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1. Probably the most important thing to keeping your reception on time is making sure the ceremony starts on time. The timeliness of your ceremony is directly related to your preparedness. Plan your day well in advance and allow yourself plenty of time of get dressed, take pictures, and get to your destination. And remember that your rehearsal dinner is more than just dinner, toasts and hugs. Make sure your Bridal Party and family understand the importance of attending the rehearsal dinner and rehearse the ceremony all the way through at least twice.



2. Limit the time you spend taking pictures between the ceremony and reception to 30-45 minutes. Make arrangements with your photographer, and your Bridal Party, to have as many pictures taken as possible before the ceremony. Taking pictures of the Bride and Groom with their attendants, parents, siblings, etc. can save valuable time after the ceremony. Remember - your guests are waiting to see you!
 


3. Have your Matron/Maid of Honor rehearse the bustling of your dress. It is also a good idea to have someone else, such as another Bridesmaid or your mother, know how to bustle your dress just in case the Matron/Maid of Honor is unavailable. Difficulty bustling a dress has been known to delay a reception by a half hour... that's valuable party time!
 


4. If you are expecting more than 100 guests, ask your caterer if it's possible to have a double-sided buffet line or two buffet lines. This saves a tremendous amount of time getting all your guests through the buffet line.



5. Talk to your Bridal Party and family prior to your wedding day to ensure they are aware of their various roles, such as receiving lines, introductions, toasts, dances, etc.  Also stress the importance of showing up on time and prepared.



6. Make sure your tossing bouquet is readily available and remember to put on your garter prior to the garter toss so your new husband can retrieve it!
   

1. Dim the lights when it's time for dancing. Soft lighting during dinner creates a more comfortable atmosphere. Dimming the lights after dinner will motivate your guests to dance. Determine the desired lighting levels for dinner and dancing when you meet with your reception facility's coordinator. Consider light levels that will compliment any candles you plan to use. Ask that your lighting preferences be included in your contract with the facility.



2. Place your DJ next to the dance floor and avoid sharing facilities. Avoid seating guests between your DJ and the dance floor. Placing your DJ adjacent to the dance floor maximizes your DJ's ability to control the sound and interact with the dancers. Be wary of situations where the dance floor is in the next room or access is not convenient for your guests. Also, avoid facilities where you must share an area with restaurant diners or other parties. Such arrangements almost always generate requests to lower the volume, which will diminish the energy of your reception.



3. Invest quality time in planning your Grand Entrance. The Grand Entrance sets the tone and establishes the energy for the entire reception. Work closely with your DJ and Catering Director to stage a Grand Entrance that reflects your style and personality. Decide who will participate, where they will assemble and in what order, where they will go after being introduced. Clarify pronunciation of names, determine appropriate introductions for blended families and, of course, select the perfect music.



4. The First Dance - don't wait forever to do it and don't do it forever. One of the special moments of the reception is the bride and groom's first dance. Having your first dance after the grand entrance, or right after dinner, is a great way to start the party. Don't delay your first dance to visit with your guests. Doing so will deflate the energy of your reception. You've selected your favorite ballad, but that five-minute song may seem like an eternity both to you and your guests. Have your DJ fade out the song at a designated time if it lasts more than a few minutes. All of this applies as well to the newlyweds' dances with their parents.



5. Don't try to select every song your DJ will play. Choose the song for your first dance and other songs for specific reception events. Tell your DJ what artists and styles of music to feature or avoid, but don't micro-manage your DJ's performance. A professional wedding DJ can 'read the crowd' and knows what to play and when to play it to keep the party going. More importantly, your DJ knows which requests clear the dance floor. You're paying for your DJ's knowledge and experience. Take advantage of it.



6. Don't rule out the Macarena! Think twice before you reject those so-called 'cheesy' group dances like the Macarena, Chicken Dance and YMCA. These dances may be the only opportunity some of your guests will have to get on the dance floor and have some fun. You don't have to do the Hokey Pokey right after your first dance, but let your DJ keep all options open. These group dances are frequently requested by your guests and often create reception highlights and priceless photos.

Top 25 Bridal Songs

1 AMAZED - LONESTAR
2 FROM THIS MOMENT ON - SHANIA TWAIN & BRYAN WHITE
3 WONDERFUL TONIGHT - ERIC CLAPTON
4 UNFORGETTABLE - NAT KING COLE & NATALIE COLE
5 WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD - LOUIS ARMSTRONG
6 ALL MY LIFE - K-C & JOJO
7 BECAUSE YOU LOVED ME - CELINE DION
8 HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY - VAN MORRISON, ROD STEWART
9 WONDERFUL WORLD/SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW - ISRAEL KAMAKAWIWOOLE
10 IT'S YOUR LOVE - FAITH HILL & TIM MCGRAW
11 UNCHAINED MELODY - RIGHTEOUS BROS.
12 YOU RAISE ME UP - JOSH GROBAN
13 MY WISH - RASCAL FLATTS
14 LOST IN THIS MOMENT - BIG & RICH
15 WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL - ALISON KRAUSS
16 I'LL BE - EDWIN MCCAIN
17 THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT - FRANK SINATRA
18 I COULD NOT ASK FOR MORE - EDWIN MCCAIN
19 AT LAST - ETTA JAMES
20 LOVE OF MY LIFE - JIM BRICKMAN & MICHAEL W. SMITH
21 TRUE COMPANION - MARC COHN
22 WIND BENEATH MY WINGS - BETTE MIDLER
23 I DON'T WANT TO MISS A THING - AEROSMITH
24 (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU - BRYAN ADAMS
25 LOVE ME TENDER - ELVIS PRESLEY

Ceremony Music

Bridal Chorus - Wagner Ceremony Music
Bridal Chorus - Wagner
Wedding March - Mendelssohn
Wedding March - Lohengrim
Trumpet Voluntary - Clarke
Canon in D - Pachebel
Air - Handel
Jesus Joy of Man's Desiring - Bach
Closer - Goapele
Theme From "Love Story
Robin Hood Theme - Instrumental
Somewhere in Time - Roger Williams
Water Music #2 - Handel
Dance of the Blessed Spirits
Celtic Twilight Music for Weddings
Summer Place - Percy Sledge
Harp Music for Weddings
All I Ask of You - Phantom
Ave Maria - Andrea Bocelli


Introductions

A Moment Like This - Kelly Clarkson
Ain't That A Kick In The Head - Dean Martin
At The Beginning - Richard Marx & Donna Lewis
Austin Powers Theme Song
Baby Elephant Walk - Henry Mancini
Backstreet's Back (Intro) - Backstreet Boys
Beautiful Day - U2
Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve
Chapel Of Love - Dixie Cups
Get Ready - The Temptations
How Sweet It Is (To Be Love By You) - James Taylor
I'm A Believer - Smashmouth
I'm Walking On Sunshine - Katrina & The Waves
It Had To Be You - Harry Connick, Jr.
Love's Theme - Barry White
Mission Impossible Theme
My Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades - Timbuk 3
One More Time - Daft Punk
Perfect Day - Hoku
Peter Gun Theme
Pick Up The Pieces - Average White Band
Pink Panther Theme
Putting On The Ritz
Rock & Roll Part II - Gary Glitter
Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder
Star Wars Theme
Summer Place - Percy Sledge
That's Amore - Dean Martin
This Magic Moment - The Drifters
What The World Needs Now Is Love - Dionne Warwick


Cake Cutting

A Night To Remember - Shalamar
Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing - Marvin Gaye/Tammy Terrell
All I Have To Do Is Dream - The Everyly Brothers
By Your Side - Sade
Candy - Cameo
Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Babe - Barry White
Chapel Of Love - Dixie Cups
Could It Be I'm Falling In Love - The Spinners
Don't Falter At The Alter - Cab Calloway
Fascination - Nat King Cole
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - James Taylor
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - Marvin Gaye
If I Ain't Got You - Alicia Keys
If You Love Me - B.B. King & Van Morrison
Jaws Theme - John Williams
Let's Stay Together - Al Green
Love Theme From St. Elmo's Fire - David Foster
Love's Theme - Barry White
My Cherie Amour - Stevie Wonder
Oh Happy Day - Edwin Hawkins
One In A Million You - Larry Graham
Only Time - Enya
Recipe For Love - Harry Connick, Jr.
Stuck On You - Lionel Richie
Stuck With You - Huey Lewis & The News
Sugar Sugar - The Archies
Sweet Love - Anita Baker
That's Amore - Dean Martin
This Magic Moment - The Drifters
What The World Needs Now Is Love - Dionne Warwick
Wishin' & Hopin' - Ani DiFranco
You're All I Need To Get By - Marvin Gaye/Tammy Terrell

Garter Retrieval

Ecstacy (When You Lay Down Next To Me) - Barry White
Fever - Madonna
I Want Her - Keith Sweat
Leave Your Hat On - Joe Cocker
Legs - ZZ Top
Mission Impossible Theme
Oh Yeah - Yello
Rub You The Right Way - Johnny Gill
Tell Me Something Good - Chaka Khan
The Stripper - David Rose & His Orchestra
Woo Hoo - 5,6,7,8's
You Sexy Thing - Hot Chocolate

Garter Toss

Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
Bad Boys - Theme From "Cops"
Bad To The Bone - George Thorogood
Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolf
I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred
Just A Gigolo - David Lee Roth
Macho Man - Village People
Raiders Theme Song
Rock & Roll Part II - Gary Glitter
Rocky Theme Song
Sexyback - Justin Timberlake
Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top
Theme From "Shaft" - Isaac Hayes
Who Let The Dogs Out - Baha Men
Whoop There It Is! - Tag Team
Wild Thing - The Troggs


Favorite Family Dance Songs

Father/Daughter Dances:
Butterfly Kisses - Bob Carlisle
Daddy's Hands - Holly Dunn
Father's And Daughter's - Paul Simon
Father's Eyes - Amy Grant
Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder
My Father's Eye - Eric Clapton
My Girl - The Temptations

Mother/Son Dances:
A Song For Mama - Boyz II Men

General:
Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion
Blessed - Elton John
Can You Feel The Love Tonight - Elton John
Count On Me - Whitney Houston
Greatest Love Of All - Whitney Houston
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You - Rod Stewart
Hero - Mariah Carey
How Sweet It Is - James Taylor
I Am Your Child - Barry Manilow
I'll Be There - Jackson 5
In My Life - The Beatles
Reach Out (I'll Be There) - The Four Tops
Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Louis Armstrong
Sunrise, Sunset - Fiddler On The Roof
The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra
There You'll Be (Pearl Harbor Theme Song) - Faith Hill
Through The Years - Kenny Rogers
Unforgettable - Natalie Cole & Nat King Cole
What A Wonderful World - Louie Armstrong
Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
Wishing Tree - Sonia Dada
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life - Stevie Wonder
You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban
Your Song - Elton John

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