After the Reception

72% of all brides say they would have spent more time choosing their reception entertainment.

 
Almost 100% say they would have spent more of their budget on the entertainment.

 
During wedding planning, brides say their highest priority is their attire, followed by the reception site and caterer – reception entertainment is among the least of their priorities.

Yet, within one week after their reception, 78% say they would have made the entertainment their highest priority.

 
When asked, 81% of guests say what they remember most about a wedding is the entertainment.

 
65% of all couples that chose a band to entertain at their wedding, said, if they had it to do over again, they would have chosen a
disc jockey.

 
Entertainment is 5% of your Wedding Budget, but TWICE as many guests will remember the entertainment more than anything else.
 

Source: Modern Bride Magazine:

13 Things to Know For A Great Reception.

The original article was published in Mobil Beat Magazine and written by Dan Nichols

Dan is a lay psychologist and DJ entertainer.

This article has been adapted to our local market.

2  Place your DJ entertainers where they can be seen, and work the room. Powerful entertainers will work to get people on the dance floor but they must be seen as part of the action. A DJ needs to see the whole room to be effective with announcements, interactives, and music programming. If at all possible, don't use a stage for the DJ. Stages create a barrier between the performer and the audience; keeping the performer on the same level makes them more approachable by your guests, and a greater connection between performer and guests can be made and will enhance the entertainer's repore with your guests and the overall entertainment experience.

3  A party should end when it shouldn't end, not when it should. Ending a party before it dies down leaves everyone with the impression the floor was packed all night. Having a grand entrance is dramatic, but having plenty of guests left to have a grand exit is just as dramatic when done properly. Having all of your guests bid farewell in a fun way makes better memories than leaving a nearly deserted hall uneventfully.

4  A "too small " dance floor is better than one that is too big. Why? The answer is simple: it creates the impression, whether real or not, that the floor is full. People are more likely to dance when the crowd on the floor is dense, than when they feel like the only ones out there.  If people end up dancing on the carpet,  the story of your floor being so packed they couldn't even fit on the dance floor will only add to the rave review by your guests.

5  Darker is better than lighter for dancing. People need to feel like less of a spectacle, less "onstage" when they think they're harder to see. That's why crime increases at night as well - and yes when some people dance it is a crime.

6  Keep exit doors closed. Doors invite people outside of the main room. having them open allows more light into the room, which again works against the psychodynamics of the dance floor. Open doors invite people to their cars in the parking lot. You want to keep their focus in the reception room for as long as possible.

7  Places with beautiful outside scenery and an inviting decks and patios will pull people outside away from the reception room and dance floor. It's human nature to want to enjoy a cold beverage on a breezy deck outdoors amidst the trees.  The night can still be great,  but  you'll want to pay closer attention to some of the other factors to tip the scales in your favor

8  Bars should always be in the main room. Preferably closer to the dance floor, but the DJ's sound system shouldn't be in the way of any lines to the bar. If a bar and / or desserts are put outside the main room, then a huge percentage of potential dancers are unavailable. Bars are like kitchens - they draw people to them.

9  Happy music keeps things going. Keep away from any negative vibes at all. Keep the mood up-up-up. People want to dance to music they know. Stay away from obscure music.  You've got a lot of people from all over your family tree that want to have a good time, so let your DJ exercise all his or her tools and really work his or her craft. Be careful not to cut out all of the "cliché" wedding music, or entire genres of music as you'll find this will negatively impact the dance floor potential. Make sure your DJ provider has a plan to target all generations.

10  People tend to remember the beginning and the end of an event. That's why your DJ should do a strong, grand introduction. It helps build a rapport early on, and if done right and with energy and enthusiasm, it puts him or her in a more powerful position to work your crowd all night.

11  Plan out a timeline and follow it as closely as possible. Being exact on timelines is impossible, there are too many people and too many variables, so be flexible. Keeping a consistent flow of activities through-out the night will keep things fresh and people will want to stay longer, as appose to when there is nothing going on. Plan to do pictures and all toasts before the beginning of the dance; taking time during the dance can break the momentum. The closer the beginning of the dance part of the reception to the end of dinner and people finishing eating, the fewer the number of guests will leave. Our Consultants can help you plan your reception to optimize the entertainment experience and minimize the number of guests that leave. People will look to brides and grooms to set the mood. If they see them having a great time, then guests will be more willing to be involved too.

12  If you have to cut corners, don't compromise on the entertainment. The entertainment will be the most remembered part of the evening. Years, months, or even weeks from your reception, people may or may not remember the food or the cake, but they will remember if they had a great time. When you receive your pictures back from the photographer or DVD from the videographer, you will want to see people having a great time, and the price you've paid for these services will be more of a value to you.

13  Doing a dollar dance creates a great time for people to be able to talk to the bride & groom one-on-one, just to be able to say hi, congratulations, and to know the bride and groom knew they were there. Dollar dances can run long, however by instructing the best man and the maid of honor to only allow a short time with each person will greatly reduce the amount of time it will take. The DJ entertainer should never try to cut the time short. The people who have been waiting in line for awhile and  finally get close, the DJ announcing it's over will probably, and understandably make them upset. After the dollar dance plan some type of interactive to get people up again and having a great time.