Cutting of the Cake
This formality is usually completed directly after speeches when everyone is quiet and hence a song is played softly just to break the silence. Usually the couple select an easily identifiable slow love or instrumental song to be played. Please note that your MC will usually speak over the song to direct those taking photos and mention the bride and grooms toast. Many couples will only get through the first minute or two of the song as usually the evening will then move directly to the bridal waltz. The cake song is a great place to put that song you love the lyrics of but isn’t a good song to dance to (hence not suitable for the bridal waltz) and isn’t lively enough for an entrance or general dancing song.
First Dance
Most of the time this song is the first dance that the bride and groom have together as husband and wife. Sometimes the bride will have the first dance with her Father and then be handed over to her new husband for the second dance.
Most people will have a song already in mind for their first dance. But just in case you don't read on as we may be able to help you choose.
Some fallacies to do with the bridal waltz are as follows;
- It needs to be a song that you can "waltz" or dance too. Although it does look great to waltz properly to the song, or even have a choreographed dance it is just as effective to "hold and sway" for the bridal waltz. Its all about the emotion of the moment and what you as the Bride and Groom feel comfortable with.
- It needs to be a song everyone knows. If we had a dollar for every time a guest has
come up after an atypical bridal waltz and asked what the song is and told us how
much they loved it we would be turning up to DJ weddings in much flashier cars than
we do.
- The bridal party must, or must not be invited to dance halfway through the song. The
decision is totally up to you. If you feel comfortable dancing alone as a couple for the whole song do so, if you'd rather the BP and immediate family join in then let your MC know to invite them.
- It needs to be a slow song. Your first dance can be as fast or slow as you want. Most of the time you’re the only ones that will be dancing to it! We've had Kiss "I was made for loving you" and Sam and Dave "Hold On I'm Coming" as a first dances and they both worked a treat.
Sometimes the bride and groom will edit their first dance to suit their requirements. Pull the intro, turn it into a fun medley or many other edits. We are more than happy to play any version of the song or edit to it that you would like all we need you to do is provide the song for us.
Second and Third Dance
The reason we have the second and third dance listed down on the request form is because these are often special songs for the bride and groom and their guests as well. Usually your family and bridal party will join you on the dance floor for the 2nd song, and the remainder of your guests for the third song although it is your prerogative as to when you want people to join and in what order. Just be sure to let your MC know.
Many couples are worried about the 2nd dance and want to pick something that people know for them to dance to. Our response is always if ever you are going to pop a song that people may not know into the mix, this is the perfect time. From our experience when guests are asked to join the bridal party on the dance floor most guests will do so regardless of whether they are familiar with the song. It’s almost like they are obliged to dance.
Our little tip is to use a third dance that leads well into the style of dance music you have suggested. There are many songs that start nice and slow and end with a bang, or even more than are both slow but still have a party feel to them. See our suggestions for some ideas.
Last Dance
For the last dance of the evening, we usually recommend that the MC announce this song so that all your guests know that it is their last chance to dance with the bride and groom before the farewells. Most of the time this last dance is just before the bouquet and garter and farewell (circle or archway).
It is not necessary to request a song for this part of the evening. Your DJ can always choose a song that based on your requests and what music people have been enjoying throughout the night.
Often the last dance is where the bride and groom will choose to dance the final song with a close relative and dedicate the song to them accordingly (e.g Father - Daughter, Mother - Son dances). This can be done either with the rest of the guests joining in as well or by having the dance floor to yourselves. Once again let your MC know if you want this organised.
Bouquet
Most brides will still choose to throw their bouquet for the single ladies to fight over at the end of the night. Usually the song chosen for this has a feminine edge to it. Your DJ will play this song whilst the MC is arranging all the single ladies to prepare for the throwing, and continue it for the throwing of the bouquet and whilst the successful catcher is being congratulated.
Garter
The garter song is played from when the Groom is preparing to remove the garter belt from his wife's thigh up until he throws it to the successful catcher. Typical songs for the garter are ones that are chosen for their sexiness, or ones that are chosen for the fact that they will fire up a mob of single men waiting to catch it.
Sometimes the couple will choose two songs for the garter. One appropriate for the removal and another appropriate to fire up the single men.
Farewell
Most couples will chose to farewell their guests with either a farewell circle, a farewell archway or both.
Circle
The farewell circle is when the MC gathers all guests around the outside of the dance floor. The couple then goes around and thanks each guest for coming on the night. Typically the bride and groom will go in opposite directions but many will also choose to head around the circle together. Typically you will allow 12-20 minutes for your circle so 3-5 songs should be sufficient. You DJ will just play these songs at a background level for your guests to enjoy during this time. Most of the time the song is about ending the night, thanking your guests or just more of the style of music that was chosen for the background music during meals.
Archway
A farewell archway happens when the MC gathers all guests into two lines to form a guard of honour for the bride and groom as they leave. It is usually done in lieu of or after a farewell circle. Usually only one song is required for the archway. A song that mentions farewells, or has lyrics mentioning how much of a great time that you have had is common at this time.
A tip is if you cannot think of a song for your farewell archway to chose the same song that you came into. This usually bookends the night well.
Your DJ will play the one songs whilst you are leaving, in the case that your guests take longer than the duration of the song to get ready for the archway or you take longer to proceed through the archway your DJ will typically repeat this song as necessary until you leave your reception.
