Schedule/Reception

Your wedding should be as unique as you are. Only you know how you want your day to proceed, and what works best for your family and friends. Below is a traditional reception schedule to use as a guide, along with some suggestions and hints. Your reception may be completely different. With Voss DJ Service, we make sure your day runs smoothly the way you've planned. We will help plan the perfect reception and then coordinate the day-of, to ensure that your reception runs according to your schedule.

Everyone needs someone available to perform tasks such as informing the DJ and other vendors as the bridal party arrives, coordinating between vendors for announcements such as buffet openings/ closings and toast service, or preparing the Bride and Groom for other special events, such as special dances, etc. You should not have to worry about these things, and neither should your guests. We look forward to helping you customize your schedule to have the reception you've always dreamed of!

Sample Reception Schedule:

Guests arrive to cocktail music being played, such as At Last (Etta James), As Time Goes By (as sung by Rod Stewart), etc. (This would also be a great place to insert a live performance of a Frank Sinatra song or two!)

The bridal party arrives and is introduced, along with the parents and the happy couple! You can go for quiet background music here (classical music, such as the Wedding March or Bridal Chorus are pretty here) or for the high-impact introduction (Too Sexy by Right Said Fred is a good one!).

First Dance of the Bride and Groom! It is nice to have the dance right at the beginning because it allows for other guests to dance early if they'd like. (Guests should not dance until the Bride and Groom have.) You can dance the entire song alone, or ask your bridal party or family to join you midway. Some wonderful First Dance songs are In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel), I Could Not Ask for More (Edwin McCain), All My Life (Rondstadt/ Nevil), It Had to Be You (Sinatra), I Will Be There (Steve Curtis Chapman), and Here and Now (Luther Vandross). We can provide a longer list to inspire you. (Or, to add a touch of elegance to your first dance, you could choose a Frank Sinatra-era song to be sung live for your First Dance.)

At this time, food is either served or orders taken, or the dinner buffet is being set. The Bride and Groom can begin their table visits. Cocktail music or light jazz is a good option to be played here.

Before the eating begins comes the toast(s). We provide mic(s) for the toaster(s) and do the introductions.

During dinner, some nice options are for cocktail music, jazz or classical. This is also a nice time to play special songs that might not be played once dancing time comes. Again, live performances of Sinatra, Bobby Darin, etc., fit it well here for a little added dinner entertainment.

Sometime following the meal would next come the Father/ Daughter Dance. Butterfly Kisses (Bob Carlisle), Daddy's Little Girl, and Sunshine of My Life (Stevie Wonder) are great songs. Again, we can provide a longer suggestion list.

Sometime following that would be the Mother/ Son Dance. Some suggestions are Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler), I Hope You Dance (LeeAnn Womack) and What a Wonderful World (Louie Armstrong). (A longer list is available to help.)

Time for dessert! That means the cake cutting is next. Besides the traditional The Bride Cuts the Cake (Farmer in the Dell tune), there are some fabulous new traditions starting. Recipe for Making Love (Harry Connick, Jr.) and Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World Medley (Isreal Jamkamakawiwo'ole) are two examples. We have plenty more!

Now it's time for the real partying to begin. We have a tremendous selection of Disco, R&B, 80s and Classic Rock to get everyone on the dance floor. We'll go over your favorite types of music before hand and always respect your Do Not Play and Must Play lists. Tried and true dance floor staples are songs such as We Are Family (Sister Sledge), Celebration (Kool & The Gang), I Feel Good (James Brown), Old Time Rock n' Roll (Bob Seger) and Rock Around the Clock (Bill Haley and the Comets).

Finally, as the night winds down, it's time for the Garter Toss. We'll draw your guests to the dance floor and set up the toss. Some traditional songs here are Girls, Girls, Girls (Motley Crue) and If You Think I'm Sexy (Rod Stewart).

Following the Garter Toss and signaling the night coming to a close comes the Bride's Bouquet Toss. We'll encourage your guests on the floor and prepare your toss. It's Raining Men (Weather Girls) and Man, I Feel Like a Woman (Shania Twain) work well here.

(During both the Groom's garter removal and the catcher's garter placement, a good music option is Legs (ZZ Top).)

Sadly, it's Last Dance time. Last Dance (Donna Summer) is a tradition here, or share one final special moment with your guests by all dancing to That's What Friends Are For (Warwick/ Wonder/ etc.). It's all up to you!