to plan an entire function before you arrive there, especially a Wedding. Meeting or talking with the Bride & Gloom beforehand or their parents is certainly a must, they usually have some idea of what time the caterers will be serving the buffet.
Music wise, like most functions take a selection of everything with you. Unless instructed otherwise then play to the age group of the audience which at Weddings usually means a bit of everything
. Invite requests at your earliest opportunity and just do your best to ensure that everybody has an enjoyable evening.
I also make a point at talking with the B & G at each stage of the Evening to ensure that the night is going to their satisfaction and whether they would like anything changed.
Also invite a list of requests from the B&G before the actual function. Make sure that you make it clear that you don't want an entire playlist which would last 50 days
, but just more of a few favourites - such as the important first dance of the evening, plus any songs which bring back memories of holidays etc, and of course Auntie Maud's favourites.
Sometimes the B & G will leave the function earlier than the rest of the guests. How you run this depends on your local Wedding traditions which do vary from area to area and country to country. Usually the B&G will leave in the final hour of the function....to go on honeymoon or *Ahem* take care of other matters
. Some traditions mean the Guests making an arch for the B&G to pass under on their way to the exit of the venue. Another similar tradition mean the guests stand in 2 rows making a path for the B&G to walk down whilst the Guests clap. It does take some arranging by the D.J so it is important to find out which tradition is used locally (or an entirely different one if the B&G are not english) and whether they will be leaving early or staying until the end.
Music wise, like most functions take a selection of everything with you. Unless instructed otherwise then play to the age group of the audience which at Weddings usually means a bit of everything
. Invite requests at your earliest opportunity and just do your best to ensure that everybody has an enjoyable evening.I also make a point at talking with the B & G at each stage of the Evening to ensure that the night is going to their satisfaction and whether they would like anything changed.
Also invite a list of requests from the B&G before the actual function. Make sure that you make it clear that you don't want an entire playlist which would last 50 days
, but just more of a few favourites - such as the important first dance of the evening, plus any songs which bring back memories of holidays etc, and of course Auntie Maud's favourites.Sometimes the B & G will leave the function earlier than the rest of the guests. How you run this depends on your local Wedding traditions which do vary from area to area and country to country. Usually the B&G will leave in the final hour of the function....to go on honeymoon or *Ahem* take care of other matters
. Some traditions mean the Guests making an arch for the B&G to pass under on their way to the exit of the venue. Another similar tradition mean the guests stand in 2 rows making a path for the B&G to walk down whilst the Guests clap. It does take some arranging by the D.J so it is important to find out which tradition is used locally (or an entirely different one if the B&G are not english) and whether they will be leaving early or staying until the end.
Howdy
Chris...Bride and Gloom? that a freudian slip or was you catering for the oriental membership?
Darren
Chris...Bride and Gloom? that a freudian slip or was you catering for the oriental membership?
Darren
In the last 20 years I have NEVER EVER done a wedding that has ran on time, the people will be late to sit down for the meal, which will overrun, speeches go on and on and on, so most run 1 hour behind so just go with the flow, keep the B&G happy, thew venue manager happy, then all is well.
ditto the above.... one thing which is vital if you are going to do a follow-up dance where the bride and groom dance with respective parents/inlaws - make sure that both the b&gs parents are alive and well and not divorced etc... I know it is quite a personal thing to have to ask but can you imagine announcing the bride is now going to dance with her father only to find out that he is dead! Believe me, I know djs who have done this.. and obviously it has not gone down well at all!
LOL Darren - nah I got into the habit of calling the GROOM - GLOOM due to the numbers of miserable looking Grooms i've seen on their Wedding day. The sort of look that says "Oh no..what the hell have I gone and done". I've got so used to using the term, that it has stuck, even when posting on this forum. Luckily, I have never dropped it into conversation at a gig or when talking to the actual Bride and Groom - but i'm working on it 
.
Seriously Karen's point about not slipping up regarding mentioning deceased parents is a very real risk. As is not getting your facts BEFORE the gig. For instance I know of a D.J who never obtained all the important names - such as the B & G before the event...often turning up and asking the bar staff, Guest etc at the actual function. On one occasion he turned up and asked the caterer the name of the B&G - not knowing any difference or caring! the caterer simply gave him the names of the people who had paid his bill. When he announced the name of the B & G over the Mic and called them up for the first dance, the D.J was horrifed to find that he had been given the names of the brides PARENTS - very embarrassing and unprofessional.
I also remember a very useful tip that an old wise woman once told me on this forum
. Use the first hour or so, when people are arriving to entertain the kids provided there are a lot of them at the function. Adults tend to not take an interest in dancing or even acknowledging the existance of the D.J until they have had a drink, a chat and something to eat, so use this time to cater to the younger members who will join in. Play a few charty tracks for them (no Eminem, Rap etc) and do a few games if they are primary school age. Remember that as a D.J you need to entertain and include all ages and this is a good opportunity at demonstrating this ability. The bill payer will also appreciate that you are actually working for this quiet period rather than sitting at the bar playing background music. It also keeps the little 
from under peoples feet, and from running riot and sliding up and down the dancefloor.
.Seriously Karen's point about not slipping up regarding mentioning deceased parents is a very real risk. As is not getting your facts BEFORE the gig. For instance I know of a D.J who never obtained all the important names - such as the B & G before the event...often turning up and asking the bar staff, Guest etc at the actual function. On one occasion he turned up and asked the caterer the name of the B&G - not knowing any difference or caring! the caterer simply gave him the names of the people who had paid his bill. When he announced the name of the B & G over the Mic and called them up for the first dance, the D.J was horrifed to find that he had been given the names of the brides PARENTS
- very embarrassing and unprofessional.I also remember a very useful tip that an old wise woman once told me on this forum
. Use the first hour or so, when people are arriving to entertain the kids provided there are a lot of them at the function. Adults tend to not take an interest in dancing or even acknowledging the existance of the D.J until they have had a drink, a chat and something to eat, so use this time to cater to the younger members who will join in. Play a few charty tracks for them (no Eminem, Rap etc) and do a few games if they are primary school age. Remember that as a D.J you need to entertain and include all ages and this is a good opportunity at demonstrating this ability. The bill payer will also appreciate that you are actually working for this quiet period rather than sitting at the bar playing background music. It also keeps the little from under peoples feet, and from running riot and sliding up and down the dancefloor.
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| In the last 20 years I have NEVER EVER done a wedding that has ran on time |
I too have never done a wedding that's run on time in over 15 years; the "record" is a delayed start of just over 3 hours ! I just about had time to say hello and goodbye and good luck !
Even though things tend not to run to schedule, it is still possible to have a rough order of events worked out and arranged with the B&G in advance. Talking to them on the night as much as seems appropriate is definately the way forward.
A DJ who takes the trouble to liase with them (but not pester them as remember they are trying to talk to talk to all their guests too) will get recommendations and re-bookings; one who ignores them wil not. You never know, you may even get re-booked for their subsequent weddings !
I know that sounds a bit naughty but it's happened to me - I did a wedding for B&G in around 1990 then another for the same B about 4 years later when she was having a second go at it 
Regards to all
Ian Stuart
I agree with the tip from Chris about entertaining children, go through your selection to games and the adults will thank you later!
From my experience with weddings, don't get mis guided by the brides's or grooms parents as to choice of music! after all it is their day so it is always best to check with them first!
Be prepared to wait and wait...............photographers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.............drunk Uncles!!!!!!!!!........
Enjoy!
From my experience with weddings, don't get mis guided by the brides's or grooms parents as to choice of music! after all it is their day so it is always best to check with them first!
Be prepared to wait and wait...............photographers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.............drunk Uncles!!!!!!!!!........
Enjoy!
I was thinking this year of adding a bride servicing service so the b+g dont have to leave early.Now how much should i charge and should i have a sheep for the groom?
You wouldn't if you saw half the brides around here, this isn't Norway you know.
Hi Slam
are you in the states? If yes your format is about right, if your in the UK, you may get hung useing that format.
We tend to be setup after the wedding breakfast (as fast as poss) by which time the bride or her mother is breathing down your neck wanting to know when your going to do the first dance, then if required the Bride and father / groom and mother dance or sometimes the bridal party dance - OK I do a lot of American weddings and some have been in the states!!!
The best thing is to have a meeting with the Bride & Groom (and the mother) and work out what they want, but get as much info on the different variations so that you sound as if you know what you are talking about. If you ever do a French / French - Canadian wedding, it is traditional for the Bride to dance the 1st dance with her father and at the the end the groom comes on to the floor and the father hands over his daughter, so the second song is the B & G's 1st dance.
There are hundreds of wedding sites that you can get all the info you need from.
More info - Please ask
are you in the states? If yes your format is about right, if your in the UK, you may get hung useing that format.
We tend to be setup after the wedding breakfast (as fast as poss) by which time the bride or her mother is breathing down your neck wanting to know when your going to do the first dance, then if required the Bride and father / groom and mother dance or sometimes the bridal party dance - OK I do a lot of American weddings and some have been in the states!!!
The best thing is to have a meeting with the Bride & Groom (and the mother) and work out what they want, but get as much info on the different variations so that you sound as if you know what you are talking about. If you ever do a French / French - Canadian wedding, it is traditional for the Bride to dance the 1st dance with her father and at the the end the groom comes on to the floor and the father hands over his daughter, so the second song is the B & G's 1st dance.
There are hundreds of wedding sites that you can get all the info you need from.
More info - Please ask
Hi Slam (again)
You are from the states, right what part, you have alot of regional differences.
When I was at the "University Club" in NY. The duty manager / MC ran the recieving line, everyone then stood behind there chairs, the B&G entered and did the first dance etc. They sat down and in rolled the food and everyone gets up and dances during and inbetween courses. In NY, NJ etc, things like the Dollar Dance and the garter throw tend to be a no go, But the wedding I did for a loverly young lady from Chicago, the garter throw was a diffinate YES. I believe the dollar dance is more confined to the southern states, Georgia etc.
I almost forgot, the cocktail hour was in a seperate room, with no music, which gave me chace to mingle and ask questions, and having a brit accent, I had no prob's at all. If your from further south, as in SC, I recommend Crabby Nicks on Hilton Head Island, best spare ribs I've ever had.
You are from the states, right what part, you have alot of regional differences.
When I was at the "University Club" in NY. The duty manager / MC ran the recieving line, everyone then stood behind there chairs, the B&G entered and did the first dance etc. They sat down and in rolled the food and everyone gets up and dances during and inbetween courses. In NY, NJ etc, things like the Dollar Dance and the garter throw tend to be a no go, But the wedding I did for a loverly young lady from Chicago, the garter throw was a diffinate YES. I believe the dollar dance is more confined to the southern states, Georgia etc.
I almost forgot, the cocktail hour was in a seperate room, with no music, which gave me chace to mingle and ask questions, and having a brit accent, I had no prob's at all. If your from further south, as in SC, I recommend Crabby Nicks on Hilton Head Island, best spare ribs I've ever had.
| QUOTE |
| You wouldn't if you saw half the brides around here, this isn't Norway you know. |
I wasnt thinking of looking at them! We have a fair amount of moose here you know
Mantlepiece and fire and all of that you mean Chris 
always get on to the brides good side
go up when you can and ask when would you like the buffet etc
what would you like for the first dance if not already aragned
if you can keep the bride happy
youve won half the battle
go up when you can and ask when would you like the buffet etc
what would you like for the first dance if not already aragned
if you can keep the bride happy
youve won half the battle
Never done a wedding yet! <new to the game> but ive picked up some good tips, cheers guys and gals!
Love the Bride & Gloom bit hehehehehehehehe
Love the Bride & Gloom bit hehehehehehehehe
Hi,
I agree as long as you have spoken to all involved, you should be covered, we find that timings rarely go to plan, some people are hot onn the protocol, but you can usually tell who these are and deal with their requests as best you can.
Weddings can be hard work, but then so can every evening it all depends on the crowd.
I agree as long as you have spoken to all involved, you should be covered, we find that timings rarely go to plan, some people are hot onn the protocol, but you can usually tell who these are and deal with their requests as best you can.
Weddings can be hard work, but then so can every evening it all depends on the crowd.
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