The best time for the father/daughter and mother/son dance depends on whether the band is scheduled with breaks, playing between courses during dinner, or playing continuous music without breaks.

Because of the need for a clear dance floor, if the band is only playing after dinner and has no breaks, there really is no other choice than to put the father/daughter and mother/son dances immediately after the bridal dance. Because three dances in a row that don’t involve your guests can take ten to fifteen minutes, many couples want to get the party going a little more quickly! The easiest way to do this is to combine the father/daughter and mother/son dances into one song. The bride and her father can start it out, and the band leader can invite the groom and his mother to join them half way through the song, or they can all start together.

If the dancing isn’t continuous, there’s another solution. The bridal dance can start off the first set, and the father/daughter and mother/son dances can start off the second set. Either way, your guests will be more entertained and you’ll add momentum to your wedding!

It’s simple really! Hire a professional and highly experienced band leader who will manage the entire itinerary for your wedding reception. He will guide everything and everyone from beginning to end. From your entrance to your exit, a true professional carries it all by timing everything perfectly, and coordinating with the catering to make sure your reception schedule stays on track. The catering staff depends on a band leader who is a consummate pro – a team player who is willing to do whatever it takes to keep things on schedule to provide the perfect party. The announcements will be well rehearsed, the pronunciations of names checked, and everyone acknowledged at the appropriate time. His band is an exciting group of professional entertainers who draw everyone in, determined to bring the fun to an unforgettable climax with song and dance for all ages!

If you don’t have a wedding planner, an experienced band leader is essential. If you do have a wedding planner, he or she will be ecstatic to have such support and cooperation from your terrific band leader!

Remember, to feel great, you have to take the worry out of your wedding reception. If you feel great, we guarantee you’ll have perfect wedding memories you’ll cherish for the rest of your lives!

Brides and grooms are most involved in choosing music for the ceremony itself. The best way to approach this is to first have a final order for the procession, so that we can see where the logical places to change music would be. Typically, we need to choose one to three pieces for everyone until the bride. The bride needs a piece of her own, and we need some music for the recessional. Let’s look at a simple procession example:

1. Officiant
2. Parents of the Bride
3. Parents of the Groom
4. Four Groomsmen
5. Four Bridesmaids
6. Groom
7. Parents of the Bride walk back half way and stand on either side of the aisle
8. Bride enters, her parents meet her half way down the aisle and escort her to the Groom

This typically requires four pieces of music:

1. Officiant through the Parents of the Groom
2. Groomsmen and Bridesmaids
3. Groom and Parents of the Bride walking back half way
4. Bride

We would need a fifth piece for the recessional at the end of the ceremony, and maybe another for something during the ceremony itself.

What music to choose? It’s your wedding, so it’s up to you! It can be all classical, all pop, all Jewish, or any mix you like. In general, though, slow, stately pieces are best for the procession, and something more upbeat is best for the recessional. We have links to recordings of us playing many of the most popular choices on our wedding ceremony music page. If you prefer classical music for your ceremony, here are some recommendations from our list you can listen to for the scenario above:

1. Officiant, Parents of the Bride, and Parents of the Groom – Air from Water Music – Handel
2. Groomsmen and Bridesmaids – Four Seasons Winter – Vivaldi
3. Groom and Parents of the Bride walking back half way – Eine Kleine Nachtmusik – Mozart
4. Bride – Canon in D – Pachelbel
5. Recessional – Four Seasons Spring – Vivaldi

Every wedding ceremony varies, but this should give you a good idea about how to go about organizing and choosing your music.

If you’re having your wedding ceremony in a church or synagogue, be sure to inquire about any restrictions they may have concerning the type of music that is allowed or whether you can bring in any outside musicians. Some churches may require you to use their regular instrumentalists and vocalists and may not allow non religious popular music to be played during the ceremony, as a wedding is considered a form of worship service.

Your options will be far greater if you are not having your ceremony in a church or synagogue. First, determine your budget. Fewer musicians, of course, cost less. If you’re really on a tight budget, a wedding ceremony can be done with a single instrument such as piano, acoustic guitar, or harp. As you add more instruments, you gain a richer, more varied, and more musically interesting sound that will be more easily heard in a large room. Instead of just melody and accompaniment, the additional instruments can add harmony and counterpoint that really fills out the sound.

What type of pieces would you like played at your wedding ceremony? By far the most popular ceremony music style is classical, but you can also mix in pop or ethnic styles to suit your tastes. A solo harp can be great for classical music. A piano or an acoustic guitar can work well for either classical or pop music. One popular combination of instruments you might consider is piano and flute. Another often requested instrumentation is piano, flute, and violin, which works great for any ceremony music style! Adding a second violin takes this combination to a whole other level, giving a much bigger and more interesting sound. Other great options to consider with piano are trumpet or guitar. How about having some of your ceremony music sung? Consider adding one of our vocalists! For an all classical ceremony, a string quartet is a wonderful sound. You can check out some of our most popular wedding ceremony music ensembles on our music samples page.

Whatever your tastes and budget, we can consult with you to find the perfect instrumentation to orchestrate the wedding ceremony of your dreams!

First, pick a song that means something to you and your fiance. Usually, this is a slow song, though it doesn’t have to be. If you really feel like you have two left feet, take some dance lessons. Ask your teacher to work out the simplest moves possible for your song, and then practice – a lot! It’s essential that your moves become second nature, so you can keep it together when all eyes are upon you. Our band usually does the same arrangement as the original song, so your choreography should work out fine. If you’re really concerned, and you want to dance to the exact music you’ve practiced with, we’re happy to play the cd for you.

Most bridal dances last between three and four minutes, but you don’t have to be alone for the whole song. You can dance by yourselves for a minute, then we can bring your guests onto the floor to join you for the rest of the song. You can add all the guests at once, or add the parents, bridal party, and the rest of the guests in groups. This is often preferred by wedding planners, and it’s a great way to get the party started!

7:00 – Cocktails. The music provides an elegant mood that’s conducive to conversation.

8:00 – Doors open with upbeat dance music as the guests enter. This gives the party an exciting, energetic beginning, and if some people don’t understand that it’s alright to dance before the bride and groom, a good band will know how to draw them onto the dance floor. At the end of this short set, the MC seats the guests.

8:15 – The bridal party is introduced, and as the bride and groom enter the room, they proceed to the dance floor for their first dance. Half way through the bridal dance, the parents of the bride and groom, then the bridal party, then the rest of the guests are invited by the MC to join in the dancing. Many couples feel a little self conscious on the dance floor by themselves, and inviting people to join them half way through their song can make them feel more comfortable. Another three or four songs are played after the bridal dance. The goal of this music set is to really energize the crowd and let them know they’re in for an exciting evening!

8:30 – A welcome speech is given by the hosts, followed by a blessing, and then the first course is served.

8:45 – During the first course, a few musicians play quiet background music, creating the perfect atmosphere for dining and conversation, and there are two or three short toasts. These are typically given by the parents of the bride or groom, the best man, or the maid of honor.

9:00 – There is another short dance set, during which the first course is cleared and the entrée is served. Dancing between courses is a popular trend, and it can be much more exciting and fun for the guests!

9:15 – Entrée with background music.

9:30 – Near the end of the entrée, the bride and groom cut the cake and then speak, followed directly by the father/daughter and mother/son dances, which are often combined, so that the guests don’t have to sit through two songs in which they aren’t included. All the guests are invited to the dance floor and have a blast rockin’ the night away until the end of the party!

A band that can interact well with the audience is more engaging and as a result can help keep the dance floor packed.

Bands usually take breaks periodically. Continuous music with no breaks will cost more, but contributes greatly to the momentum of the reception and is highly recommended for the most fun filled, energetic party!

11:30 – Last dance.

Each wedding is unique and will reflect the tastes and needs of the bride and groom. The details of your wedding reception timeline can vary greatly!