Wedding Wednesday: Entertaining Your Guests with Music and Dancing
Once the ceremony is finished and family pictures are captured, it is time to party at the reception!
To make your reception memorable, there are several entertainment options to ensure you and your guests have the time of your lives!
Music
When it comes to music, a couple of different options are available to you – choose the one that fits your personality the best!
The first option is to hire a DJ. Should you decide to hire a DJ, you have the freedom to play a variety of different kinds of songs. A plus is that the songs will sound exactly how you want them to sound – no surprises or slip-ups! Also, a good DJ will have a large selection of music so that you can find something that everybody will like. From a budget standpoint, DJs are usually going to be more affordable than a full band.
Should your style and budget allow, deciding to hire a full band is a great option! This musical option will usually end up being more performance-oriented; each song will have its own personality. Bands have a way of exuding an energy that a DJ cannot. They are able to interact with guests on a more personal level during the songs, and are able to adjust their performances to the energy of the situation. They are more likely to get people out on the dance floor due to their infectious energy!
After you choose your method of musical entertainment, find a few ways to put some fun spins on it!
Hire a musical tribute singer to sing a few select songs (such as the first dance song, father/daughter dance, and mother/son dance). Do you and your fiancé love the Beatles? Hire a John Lennon impersonator to sing a few of your favorite hits!
Dancing
When it comes to dancing, there are lots of fun ways to entertain your guests.
Have your bridesmaids and groomsmen learn a song or dance to perform after they have been announced. Keep it short and sweet, but also make sure they practice so that the crowd is impressed!
Another fun thing to do is to teach your guests a new dance. Find a cultural dance that you like or that resonates with your family history, and teach it to your guests so everybody can do it together! If you hail from New Orleans, teach your guests the Second Line Dance and perform that together! Everyone will feel a part of the action and it makes for incredible photos!
If you are Jewish, you may want to incorporate the Hora, or traditional chair dance. This is a dance during which a few strong guests hoist the bride and groom high above the crowd on chairs.
Other fun dances to teach a crowd can be things like swing dancing or square dancing. Keep it fun and simple, but try to encourage everybody to participate! Find a DJ or band that can easily teach a few moves and provide the right music for the dance.
Whatever you decide to do in terms of entertainment, make sure that YOU will enjoy it. Find something that fits your personality as a couple! After all, this is the best day of your lives – Enjoy it!
This is so true. Dancing is nothing without music and dancing makes music better, it’s the perfect synergy! I couldn’t help but notice you also recommend getting singers for your wedding and I couldn’t agree more. I really think that singing also adds to the whole aroma that music can bring to your wedding.
I love what you explained about hiring a live music band for your wedding and how they energize your whole setting. My older brother’s getting married in a few months, and he hasn’t chosen his entertainment, so I think your article could help out. Thanks for the tips on adding a full band to a wedding to get your guests up and dancing.