Lake Tahoe Weddings

Lake Tahoe Wedding Receptions

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Sample Formats

The one thing you should remember is, it's YOUR WEDDING and you should have it done the way you want it, not the way the DJ wants to do it. There are many ways to do your wedding reception. The outlines below are general formats we have used through the years. Please remember though any way you want your reception done is the way we will do it. Consider special upgrades to enhance your entertainment selection.

Please Make A Selection:

Format For A Reception Only Event

Format For A Ceremony And Reception

Format For A Reception That Includes A DJ and a Band

Typical Reception Only Format Without Ceremony

1. Set-up generally 1 hour before the start time.

2. Guests arrival, background music starts as soon as first guest arrives. Your Disc Jockey is a Master of Ceremonies and can make all any of your announcements you may need throughout the day.

3. Wedding party arrives approximately 1/2 - 1 hour after guests arrive.

4. Grand march can be done at that time to introduce wedding party as you enter the room. Or a receiving line can be done instead, or you can just enter the room. You will be introduced at the first dance anyway. The decisions is strictly up to you.

5. It's nice to have about a half hour to 45 minutes at the most to settle down, breath and greet your guests after you arrive.

6. Meal starts. Background music continues.

7. Toast: can be done by anybody but generally by the best man.

8. If you are having a buffet line, I recommend to do the toast right after the last guests goes through the line. That will be the quietest time of the whole day and all the guests will be sitting down and you will have their undivided attention. If you are having a sit down meal you can do the toast as soon as the room is seated. or it can be done during the salad or the meal. The main thing is to have the room quiet, and have the guests attention.

9. First dances right after the meal is done and then on into open dancing.

10. Dancing goes on for approximately 20/40 minutes after the first dances depending on the crowd.

11. Cake cutting and then money dance if you want one.

12. Open dancing then begins, once again for approximately 20/40 minutes after the cake or money dance depending on the crowed

13. Then the garter and bouquet toss

14. And then dancing until the end of the reception

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Typical Reception Format With Ceremony

Generally the ceremony does not take place in the same place as the reception. For this, Tahoe DJs have developed a special second remote system set up at the ceremony location. (Within 100' of the reception location)

1. Set-up generally 1 hour before the start time.

2. Guests arrival, background music starts as soon as first guest arrives and plays on both reception and ceremony sound system. Your DJ will make any announcements you may need throughout the day.

3. Ceremony Begins. The DJ will work with the minister to ensure that everything will run smooth.

4. At the end of the Ceremony guests will slowly make their way to the Reception location. During this time background music will continue on both sound systems. At this time the bride and groom along with wedding party members will be getting their photos taken by a photographer at the ceremony site.

5. Wedding party arrives approximately 1/2 - 1 hour after guests arrive to ceremony location. After the ceremony location is vacant the ceremony sound system is removed. During this time background music will continue for the reception party.

6. Grand march can be done at that time to introduce wedding party as you enter the room. Or a receiving line can be done instead, or you can just enter the room. You will be introduced at the first dance anyway. The decision is up to you.

7. It's nice to have about a half hour to 45 minutes at the most to settle down, breath and greet your guests after you arrive.

8. Meal starts. Background music continues.

9. Toast: can be done by anybody but generally by the best man. At this time, if necessary a wireless microphone can be passed around for wedding guests to say a few words to the bride and groom. If it is a smaller venue we do not recommend the use of a microphone during the toast because some guests are shy of using them. Once again it is strictly up to you.

10. If you are having a buffet line, I recommend to do the toast right after the last guests goes through the line. That will be the quietest time of the whole day and all the guests will be sitting down and you will have their undivided attention. If you are having a sit down meal you can do the toast as soon as the room is seated. or it can be done during the salad or the meal. The main thing is to have the room quiet, and have the guests attention.

11. First dances right after the meal is done and then on into open dancing.

12. Dancing goes on for approximately 20/40 minutes after the first dances depending on the crowd.

13. Cake cutting and then money dance if you want one.

14. Open dancing then begins, once again for approximately 20/40 minutes after the cake or money dance depending on your guests.

15. Then the garter and bouquet toss.

16. And then dancing until the end of the reception.

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Typical Reception Only Format With Band and DJ

1. Set-up generally 1-2 hours before the start time. Work closely with the band to ensure quality set up and to go over the evening's agenda.

2. Guests arrival, background music starts as soon as first guest arrives

3. Wedding party arrives approximately 1/2 - 1 hour after guests arrive

5. It's nice to have about a half hour to 45 minutes at the most to settle down, breath and greet your guests after you arrive.

6. Meal starts. During this time background music by the DJ will continue.

7. Toast: can be done by anybody but generally by the best man.

9. First dances right after the meal is done. Your first dance can be done by the DJ or the Band. Immediately following the first dance open dancing will begin.

The advantage of having the DJ play your first dance: It can be by the original artist. After the first dance the DJ will then build the crowd up with some of their great dance songs. After a few selections he/she will then introduce the band. This gets the guests excited about the band.

The advantage of having the Band play your first dance: It is performed live to start of the evening of dancing. After the first dance the band will continue play great music for your guests.

10. Dancing goes on for approximately 20/40 minutes after the first dances depending on the wedding guests.

11. The DJ will play a few selections while the band takes a break

12. The band and/or DJ will begin the cake cutting followed by the money dance if you had requested one.

13. The band continues open dancing then begins, once again for approximately 20/40 minutes after the cake or money dance depending on the wedding guests.

14. Then the garter and bouquet toss

15. And then DJ dancing until the end of the reception

We recommend that if you book a band, that you also book a Disc Jockey. There are two main benefits to this. The first and the most important is that your average band will only play 2 x 45 minute sets or if your lucky 2 x 1 hour sets. That leaves you without any entertainment for at least 2 hours. If you engage the services of a DJ as well, he will start the evening off. Initially with background music during dinner, followed by the bride and grooms first dance, then he will gradually build up the atmosphere and introduce the band. They will then perform their first set. Once they stop for a break the DJ will keep people dancing until the band are ready to start their second set. If you do not do this the atmosphere will be lost and it can be very hard for the band to get the audience back in the mood. It is usually better to end the evening with the DJ. Depending on when the band finish, the DJ will keep people dancing, then gradually slow things down. He will also be able to make any announcements you may want made.

As full service event coordinators Tahoe DJs can assist you with finding the perfect wedding band for your special day.

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Once again this is a general format we have used through the years, but any way you want your reception to go is the way we will do it.

EXAMPLE

12:00 guests arrive

12:30 - 12:45 wedding party arrives

1:00 - 1:15 meal starts

1:30 toast, meal continues

2:00 first dances

2:00 - 2:30 open dancing

2:30 cake cutting

2:45 open dancing

2:45 money dance if asked for, that could go on from 5 to 45 minutes

3:15 garter and bouquet toss

3:20 dancing until the end of the reception

Mobile Disc Jockeys service varies from one event to another. Whether it's for a wedding, reception, birthday, anniversary, reunion, car show, dance music, convention, trade show, or a corporate event, company Christmas party or even a private party, an experienced DJ is the key to a successful event.

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