Part 2 – Reception

Now for the fun part. At your reception, you can relax, kick up your heels, and simply focus on enjoying yourself. And what better way to create a fantastic atmosphere that having music to enhance the entire experience? With a glass of bubbly in hand, mingle with family and friends, dine on some fabulous food, and finish up by dancing the night away.

Pre-dinner – This is a similar mood to that of pre-ceremony. Music that is easy to listen to should be playing in the background, stimulating conversation and creating an atmosphere of sophistication and elegance. Live acts serve as entertainment for guests as they await the arrival of the bridal party, and for the evening’s formalities to commence. Popular choices include an instrumental jazz trio, a string quartet, or a solo musician, such as a guitarist or pianist.

Dinner – It’s a great idea to have background music playing over dinner, to maintain the celebratory atmosphere.  We affectionately term the music played here as ‘Wallpaper music’; it won’t demand guest attention and interrupt conversation, but will provide a subtle musical backdrop and prevent any awkward silences at tables! You can have the ‘pre-dinner’ music continue over dinner, or a small to medium sized covers band perform lounge favourites such as Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, and Stevie Wonder.

Dancing – This is when music really becomes the focus. Many couples opt for their reception to climax with dancing later in the night, full of popular and catchy songs that everyone can enjoy. A covers band is a great option here, as they ensure a fantastic party atmosphere, great crowd involvement and will get guests of all ages on the dance floor. Other popular choices also include latin or funk bands, or a DJ.

Song Requests

Requesting songs for your reception is a hugely important part of the event. Songs serve as a reflection of you and your partner, can be used as a means of expression, and are very effective in highlighting key moments of the night.

Bridal Entry – The song you choose to signify your entry into your reception sets the tone for the entire evening. Do you want a party theme, or something more sentimental and expressive? It’s completely up to you! Regardless, the song you choose should be a reflection of your relationship, and the way you want your friends to remember your wedding. Popular choices include ‘Crazy in Love’ by Beyonce, ‘Let’s Stay Together’ by Al Green and ‘I Gotta Feeling’ by The Black Eyed Peas.

Insider Tip: Try and have a different song for every couple in your bridal party – it will not only make them feel special, but is an opportunity for you to poke light-hearted fun at them! Examples include ‘Is She Really Going Out With Him’ if you have a couple in the party or ‘Its Raining Men’ if you end up with one too many boys! Your guests will enjoy the laugh, and it sets a great mood for the rest of the night.

Cake Cutting – Music can be very effective in highlighting this moment between you and partner. Many couples opt for something romantic, with popular choices including ‘Everything’ Michael Buble, ‘You Are The Sunshine Of My Life’ Stevie Wonder, and ‘Have I Told You Lately’ Van Morrison.

Insider Tip: Give the band plenty of notice if you want them to play your bridal waltz live. It will allow the singer to memorise the words, and the band to rehearse the song. No charts on the night – this goes for everybody!

Bridal Waltz – An expression of how you and your partner feel about one another, this is one of the most important moments of the day. Choose a song that you love and that means something to both of you. Remember, all eyes will be on the pair of you, so make sure you practice dancing to it before the day! Examples include ‘At Last’ Etta James,  and‘If I Ain’t Got You’ Alicia Keys.

Insider Tip: Listen to the words! You don’t want to reach the 2nd verse of ‘I Will Always Love You’ only to realize it is about a break-up…

Bouquet/Garter Toss – A fun part of the evening, and a chance for your friends to let fate decide who ties the knot next! Popular choices for Bouquet Toss are ‘Single Ladies’ by Beyonce or ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ by Cyndi Lauper, and you can’t go past ‘You Can Leave Your Hat On’ for the Garter Toss.

Insider Tip: The garter toss is becoming less and less popular due to the slight ‘tacky’ element of the groom disappearing under the bride’s dress to remove clothing with his teeth. It’s still very possible to do it with class (we’ve seen it done!), just be sure to keep in mind that Grandparent’s have surprisingly good memories.

Last Song of the Night – As the night draws to an end, you really want to make sure that you finish on a high. Choosing a fantastic song to close your wedding celebrations with will ensure that you leave your guests with an incredible last impression, not to mention wonderful lasting memories for you and your partner. When choosing your final song for the night, try and find something that is not only a great piece of music, but also means something to you and your guests. A party song that stimulates fond memories of when you and your new spouse first started dating is a great idea, and is guaranteed to get your friends rushing to the dancefloor.

Insider Tip: Always try and think of a high-energy track to finish on, especially if you have a band! You want your guests to be screaming for ‘one more’ as the lights are turned on…

http://www.funkified.com.au

Now, it’s time you stepped out from your cherished fantasies, that you quitted the imaginary wedding ceremony and adapted your wedding ideas to the real world. Still, there is a last, intermediary stage till you “descend” your fantasies to reality: the wedding dress up games. You definitely need to start playing, come up with as many combinations as possible, so that in the end you should acquire that ultimate certainty that “Yes”, this is the wedding that matches perfectly that of your precious fantasies.

Open your closet and take a look at your wardrobe! I am serious!  When you’re planning your perfect wedding, you should make sure that the choice you make (the bridal dress, the bouquet, the jewelry) should speak of your own fashion style, the one that defines best your personality. If you’re one of those trendy chic girls, well, then the trendy bride dress up game is what you need! I know just how much you love standing out from crowd with your super trendy outfits. You can be sure that those gorgeous dresses you will find there are only those of the latest fashion: fabulous ball gowns, superb mermaid bridal dresses, refined, pale pink straight dresses. As for the wedding bouquets and accessories, I leave that discovery to you!

You can never go wrong with a royal type of ceremony! We can also say that princesses will never fall out of fashion. If royal dresses and accessories is what you have been looking for, than learn that you can find them all heaped up in the princess bride dress up game! You will be the emblem of refined elegance and exquisite fashion taste wearing any of those spectacular wedding dresses. Lace, satin or beaded chiffon gowns, snow white or pale pink, they all scream royal out loud. Such a dress cannot be better highlighted than with some breath taking jewels. Your guests will be dazzled to witness a stardust: a superb bride covered all in glitter!

In any trendy girl’s set of rules it is written in capital letters that the shoes have to go with the handbag, the jewelry with the scarf, with the event. In other words, when we come up with an outfit, we almost unconsciously consider all the items as being the pieces of a puzzle. I am sure that in your wedding fantasies there is a groom, too, whose tuxedo goes perfect with your bridal dress and the background, too. Great news: now you can plan your wedding playing the bride and groom dress up game! It’s such a great chance for you to see how his pink, silk shirt would go with your pink roses bouquet or how your refined corset would go with his equally elegant suit. Be a professional wedding planner paying attention to the slightest details!

A bride should be the ultimate symbol of femininity and grace in my opinion! Now, can there be a sweeter bride than a pink, sweet bride? No, there cannot and the pink bride dress up game is the perfect argument to sustain my opinion. Pink, candilike wedding dresses, pink beaded necklaces, pink flower shaped hairpins, your guests will definitely feel as if trapped in the fairy tale world of Hansel and Gretel!

Why should you have someone else suggest you how you should plan your wedding ceremony. You’re the one that can best transpose that fantasy wedding image you have been kept locked in your imagination for so long. These wedding dress up games are the impulse you needed to set your imagination free!

The Master of Ceremonies (MC) at a wedding serves somewhat like a tour guide or cruise director-only it’s for the wedding activities and events at the dinner, reception, and/or dance. He or she will make introductions and announcements, help keep guests and attendees informed of vital information and what is happening at particular times, and help each event transition smoothly into the next. He or she is the primary speaker, commanding attention at the appropriate times, but only speaking briefly at each interval, focusing the attention on the bride and groom or else the person being introduced. Usually a wedding MC will have a microphone so he or she can be easily heard throughout the room and can get the attention of guests when necessary.

Announcements

The wedding MC makes many announcements to guests throughout the day and evening. He or she will announce the arrival of the bride and groom and the bridal party when they first get to the reception area and enter. They will often come in, in a procession beneath an arch or other decorated entrance and are introduced as “The new Mr. And Mrs. Whoever.” The MC will announce this and ask guests to give them a round of applause.

The MC will also welcome all guests on behalf of the couple, announce that refreshments are available, and direct guests to where they will be served. Later, he or she will announce any requests from the photographer-such as anyone wanting to get a photograph with the bride and groom to gather in a particular area. The MC also announces the cutting of the cake, when it is time to be seated for the meal, and introduces the minister or other person who will be saying grace.

The Dinner And The Toasts

At some point at the dinner and after the prayer, the MC will thank the guests for attending, say some short but pleasant words about the newly married couple, and then introduce all the members of the bridal party by name and possibly relationship to the couple. Some brides and grooms prefer to have this happening during the actual meal and others delay this until after the dishes have been cleared when everyone is done eating and either while or directly after the coffee and cake are being served or after the champagne has been poured.

This is also when toasts are introduced and made by various members of the bridal party and the bride’s and groom’s families. The MC introduces each person making the toast-starting with a close friend or relative or the best man who toasts to the bride or the bride and the groom-and then smoothly transitions between the various people who are making toasts to the bride and groom. At some weddings only the best man and/or maid of honor will make toasts. At others, there may be toasts to and from the bride’s parents, to and from the groom’s parents, and other toasts made by family and friends. During the toasts, the MC should always be professional, polite, and appropriate. Light humor is welcome, but any jokes should be very carefully selected so as not to offend anyone or take too much attention away from the couple who should always be the center of attention on their special day.

If there are any telegrams or messages from guests who were unable to attend, the MC will also ask the best man to read these aloud to the bride and groom during the toasting time. Also, if the bride and groom specify, the MC may be asked to introduce other important or significant guests at the wedding and to ask them to stand as they are introduced.

The Dance

The MC usually announces the start of the music and dancing, the band or disk jockey, and later, the grand march processional, the couple’s first dance, any special dances (such as the bride dancing with her father), and then invites the other guests to join in the dancing after the special dances are over.

At the appropriate time, the MC will also announce the throwing of the bouquet, the removal of and throwing of the garter, and any other special activities the couple has planned.

After the introduction of the band or disk jockey, at some weddings a member of the band or the disk jockey takes over as MC to announce the other activities including the special dances, bouquet toss, and garter toss.

Other Duties

Depending on the bride and groom’s itinerary for the evening, an MC may also announce the opening of the gifts (if they will be opened that evening) and/or announce the departure of the bride and groom as they leave at the end of the evening or depart for their honeymoon. He may also thank all the people who helped make the wedding extra special for the couple-the caterer, the photographer, the band, etc.-and thank the guests for attending, wishing everyone a safe trip home.

Not every couple opts to have a special MC for their wedding. Sometimes the best man acts as an informal Master of Ceremonies for most announcements and the toasts with the band leader or disk jockey handling the announcements as the dance begins. At some very informal weddings, the father of the bride or groom, or even the groom himself may take on many aspects of this role.

If you are asked to act as the MC at a wedding-whether as your primary role because you are a friend of the couple or due to your involvement as the best man, brother of the bride or groom, because you are the disk jockey, or for some other reason, it’s important to take your role seriously. Remember, whether you are introducing the couple, announcing the toasts, or coordinating the special dances and bouquet and garter toss, the focus should always be on the bride and groom and making their day special.

As the wedding season starts to slow down across the UK, planning for 2011 picks up as the newly engaged start collecting ideas to help them plan their special day.

To help inspire those who have just started planning, we’ve scoured the Internet; reading the very best blogs, absorbing the best bits from leading fashion and bridal magazines and checking out previews of this October’s bridal shows in New York, to pull together the experts views on hot wedding trends for 2011.

The blushing bride:

Dresses in 2011 are all about the detail.  The simple and refined strapless column dresses that have been popular over the past few years are blooming with adornment, appliqué, beading and trims on everything from necklines, to accentuated waists and hemlines.

Dresses are becoming more about romance than elegance and floral motifs will feature heavily.  Fans of simple shapes need not worry, there will still be plenty of clean and graceful lines, but there are more opportunities to express your personality through detailing or adding accessories to your outfit.

Lace is big news in 2011 as it can be used across the whole dress, just to accentuate the bodice or even as a shrug across the shoulders.  It’s also key to the vintage look that continues to be big in 2011, so if you’re looking for something really on trend, combine a vintage shape with a combination of luxe textures, for example, lace or toile and silk.

There is also more colour in bridal gowns in 2011.  Influenced by the catwalk, more contemporary oyster shades, elegant cloud greys, nudes and the palest pinks are all features of the couture bridal collections this autumn, which will inevitably filter down to the high street.

No self-respecting bride will be bareheaded in 2011! The wedding shows have been jam packed with chic headwear.  From glittering tiaras to headbands trimmed with extra large flowers in contrasting tones and sweet 50′s style half veils, the embellishment and detailing trend is finished off with headwear.  Many bridal specialists are happy to sell you just accessories, so you can have fun putting your bridal outfit together from different designers in much the same way you would a new outfit for any occasion.

Colour themes:

There are three main trends for colour themes in 2011.  The vintage feel, catwalk nudes and the colour ‘pop’.

The love of all things retro and vintage continues with very elegant and formal colours.  Navy, sage greens, creams and deep plums all feature but are accentuated with a modern twist.  So navy could be teamed with yellow, cream with a brighter green or pastel blue and plum tones with midnight blues.  These colours are certainly for the brave, but they will be striking if used sparingly, or during certain seasons.

Catwalk nudes are the perfect colours for the urban chic event.  A palette of barely there oyster, soft blushes, corals and creams are often more flattering against the UK complexion and look fabulous with the more romantic dress styles.  These types of colours can be used throughout a venue they are so delicate – repeat use of them really enhances a look.  Spring and summer weddings are perfect for these colours.

The colour pop will work brilliantly at any summer or autumn wedding and bright colours big for 2011 include hot pinks, bright oranges, azure blues and apple greens.  These colours are lots of fun and also work well together if you are thinking of having several bridesmaids – as each one can have a different colour which may not only suit them better, but will help them feel a bit more special.

Flowers:

A big trend set to continue into 2011 is to use one single flower en masse.  It looks incredibly opulent, but also very distinctive and different.  However, it doesn’t have to be budget busting.  Choose your favourite flower for your bouquet, but then choose different types on the tables or in each vase.

A growing trend in 2011 will be the use of imaginative vases or containers for your flowers.  Stand out from the crowd by using unusual containers like teapots, hatboxes, or old milk jugs.  Alternatively, add a contemporary twist by opting for cottage garden flowers but in bright and unusual colour combinations like bright pinks, yellows and blues.

Making your venue smell as beautiful as it looks will be on trend next year.  Matching scented candles to the bride’s bouquet is growing in popularity and candle light gives any venue a fabulous feel.

Venues:

For those for whom a church wedding is not a priority, it’s becoming more and more fashionable to have a civil ceremony at the local town hall, attended by just immediate family, followed by a bigger ceremony with personalised vows, their own choice of music and a real ‘party’ atmosphere at a later date.

2011 will see this trend developing even further with weddings taking place in forests, village halls, back gardens, on beaches and cliff tops.

Whatever dress, colour theme, venue or flowers you choose, the most important thing to ensure is that you have the day you want and that you enjoy the planning and preparation just as much as the day itself.

When you can order flowers online, it is a great deal quicker and easier than having to go into a shop and approach the assistant for help. You can see at a glance what is available and simply order them. This is the way to order your wedding flowers, or flowers for any other occasion. However, if you can’t find what you want online you may need to go to your florist Hervey Bay to discuss what they can order in.

Wedding flowers comprise of not only the bouquet for the bride and bridesmaids, but the shoulder posies for the two mothers and buttonholes for all the males in the wedding party. Then there are all the table flowers for the reception. These will be special flower arrangements for the bridal table and smaller ones for the other tables. You may want a posy for the table where the wedding cake is residing, or you could even have flowers on the cake itself.

Many brides like the idea of a very large bouquet of flowers trailing almost right to the floor. But remember that the bigger the bouquet, the heavier it will be and you will have to hold it for ages after the ceremony when you are having photographs taken. Besides, a huge bouquet does not always look best; it depends on how formal the wedding is to be and what the wedding dress looks like.

A wedding dress with simple, elegant lines will be spoiled by a huge bouquet. However, if the wedding dress has a really wide skirt to the floor with hoops underneath, then a larger wedding bouquet would be appropriate. The colour of your wedding flowers is probably more important than the type of flower. At a distance, the shape of the individual flowers will not be so obvious, but the colour will be – and the shape of the bouquet as a whole. So be sure you get wedding flowers of a colour to tone in with or contrast to the colour of your bridal party.