Wedding Reception Entertainment

Every bride and groom wants to show their wedding guests a great time at their reception. While music and dancing have always been a part of most weddings, these days couples often want to go the extra mile and give guests that "wow" factor. These are some trends and ideas about wedding reception entertainment.

Music is still the most popular form of entertainment at a wedding reception. The right band or d.j. can really help get a great party going, while choosing the wrong music can result in an empty dance floor and bored guests. A popular trend is to have a late night d.j. spinning the latest hits. The reception might start with a wedding band who can play a wide variety of crowd pleasing songs to appeal to a multi-generational crowd. Then later in the evening, the reception slips into after-party mode. The bride puts on a short dress with her crystal wedding jewelry, the d.j. starts playing, and late night treats like donuts or pizza are served.

Another popular form of wedding reception entertainment is dance instructors. This is a fantastic option for a bride and groom who want to get a lot of people on the wedding dance floor without playing club music. Hire a hot swing band and a pair of instructors to teach everyone all the steps (the fun part is that the older guests may already know the dances). Or you could go for a sultry Latin dance like the tango, which would be a great fit for a hot summer wedding. It would be a fabulous addition to a glamorous wedding where the bride is wearing a slinky sheath gown and crystal wedding jewelry. Your guests will have fun learning a new style of dance, and your reception will definitely be memorable.

 

Some couples feel that they must provide entertainment beyond dancing for their guests. Performers can be hired to do a short show. This tends to work the best when the show is in keeping with the theme of the wedding. Fire dancers would be fun for a luau reception, a Chinese dragon would be dramatic for an Asian wedding, or Celtic step dancers could do a show at an Irish-American wedding. When hiring special performers, keep in mind that a lot of guests will not enjoy experimental or avant garde artists. Performances should always be G-rated to avoid shocking anyone's sensibilities.

 

If you are having an evening wedding, consider going out with a bang. Fireworks have become a popular trend for nighttime celebrations. It can be a marvelous way for the bride and groom to make their grand exit or they can be done earlier during an evening reception to make sure that no one leaves early and misses the fireworks show. Of course fireworks are an expensive addition to a wedding budget, and may not be permissible at all venues, so no couple should feel like they are a must-have entertainment for their reception.

A final tip on wedding reception entertainment: don't overdo it. Many couples fall into the trap of thinking that more is better, but it is not necessary to plan a spectacle for every moment of the reception. For generations, guests did nothing more than eat, dance, and mingle at wedding receptions, and most of them were perfectly fine with that. Even today, guests can get overloaded with non-stop entertainment and it can grow tiring. Frankly, too much or too lavish entertainment can also look like the bride and groom are trying to show off how much money they spent. Choose one or two special features for your reception, if you like, and then let the rest of the evening unfold naturally. It will be the perfect balance and your guests will have a fantastic time at your wedding.