Wedding Reception Planner

 

Don't worry if you don't have all of the information to complete this planner.  Fill in the information you are sure about, and we will help you complete it.

 

Contact Information

Bride’s Name:
Bride’s Phone/email:
Groom’s Name:
Groom’s Phone/Email:

 

Order of Events

Wedding Date:
Ceremony Start Time:
Reception Start Time:
Reception Ending Time:

 

Sequence	Time	Event
		Guests Arrive
		Guest seating for ceremony
		Wedding Ceremony (if DJ providing music/microphones)
		Cocktail Hour (if DJ providing music)
		Reception Start
		Grand Entrance/Introductions
		First Dance
		Wedding Party Dance (optional, can be combined with first dance)
		Grace/Blessing
		Main Course
		Toasts
		Bride and Groom’s Love Story/Video Montage
		Centerpiece Giveaway
		Cake Cutting
		Father/Daughter Dance (can be combined with Mother/Son Dance)
		Mother/Son Dance (can be combined with Father/Daughter Dance)
		Anniversary Dance
		Open Dancing
		Bouquet/Garter
		Bride and Groom Games/Competition
		Open Dancing
		Last Dance

The printed order of events is only a suggestion.  Every reception is different, and this is YOUR reception.  Any event may be added, removed, or rearranged as long as it is clearly indicated in the above table.

Location Information

Name of Establishment:
Contact Name:
Contact Phone:
Primary Room Name:
Second Room Name:

 

Do we have to provide music in other room(s) at any time (such as for cocktail hour)?  If so, what, where, and when?

 

General Information

Wedding Colors:
Number of Guests:
Number of Children:

 

Tuxedo pants, shirts, and vests are the normal outfit for MCs and DJs.  If you wish different attire, detail your preference here:

 

Contact Information For Other Party Professionals

 

Party Professionals	Name	Phone
Caterer
Planner/Coordinator
Photographer
Videographer

 

Table Photos/Interviews

 

Please indicate the points (if any) during the reception when you and your photographer or videographer wants everyone to remain seated for table photos:

 

Music For Ceremony (If DJ Providing Music)

 

Music for ceremony (please list or underline suggestions below to indicate your selection):

 

Wedding Party Entrance

Canon in D (Pachelbel) (Traditional)

Shepherd Moons (Enya) (Contemporary)

Watermark (Enya) (Contemporary)

Theme from Chariots Of Fire (Contemporary)

Chapel Of Love (Dixie Cups) (Very Contemporary)

 

Bride’s Entrance

Bridal March / Bridal Chorus (Wagner) (Traditional, but not for Jewish weddings)

Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke) (Traditional)

The Wedding Song (Kenny G) (Contemporary)

Oh Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison) (Contemporary)

 

Kiss (music optional)

I Feel Good (James Brown) (Very Contemporary)

 

Exit as Husband and Wife

Wedding March (Mendelssohn) (Traditional, but not for Jewish weddings)

Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (Handel) (Traditional)

Theme from Chariots of Fire (Contemporary)

By the Time This Night Is Over (Kenny G/Peabo Bryson) (Contemporary)

We’ve Only Just Begun (Carpenters) (Contemporary)

 

Cocktail Hour

 

Music for cocktail hour (suggested genres are big band, soft jazz, jazz, easy listening, or funky lounge music):

 

Reception Start (Guests enter main reception room from cocktail room)

 

Music to start with (soft music recommended if food on tables, high-energy dance music recommended otherwise):

Reception Grand Entrance / Introductions

 

Introductions can be performed by Space Age Sounds’ Master of Ceremonies, or by someone else (Requests to change this at the reception will only be honored if given directly by the Bride or Groom to the MC).  Who will be performing the introductions?

 

Suggested order of introductions (you can opt to have the grandparents rise in their seats and recognize them there):

 

1. Bride’s grandparents
2. Groom’s grandparents
3. Bride’s parents
4. Groom’s parents
5. Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
6. Maid/Matron of Honor (can be combined with Best Man)
7. Best Man (can be combined with Maid/Matron of Honor)
8. Bride and Groom

 

Music for Grand Entrance (please list or underline suggestions below to indicate your selection):

 

Wedding Party Enters Reception:

Canon in D (Pachelbel) (Traditional)

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (Bach) (Traditional)

Sirius (Alan Parsons Project) (Contemporary)

Theme from 2001 A Space Odyssey (Contemporary)

Chapel Of Love (Dixie Cups) (Very Contemporary)

America (Neil Diamond) (Very Contemporary)

Party Time (Gloria Estefan) (Very Contemporary)

Havana (Kenny G) (Very Contemporary)

Lets Get It Started (Black Eyed Peas) (Very Contemporary)

 

Bride and Groom Enter Reception

20th Century Fox Fanfare (Traditional)

Olympic Theme (Traditional)

Peter Gunn (Contemporary)

In the Mood (Glen Miller) (Contemporary)

Star Trek (original series) Theme (Contemporary)

Here Comes the Bride (Disco) (Contemporary)

Tonight Show Theme (Contemporary)

Twilight Zone (2 Unlimited) (Very Contemporary)

Get Ready For This (2 Unlimited) (Very Contemporary)

Please list those to be introduced during the grand entrance in the order they will be introduced.  You can choose different songs for each person or one for the entire group.  Use additional sheets if necessary.  If you want, interesting tidbits of information about relationships to you can be announced—if so, please write details below each person’s name.

Bridal Party	Name	Phonetic Pronunciation	Music
Bride’s Mother
Bride’s Father
Groom’s Mother
Groom’s Father
Bride’s Maid
Usher
Bride’s Maid
Usher
Bride’s Maid
Usher
Bride’s Maid
Usher
Jr. Bride’s Maid
Jr. Usher
Flower Girl
Ring Bearer
Maid/Matron of Honor
Best Man
Bride and Groom

For bride and groom, please clearly indicate how to introduce.  Some common possibilities (given Jane Doe marrying John Buck):

 

• Jane and John Buck
• John and Jane Buck
• Mr. and Mrs. John Buck

 

First Dance

 

When introduced, we recommend having the Bride and Groom go directly into their first dance for several reasons:  the guests' attentions are directed to the dance floor, it officially "opens" the dance floor for other guests who might want to dance during the meal, and it sets the tone from the very beginning that you want this to be a wonderful celebration.

 

Music for first dance (slow song recommended):

 

You can have us invite your guests to join in partway through the above song, or we can invite them up when the next song begins.  We can have the wedding party join you first and invite the rest of the guests to join in one verse later, or we can invite all of the guests (including wedding party) to join in at the same time.  When and how do you want us to invite other guests to join in?

 

First slow song after first dance (optional):

 

If sitting down to cocktails/dinner, soft music is recommended.  If there will be some dancing before sitting down, high-energy dance music is recommended, but slow dancing or any other type can be used.  Type of music or specific songs to continue after first dance:

 

Grace (or other blessings such as Kiddush and Motzi)

 

If someone will be saying grace, please provide their name and title or relationship to the family.

Phonetic Pronunciation	Title/Relationship

 

Meal

 

Type of music during the meal (suggested genres are soft jazz, easy listening, or love songs):

 

During the meal, we recommend that the Bride and Groom use that time to visit tables of guests if that is something you wish to do.  If the centerpieces are going to be given away, we recommend doing this during the meal while everyone is still situated at their tables.  If your preference is to simply have the centerpieces taken by guests remaining at the end, we can certainly help in making this announcement if you wish.  Towards the tail end of the meal, we recommend having the toasts, followed by the cutting of the cake, followed by any dances with parents, telling "Your Love Story," and then opening up the dance floor for all the guests.

 

Toast

Please list those to be who will be proposing a toast in the order they will be introduced to give the toast (usually the Best Man, could also be the Best Man and Maid/Matron of Honor together).  Do you want an open invitation for other guests to propose a toast?

Phonetic Pronunciation	Title/Relationship

After the toast, will the bride and groom want to say something?  This is a wonderful opportunity to welcome everyone and to do any special acknowledgements, such as guests who have traveled a long distance or friends or family who have contributed in the preparation of the ceremony or reception.  This is a fun and memorable alternative to the typical, time-consuming receiving line.

Cake Cutting

 

Music to play during cake cutting (please list or underline suggestions below to indicate your selection):

 

Bride Cuts the Cake

When I’m 64 (Beatles)

How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You (James Taylor or Marvin Gaye)

Eat It (Weird Al Yankovic)

Mission Impossible

Jeopardy Theme

Ice Cream (Sarah McLachlan)

Circle Of Life (Elton John)

It Had To Be You (Harry Connick Jr.)

Our House (Crosby, Stills & Nash)

St. Elmo’s Fire (John Parr)

Sugar Sugar (The Archies)

Cut the Cake or Pick Up the Pieces (Average White Band)

Cuts Like A Knife (Bryan Adams)

 

Father/Daughter and Mother/Son Dances

 

Father/Daughter and Mother/Son dances can be combined or can be separate.  Do you want them together or separate (underline one)?  If separate, who dances first:  Father/Bride or Mother/Groom (underline one)?

Phonetic Pronunciation	Title/Relationship

 

Music to play for family dances (please list or underline suggestions below to indicate your selection):

 

Unforgettable (Dinah Washington, Natalie Cole or Nat King Cole)

Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler)

You Raise Me Up (Josh Groban)

Through the Years (Kenny Rogers)

A Song For My Son/Daughter (Mikki Viereck)

Always Daddy (Melanie Trent)

Stand By Me (Ben E. King)

Always and Forever (Heatwave or Luther Vandross)

Daddy’s Little Girl (Al Martino) (not at Jewish weddings)

You’ve Got a Friend (James Taylor) (If someone other than Father / Mother)

That’s What Friends Are For (Wedding Party Dance)

 

We can invite all fathers/daughters and all mothers/sons to dance instead of just the bride’s and groom’s alone.  You can have us invite your guests to join in partway through the above song, or we can invite them up when the next song begins.  We can have the wedding party join you first and invite the rest of the guests to join in one verse later, or we can invite all of the guests (including wedding party) to join in at the same time.  When and how do you want us to invite other guests to join in?

 

For some people, a special dance with a Stepfather, Uncle, Brother, or close family friend is done in lieu of, or in addition to, a parents dance.  Please indicate any other special dances here:

 

Anniversary Dance

 

One of the special parts of the reception is having a dance in which the Bride and Groom are joined on the dance floor by all of the other married couples.  We play a nice romantic slow song and throughout the song, calling off the number of years of marriage.  When couples hear the number of years that they have been married, they are asked to stand to the edge of the floor.  This ultimately leads to the last two couples being the Bride and Groom and then the longest married couple, enjoying the rest of the dance.  It is wonderfully sentimental, is a great way to share the celebration of your marriage with other married couples whose marriages have provided a source of inspiration to you through the years.  Some Brides and Grooms then present a small token to that couple as an acknowledgment, e.g., a bottle of wine, a rose to the lady, or in some cases, Brides choose to present their bouquet to the lady.  It is handled with taste, with an air of sophistication, is always a highlight, and is something we highly recommend.

 

Bouquet and Garter

 

Music to play for the bouquet and garter (please list or underline suggestions below to indicate your selection):

 

Groom Removes Garter

Theme From Mission Impossible

Theme From Inspector Gadget

Theme From Pink Panther

Macho Man (Village People)

Jeopardy Clock

Legs (ZZ Top)

I’m Too Sexy (Right Said Fred)

You Can Leave Your Hat On (Joe Cocker)

 

Invite Men Out and Garter Toss

Peter Gunn (Duane Eddy)

Theme From Rocky (Rocky Orchestra)

Oh Yeah (Yello, From Ferris Bueller’s Day Off)

 

Bouquet Toss

Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper)

Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison)

Girls, Girls, Girls (Motley Crue)

Pretty Young Thing (Michael Jackson)

 

Garter Catcher Puts Garter On Bouquet Catcher’s Leg

Keep Your Hands To Yourself (Georgia Satellites)

Theme From Mission Impossible

Oh Yeah (Yello, From Ferris Bueller’s Day Off)

Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye)

Hot Legs (Rod Stewart)

You Sexy Thing (Hot Chocolate)

 

The bouquet and garter toss can be done in an “ordinary” fashion, or it can be “livened up” by many different twists—ask us for ideas if you want to try something different.  How do you want to do the bouquet and garter toss?

 

Do you want the garter catcher to put the garter on the leg of the bouquet catcher (this is optional)?

 

Will there be additional dancing after the bouquet and garter toss, or is it to be followed immediately by the last dance and the end of the reception?

 

Grand Finale

 

We suggest the Grand Finale occur at the high point of the evening before many guests leave.  Before the last dance, we can organize guests into a circle around the bride and groom, pass the mic around, and allow them to each offer best wishes.  Do you want to do this?     To what song (we suggest That’s What Friends Are For)?

 

Music to play for the last dance (please list or underline suggestions below to indicate your selection):

 

Last Dance (Donna Summer)

Times Of Your Life (Paul Anka)

I’ve Had the Time Of My Life (from Dirty Dancing)

“You’re the One That I Want (from Grease) followed by “Walking On Sunshine”

Shout (Isley Brothers)

New York, New York (Frank Sinatra)

The Party’s Over (Willie Nelson or Nat King Cole)

Goodnight Sweetheart (The Spaniels)

Day-O (Harry Belafonte)

 

How do you want to announce your exit?

 

Open Dancing

 

Please indicate any specific ethnic dances you want to do or customs you wish to observe, and at what points in the reception (also add them to order of events on page 1).  Make sure to include names (with phonetic pronunciations) of specific people to be involved (i.e., names of people that will be lifted up in chairs). 

 

 

If there are any specific follow-along dances you would like, please note them here (please list or underline suggestions below to indicate your selection).

 

Title	Title	Title
Agadoo	Electric Slide	Men In Black
Blame It On The Boogie	Get Down Tonight	Mony Mony
Booty Drop	Greased Lightning	Piano Man
Car Wash	Hands Up (from Club Med)	Play That Funky Music
Cha Cha Slide	Hokey Pokey	Runaround Sue
Chicken Dance	Hold Your Head (Bahamas)	Shout
C’mon ‘N Ride It (The Train)	Kung Fu Fighting (Bus Stop)	Staying Alive
Conga Line	Let It Whip	Turn The Beat Around
Cotton-Eyed Joe (Rednex)	Macarena	Walk This Way (Run DMC)
Cup Of Life (Ricky Martin)	Mambo Number 5	Wild Wild West (Will Smith)
Dollar Wine Dance	Maria (Ricky Martin)	YMCA

 

Try to identify 5 MUST PLAY requests here that you will definitely dance to and list additional requests in the next section to be played if time permits.  Note that there are specific sections for music for cocktail hour, guest entrance, family entrance, candle lighting, and grand finale, so do not list those songs here.

 

Artist	Title	Special Instructions

 

Music Requests (songs to be played if time permits after guest requests):

 

Artist	Title	Special Instructions

 

 

List any types/genres of music you’d like us to play from

 

 

List Songs To Be Played ONLY IF REQUESTED BY A GUEST

 

 

List Songs & Music Types NOT To Be Played

 

 

Dedications, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Other Special Dances, etc.

 

List any special announcements you would like us to make.  This is a great way to personalize your event and recognize someone special.

 

 

Additional Notes

 

If there is anything else we need to know to ensure your reception flows smoothly, please list the details here.  In particular, let us know if you feel we need to be aware of any sensitive information regarding your event, family, or guests or if you are having a video presentation, a singer, musicians, fraternity/sorority serenade, centerpiece giveaway, or any other personalized additions that will make your party unique

 

 

Tell us about things that you have seen at other receptions that you definitely DO NOT WANT at your reception (e.g., things you thought were too "cheesy," not in good taste, things that made you roll your eyes and say to yourself, "I don't EVER want something like that at MY reception!”.

 

 

Setup Space Requirements
(see Space Age Sound contract for more information)

 

Setup space, time, and power supply requirements depend on the entertainment packages and services purchased.  Space Age Sound will go over these requirements during your planning meeting with Space Age Sound.

 

Space Age Sounds suggests that the sound, lighting, and video systems are setup next to the dance floor and close to an electric power source.  There should not be any tables/seating between the sound system and the dance floor.  Further, if there is a bar for guests, it should be in the same room to keep guests near the dance floor.