Pretty much everyone picks slow ballads for their bridal dance, father/daughter and mother son/dances. Not this bride and groom! They started off with a combined father/daughter and mother/son dance to John Fogerty’s “Rock and Roll Girls”, and then went into the bridal dance with Jackie Wilson’s “Higher and Higher,” both of which are really fast songs! We invited the guests to join the bride and groom on the dance floor half way through their bridal dance. The dance floor filled, the crowd went nuts, and the party rocked the night away until midnight! What a fun group of guests they were!

From the bride and groom:

“What a party! Our reception was the most fun I have had in my life! We danced all night, as did all of our guests. Your band truly made our reception a night to remember with your enthusiasm, great play list, and amazing energy! Not to mention the wonderful job you did learning our first dance and father-daughter songs! A month later and guests are still commenting on our “awesome band” and asking for your name to pass along to friends and family. Thanks for fabulous memories!” – Jamie and Dan Letizia

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!

The bride and groom chose Our Love is Here to Stay for their bridal dance, followed by The Way You Look Tonight for a combined father/daughter and mother/son dance. Completely switching gears, we invited the rest of the guests to the dance floor with Let’s Get it Started by the Black Eyed Peas, which kicked off three straight hours of continuous music and dancing. At the end of the party, the groom commented to me that not only did their guests have a blast, but we looked like we did too. We always do, and I never have more fun than I do playing with our band!

Here’s what the bride had to say:

“Both Paul and I were thrilled with the way our wedding turned out. Everything ran smoothly, and everyone had a great time – we thank the Peter Hennes Orchestra for a large part of that. We keep getting comments from guests such as “what a great band!” “I have never had so much fun at a wedding!” and “the night just went by too fast.” Thanks for all that you did to help plan and execute an absolutely wonderful event!” – Elizabeth Galanis

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!