Sound Sensations Entertainment Blog

Your wedding ceremony ends at 2:30 pm, but your reception won’t start until 6:30pm.  What should you do?   This presents a four hour window, with nothing for your guests to do?  We see this happen more often than not as a result of multiple ceremonies at the same place of worship, where the bride is left with the only time slot left.

When you have such a large gap between the ceremony and reception, it often creates a less successful reception, because guests are more likely to leave early. 

How can this problem be solved?    Call your reception venue and find out what their flexibility is in scheduling.   If your ceremony is at noon or 1pm, consider having an afternoon reception with a late lunch.    You could save thousands by having an afternoon reception.

Some couples have created the gap intentionally knowing that they will be getting their photo’s taken with the bridal party and family members.   If this is the case, make sure you create something for the guests, especially the out-of-town guests to do during this time.    

Have a cocktail hour with snacks after the ceremony at the venue before dinner.   This will help to absorb the time between the ceremony and reception.     At the venue, you could have table games like bride/groom trivia, or have your DJ arrange some fun games with your guests to help them occupy the time.   

Another idea could be to hold your receiving line at the reception venue instead of at the ceremony to help absorb some of the time as well.

Try to schedule the day’s events with your guests in mind, they will be glad, and your reception will flow much smoother.  You and your guests will be happy!  

Digg

Stumble Upon

Del.icio.us

Buzz

How many guests are you inviting to your reception?   Are you planning to have a dinner at your reception?    Several couples as they plan their reception’s have asked if it’s really necessary to have a seating chart for their once-in-a-lifetime event.

You might be thinking it would be so much easier for everyone to just come in and find a place to sit down.    While initially it would seem logical and easier, but let’s look at it in another way.    A seating chart is going to really help your reception flow much smoother.

Your guest will most likely arrive at the reception facility before you and your immediate family and some of the relatives because chances are, you’ll be with the photographer getting your pictures taken.   At the reception, without a seating chart, your families may be seated in the back, instead of the front, or worse, scattered all over the room, due to the lack of seats left at the reception.   Do you think mom and dad will be very happy?    Taking some time and planning a seating chart in advance will greatly reduce headaches later.

How many of your guests will know each other?   Chances are you are inviting guests from all walks of life in your relationships, you will want to give them the courtesy of seating them with friends and guests that they might know.  Without a seating chart, they may be left with seats at tables that are with total strangers.   The result of this might be guests leaving early and not talking, since they don’t know anyone.   They could end up feeling uncomfortable, and stressed at your reception.  

Could you imagine if the only seat left at the reception was right in front of the DJ’s speakers, and that’s where your aging 80 year old grandmother was sat due to lack of available seats.  How horrible?

Another example, I have seen as a result of not having a seating chart, is a shortage of tables, and guests being left with no place to sit.   Would you like to attend a wedding only to find out, all of the tables are taken and there is no room for you or your guests.  

Ideally, it would be nice to have a seating chart for all of your guests, it will help them to know where they should go, once at the reception, and they will feel truly welcomed at your reception.   In addition, a seating chart, will help you know that everyone has a place, and no one has been left out.    A seating chart will give your reception much better flow.

In addition, your DJ will have much better control of announcements knowing which tables each guest is at for things like the blessing, toasts, parent recognition, or anything else that needs to occur during the event.

At the very least, if you choose not to assign a seating chart for all of your guests, you may want to consider at least having several reserved tables close to the head table for immediate families, relatives, and VIP’s.

Find a venue in Wisconsin for your Reception

Find a venue in Wisconsin for your wedding

Digg

Stumble Upon

Del.icio.us

Buzz

The last feature dance before open dancing is typically the parents dance, some opt to this dance, some couples do not. It’s totally up to you.    When we sit down with couples,  I am often asked what songs to consider.    What kind of relationship do you have with your parents, or your fiance’s parents.     Are you looking to convey a message? Look at the lyrics, you can often find them by doing a search on song lyrics, then typing in the song title.   As you begin your quest for the right song, here are some considerations to think about:

Top Parent Dance Songs

Don’t forget, you can use our website as a tool for planning your reception and entertainment, there are several ideas and suggestions for songs, and they include a filter for song types.

Search for feature dance ideas

Recently, one couple, who had a very special relationship with their parents, wanted to surprise them with a special message. We have the ability to record your voices into a feature dance. Click here to listen to their message to mom and dad mixed into the parents dance. Give our office a call and learn more about this option.  Check this option on our website for more information.

Digg

Stumble Upon

Del.icio.us

Buzz

Guest Book Decor

The centerpiece for reception tables is a key component in the overall reception decor of most weddings.    After the focal point, the centerpieces on each individual table are often the most important decoration in a wedding reception because it is the decoration that the guests will look at the most. We have had the priviledge of entertaining at hundreds of wedding over the years, and have seen all kinds of centerpiece ideas. Here are a few ideas to help you get started:

Upside-Down Glasses & Flutes:   Combine any combination of wine glasses, martini glasses, and flutes to match the style of the decor of the wedding. Place small blossoms of the flowers from the wedding under the bowl as it is resting on the table. Finish by placing three aptly sized candles on the upside down foot of each glass an elegant display.  

Gel Candles: Table centerpieces do not have to be large. No one wants to try to converse with someone across the table while trying to peer through an over sized centerpiece. This makes a seasonally designed gel candle paired with a swath of fabric, greenery, or a handful of sand to match the wedding colors and theme an excellent yet inexpensive choice to create a simple, yet stylish centerpiece.

Fresh Cut Flowers:  You do not have to be a florist to arrange a half dozen of your favorite flowers in a small vase. Have someone purchase flowers at a wholesaler, market, or from the farm itself and place them in a vase on each table with a dash of color or texture (fabric, sand, pine cones, babies breath, etc) on the table to tie into the rest of your wedding decor.  In addition, you can put petals, or long stem flowers and scatter them on the tables, or table for a nice touch too.   The picture above is what one couple used at the Bridgewood in Neenah on the guest book table in the lobby.  It really adds a nice touch, and was inexpensive.

Candles: Candles can create a gorgeous ambience and stunning centerpiece to any table. They can be either grouped together or standing alone for a dramatic effect. Available in many colors and designs such as monogrammed or floating, they are ideal for complimenting virtually any wedding decor design. One option that will help keep wedding costs low is to purchase plain candles and draw designs on them with a craft glue pen and then dip the candle into colored sand of your choice. This can create a striking embossed effect.

Plants: Done well, this can be elegant. Again, for the most part you want to find small potted plants from your local nursery and re pot them into decorative ceramic pots. The exception to the height rule is this: If you can find elegant topiaries with a single stem or stalk holding the sculpted plant above sight lines at your table. This enables you to add a dramatic touch to your reception without interfering with your guest’s ability to talk to each other.

After the reception, send the potted plant centerpieces home with guests to avoid trying clean-up and disposal issues. Virtually every wedding has guests who would be delighted to take a potted plant home to add to their collection.

Likewise, one could choose small plants to have replanted in the couple’s yard either while they are on their honeymoon or after they return as a fun project to do together that will always remind them of their big day.

Digg

Stumble Upon

Del.icio.us

Buzz

I met with three different couples over the weekend, and found a trend in each of them, all of the weddings they had attended in the past blended together.  They all seemed the same.     What do you want?   Our goal is to make your reception “The best wedding that your guests have ever attended.”   Stand out, be different.   One way to do this is during the dinner and/or cocktail hour.    Your DJ doesn’t necessarily need to play one style of music that’s played at most receptions.   You know, Jazz, Classical, Light Love Songs, elevator music, or the dreaded Kenny G.

Why not create some “Wow” and mix it up at your reception.   Have your wedding DJ create a mix of your favorite artists, or songs from all different genres and styles, or better yet be eclectic with a some songs by Jimmy Buffett, Jack Johnson, John Legend, or Dave Matthews.   Are you an 80’s fan?   or a fan of the Godfather?   Great, theme out your dinner or cocktail hour with music from these categories.

Every event is different, and the traditional classical, Jazz, or Kenny G doesn’t always have to work just because it’s what everyone uses at their weddings.

If you can’t decide on a style or if you prefer, many couples play one style for their cocktail hour, and use the dinner hour to play a different style.

Whatever you decide, it’s up to you.  Be different, you and your guests will remember.   Make your reception unique with a different twist on your dinner and cocktail hour music.  

Our website also has some excellent dinner and cocktail hour music ideas for you to check out as well.

Digg

Stumble Upon

Del.icio.us

Buzz