Wedding do's & don'ts

Blackkat13 · 05 Sep 2008, 04:31

My sister is getting married in about 2 weeks, give or take a few days. I keep getting asked about do's and don'ts so if you all have any wisedom please post. I'll pass it all on to her, everything from good groom/mom dance songs to everything else. Plus I also found out and have to learn some dance called Solider Boy, no clue on it. She's being nice and going to also play the Time Warp, which I'm scared to do in front of my family. I have a small list that a few friends sent me, and she keep in mind stuff about the hall, brides maid dresses, and good ideas on about food items. Please Help

mszee · 05 Sep 2008, 06:08

I would think it's a bit late to ask 2 weeks before the wedding?

At this time, only specific questions can be answered...I mean, you guys probably already have hall, music and so on?

My advice...after slow dance for groom/bride, groom/mother, bride/father (traditional in America), let DJ or band play mostly fast energetic music with very few scattered slow dances...once guests (especially young ones) sit down to slow music, they never get up, then they eat, get sleepy and go home...keep them on their feet if you want fun going...good DJ/band will know what to do. Also, ask whoever is playing to play familiar to most music...people respond better to what they know/remember best - sort of nostalgic moments...

Believe it or not, Bon Jovi, Springsteen and ABBA work the best...nostalgia...

Another advice I would give, if they haven't done so, tell bride and groom to take a couple of dance lessons...will help them when they are nervous to dance in front of everybody at the wedding.

Otherwise, dunno what particular questions you had in mind.

Ask away...if not...

Best wishes to bride and groom and good luck!!!

Pudding · 05 Sep 2008, 11:15

I've been to some real shit weddings in my time. Cheap tacky crap where the bride & groom get pissed and make a complete tit of themselves.

I suggest you watch a few episodes of Bridezillas and then you'll get an idea of what to do and what not to do.

Pud

LucyK! · 05 Sep 2008, 11:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pudding

I've been to some real shit weddings in my time. Cheap tacky crap where the bride & groom get pissed and make a complete tit of themselves.

How very graceful

My advice, check that the wedding rings fit! When my aunt and uncle got married my uncle had really big, chunky, fingers (he's sadly no longer with us but to give you an idea he looked like Meat in Black Dog, only without the explosions

)...my aunt tried to carefully ease the ring onto his finger but it just wasn't happening, their wedding video ended up with her using all her strength to shove it up his finger

Pudding · 05 Sep 2008, 12:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucy!

My advice, check that the wedding rings fit!

Me and Mrs Pud got married in Barbados and I didn't realise how much fingers swell up in the heat and it took the best part of 2 minutes and a gallon of holy water before the ring went on. So that's good advice Lucy.

Pud

~Helen~ · 05 Sep 2008, 12:45

It's also a good idea for the music DJ at the reception to know the name of the bride! Went to a wedding a few years ago where not only did the DJ repeatedly interrupt songs (I think we counted 9 interruptions within one song) but he also shouted across to the groom on the other side of the room "eh - what's your mrs called?" having earlier said something along the lines of ... "welcome to the reception for Paul and errr errr ummm... his lovely bride!"

Oh and get someone other than the official wedding photographer to take photos...lots of photos...of just about everything and anything! Flower arrangements, the rooms, table decorations, food....! Disposable cameras on the tables for the guests to use is always a good idea. It's amazing the things you can forget years later and the memories that can come back from a single photo. Relaxed wedding breakfast / reception photos are just as important as the posed / staged ones (along with my dad, I'm the unofficial wedding photographer amongst my friends and relations...so have learned this from experience - because they know me, they're more relaxed with me (or other guests with cameras) than they are with the official photographers and this shows in the pictures, plus guests often unknowingly capture more of the mood of the event...and these pictures tend to be treasured for years to come...even the fuzzy ones the kids at the tables have taken!)

Good luck with the wedding and I wish your sister all the best!

*AndyK* · 05 Sep 2008, 12:49

Just tell them to relax and enjoy it ... it's their day so they should be the ones enjoying it most.

mszee · 05 Sep 2008, 15:27

Basically a lot will depend on the vendors hired for that day (hall people, caterer, DJ, flowers, etc)...if they are good and professional...bride and groom won't feel any kind of pressure.

**The Flying Mouse** · 05 Sep 2008, 15:53

Here's a nice little gimmick I do when I play weddings........

The bride and groom are obviously very busy and VERY in demand at the reception, and there isn't the chance to get to see everybody who has come to the reception.

It's a good idea to have the DJ stop the music at an apt moment and call for attention.

Ask everybody in the room to come to the dancefloor and form a big circle with the bride and groom in the middle.

Start the bride at one side of the circle, and the groom on the other, and explain they are to follow each other around the circle clockwise (or anti if you want lol) and to greet all their guests in person.

Play an appropriate song and start them on their way.

Don't know if it's big in America, but here in England i'd go with Congratulations by Cliff Richard (without any prompt from me, I guarantee that the whole crowd will be clapping along together by the end of the opening chorus) .

It might all sound a bit cheesy (including the song) , but believe me, i've done plenty of weddings and trust me, cheese is GOOD.

It's another moment of putting the spotlight on the happy couple, and it also makes all the guests feel part of the celebration.

Make sure you don't leave it too late in the night to do this as you don't want the music stopping once the beer has been flowing, the party starts proper, and people start hitting the dancefloor.
Organization after beer is not easy and does not flow well

If you DO do this, and the DJ you tell the routine to wants to use it again, tell him I want 15%

mszee · 05 Sep 2008, 16:12

Sounds good but we do it differently in America...

All guests are called into the dining hall after cocktail hour (ceremony-cocktail hour-reception)...whatever music is chosen is playing...guests are asked to stand up and come forward...and bridal party starts entering with special introductions from the DJ...first parents of the bride, then parents of the groom, then best man/maid of honor, bridal party: bridesmaids and grooms, and the last they announce something like...for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. such and such...and bride and groom come in then and it goes straight into their first dance...something like that...

Never heard of the song above so not sure about it...

~Helen~ · 05 Sep 2008, 16:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by mszee

Never heard of the song above so not sure about it...

consider that a blessing

mszee · 05 Sep 2008, 16:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~Helen~

consider that a blessing

I trust you...if I don't forget I will listen to it though on youtube when I get home...here it's usually something uptempo but I can't think of one...usually DJ/Band knows what to do...it's done at almost every wedding...

**allrevvedup** · 05 Sep 2008, 18:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~Helen~

consider that a blessing

Zina, consider your sanity saved...well for now

mszee · 05 Sep 2008, 18:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by allrevvedup

Zina, consider your sanity saved...well for now

That bad, eh? I will let you know what I think if I will find time and/or remember to listen to it from home...

**The Flying Mouse** · 05 Sep 2008, 20:29

The British party staple

YouTube Video

Believe me, even the most cynical party goer turns into a grinning idiot and claps along when you play this at the right time.

Blackkat13 · 05 Sep 2008, 21:23

Never though about the camera's, but I have been to wedding where people had them out. BTW my sisters boyfriend loves Superman so my sister got Superman garder belts.
I should tell my sister choose a ML song for the dollar dance since they last long.

Normal songs at a wedding, ones I hear over and over again.
White Wedding (anti wedding song)
Taking care of business (aligator dance)
The Stroke (watch American Graffiti or Soul trains version)
The Chicken Dance (were weird)
The Love Shack (only seen people at 1 wedding know this dance)
The Stroking song (can't think of it)
Celebartions
We are Family (mom hates the song)
lots of Journey, Bon Jovi, & tons of Country at this one.

Pudding · 05 Sep 2008, 22:21

They could do a dance sequence.

YouTube Video

Pud

**Monstro** · 05 Sep 2008, 22:30

Cheers Pud, shite week and that made me laugh!!!!!!!

Siobhan · 06 Sep 2008, 00:07

mszee · 06 Sep 2008, 06:54

I didn't just see THAT...I should drink less really...

Blackkat13 · 06 Sep 2008, 11:08

My sister was talking tonight about the Cha Cha slide, and haveing to get a list of what alchol to order since the grooms parents are paying for that. Another thing is they paid the hall off 2,000 dollars for the food and hall and it's all on a credit card.

**Monstro** · 06 Sep 2008, 12:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by mszee

I didn't just see THAT...I should drink less really...

Drink more, won't seem unreal then lol

mszee · 06 Sep 2008, 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monstro

Drink more, won't seem unreal then lol

Well...my first thought was that Pud looks awfully heavy in this video...I am glad I didn't post THAT last night...LOL...

mszee · 06 Sep 2008, 15:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackkat13

My sister was talking tonight about the Cha Cha slide, and haveing to get a list of what alchol to order since the grooms parents are paying for that. Another thing is they paid the hall off 2,000 dollars for the food and hall and it's all on a credit card.

Go for hard liquor...most happy people faster!!!

~Helen~ · 06 Sep 2008, 17:21

pud! thank you! been having a really bad day today following some bad news earlier - so that vid really made me smile - first time all day! so much appreciated!

and blackkat (sorry, i don't know your real name) at the end of the day, the most important thing is that your sister and her fiance are commiting to spend the rest of their lives with someone that loves them and that they love, it is their special day and nothing else matters but their committment to each other. they just need to enjoy the day, not worry about anything else, if anything does go not as planned it is there to make it memorable and to laugh about and add to the enjoyment of the special occasion. just make sure your sister is happy and doesn't have anything at all to be worrying about, and she can just concentrate on enjoying herself and on what is the most important thing.

05 Sep 2008, 04:31	#1
Blackkat13 Mega Loafer Join Date: 30.07.2006 Location: Hell, Michigan Posts: 1,989	Wedding do's & don'ts My sister is getting married in about 2 weeks, give or take a few days. I keep getting asked about do's and don'ts so if you all have any wisedom please post. I'll pass it all on to her, everything from good groom/mom dance songs to everything else. Plus I also found out and have to learn some dance called Solider Boy, no clue on it. She's being nice and going to also play the Time Warp, which I'm scared to do in front of my family. I have a small list that a few friends sent me, and she keep in mind stuff about the hall, brides maid dresses, and good ideas on about food items. Please Help

05 Sep 2008, 15:53	#9
The Flying Mouse Armed ba$tard and Jo's other half. Join Date: 06.08.2002 Location: In the middle of nowhere near the end of the line. Posts: 16,104	Here's a nice little gimmick I do when I play weddings........ The bride and groom are obviously very busy and VERY in demand at the reception, and there isn't the chance to get to see everybody who has come to the reception. It's a good idea to have the DJ stop the music at an apt moment and call for attention. Ask everybody in the room to come to the dancefloor and form a big circle with the bride and groom in the middle. Start the bride at one side of the circle, and the groom on the other, and explain they are to follow each other around the circle clockwise (or anti if you want lol) and to greet all their guests in person. Play an appropriate song and start them on their way. Don't know if it's big in America, but here in England i'd go with Congratulations by Cliff Richard (without any prompt from me, I guarantee that the whole crowd will be clapping along together by the end of the opening chorus) . It might all sound a bit cheesy (including the song) , but believe me, i've done plenty of weddings and trust me, cheese is GOOD. It's another moment of putting the spotlight on the happy couple, and it also makes all the guests feel part of the celebration. Make sure you don't leave it too late in the night to do this as you don't want the music stopping once the beer has been flowing, the party starts proper, and people start hitting the dancefloor. Organization after beer is not easy and does not flow well If you DO do this, and the DJ you tell the routine to wants to use it again, tell him I want 15% Last edited by The Flying Mouse; 05 Sep 2008 at 15:59.

05 Sep 2008, 06:08	#2
mszee Mega Loafer Join Date: 29.03.2006 Location: And you think you're down under??? Posts: 26,252	I would think it's a bit late to ask 2 weeks before the wedding? At this time, only specific questions can be answered...I mean, you guys probably already have hall, music and so on? My advice...after slow dance for groom/bride, groom/mother, bride/father (traditional in America), let DJ or band play mostly fast energetic music with very few scattered slow dances...once guests (especially young ones) sit down to slow music, they never get up, then they eat, get sleepy and go home...keep them on their feet if you want fun going...good DJ/band will know what to do. Also, ask whoever is playing to play familiar to most music...people respond better to what they know/remember best - sort of nostalgic moments... Believe it or not, Bon Jovi, Springsteen and ABBA work the best...nostalgia... Another advice I would give, if they haven't done so, tell bride and groom to take a couple of dance lessons...will help them when they are nervous to dance in front of everybody at the wedding. Otherwise, dunno what particular questions you had in mind. Ask away...if not... Best wishes to bride and groom and good luck!!!

05 Sep 2008, 11:15	#3
Pudding I'm A Prize Fight Lover... Join Date: 22.10.2003 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,532	I've been to some real shit weddings in my time. Cheap tacky crap where the bride & groom get pissed and make a complete tit of themselves. I suggest you watch a few episodes of Bridezillas and then you'll get an idea of what to do and what not to do. Pud

05 Sep 2008, 12:45	#6
~Helen~ Mega Loafer Join Date: 01.11.2007 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,958	It's also a good idea for the music DJ at the reception to know the name of the bride! Went to a wedding a few years ago where not only did the DJ repeatedly interrupt songs (I think we counted 9 interruptions within one song) but he also shouted across to the groom on the other side of the room "eh - what's your mrs called?" having earlier said something along the lines of ... "welcome to the reception for Paul and errr errr ummm... his lovely bride!" Oh and get someone other than the official wedding photographer to take photos...lots of photos...of just about everything and anything! Flower arrangements, the rooms, table decorations, food....! Disposable cameras on the tables for the guests to use is always a good idea. It's amazing the things you can forget years later and the memories that can come back from a single photo. Relaxed wedding breakfast / reception photos are just as important as the posed / staged ones (along with my dad, I'm the unofficial wedding photographer amongst my friends and relations...so have learned this from experience - because they know me, they're more relaxed with me (or other guests with cameras) than they are with the official photographers and this shows in the pictures, plus guests often unknowingly capture more of the mood of the event...and these pictures tend to be treasured for years to come...even the fuzzy ones the kids at the tables have taken!) Good luck with the wedding and I wish your sister all the best!

05 Sep 2008, 12:49	#7
AndyK Relentless Join Date: 21.11.2003 Location: Over the top..... seeing what's on the other side Posts: 18,694	Just tell them to relax and enjoy it ... it's their day so they should be the ones enjoying it most.

05 Sep 2008, 15:27	#8
mszee Mega Loafer Join Date: 29.03.2006 Location: And you think you're down under??? Posts: 26,252	Basically a lot will depend on the vendors hired for that day (hall people, caterer, DJ, flowers, etc)...if they are good and professional...bride and groom won't feel any kind of pressure.

05 Sep 2008, 16:12	#10
mszee Mega Loafer Join Date: 29.03.2006 Location: And you think you're down under??? Posts: 26,252	Sounds good but we do it differently in America... All guests are called into the dining hall after cocktail hour (ceremony-cocktail hour-reception)...whatever music is chosen is playing...guests are asked to stand up and come forward...and bridal party starts entering with special introductions from the DJ...first parents of the bride, then parents of the groom, then best man/maid of honor, bridal party: bridesmaids and grooms, and the last they announce something like...for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. such and such...and bride and groom come in then and it goes straight into their first dance...something like that... Never heard of the song above so not sure about it...

05 Sep 2008, 21:23	#16
Blackkat13 Mega Loafer Join Date: 30.07.2006 Location: Hell, Michigan Posts: 1,989	Never though about the camera's, but I have been to wedding where people had them out. BTW my sisters boyfriend loves Superman so my sister got Superman garder belts. I should tell my sister choose a ML song for the dollar dance since they last long. Normal songs at a wedding, ones I hear over and over again. White Wedding (anti wedding song) Taking care of business (aligator dance) The Stroke (watch American Graffiti or Soul trains version) The Chicken Dance (were weird) The Love Shack (only seen people at 1 wedding know this dance) The Stroking song (can't think of it) Celebartions We are Family (mom hates the song) lots of Journey, Bon Jovi, & tons of Country at this one.

05 Sep 2008, 22:30	#18
Monstro Promoted to Wario's spellchecker Join Date: 17.09.2005 Location: London Posts: 12,947	Cheers Pud, shite week and that made me laugh!!!!!!!

06 Sep 2008, 00:07	#19
Siobhan Mega Loafer Join Date: 25.11.2007 Location: Southampton/London Posts: 1,171

06 Sep 2008, 06:54	#20
mszee Mega Loafer Join Date: 29.03.2006 Location: And you think you're down under??? Posts: 26,252	I didn't just see THAT...I should drink less really...

06 Sep 2008, 11:08	#21
Blackkat13 Mega Loafer Join Date: 30.07.2006 Location: Hell, Michigan Posts: 1,989	My sister was talking tonight about the Cha Cha slide, and haveing to get a list of what alchol to order since the grooms parents are paying for that. Another thing is they paid the hall off 2,000 dollars for the food and hall and it's all on a credit card.

06 Sep 2008, 17:21	#25
~Helen~ Mega Loafer Join Date: 01.11.2007 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,958	pud! thank you! been having a really bad day today following some bad news earlier - so that vid really made me smile - first time all day! so much appreciated! and blackkat (sorry, i don't know your real name) at the end of the day, the most important thing is that your sister and her fiance are commiting to spend the rest of their lives with someone that loves them and that they love, it is their special day and nothing else matters but their committment to each other. they just need to enjoy the day, not worry about anything else, if anything does go not as planned it is there to make it memorable and to laugh about and add to the enjoyment of the special occasion. just make sure your sister is happy and doesn't have anything at all to be worrying about, and she can just concentrate on enjoying herself and on what is the most important thing.