Here are some tips to help make your Wedding and Reception go smoothly:

• Try to have the reception (dinner) start in the late afternoon - Guests are more likely to not make 'other' plans then or to leave early. Best time? 4pm - 10pm
• Allow 1 hour for cocktails & guest arrivals and 1 hour for dinner.
• Allow 1 hour for every 2-3 events you are planning. Some possibilities are: Cake, Bouquet, Garter, Father/Daughter Dance, Mother/Son Dance, Money/Dollar Dance, dedication dances, contests, etc. Be aware that if you choose a dollar dance, depending on the size of the reception, it can consume a considerable amount of time. Your entertainer / MC should space the events out. If you have 6 events after dinner, plan on 3 hours or more for the events and dancing. A typical reception with cocktails, dinner and most events will take about 5-6 hours for 75-150 people. Add 30 minutes for each 50-100 additional guests.
• The bride and groom are the center of attention, therefore you set the tone of the reception. When you dance, the dance floor will be full... when you sit and socialize your guests will probably do the same. However, an experienced entertainer will keep more people on the floor than an amateur, and much of his success will depend on how much latitude / flexibility you've given him for the general dance song selection. Any DJ that tells the groom & bride that they MUST dance to keep people on the floor simply isn't getting their job done.
• Schedule your photographer and videographer to be on hand for all your special events. This will avoid rushing through the cake cutting, bouquet toss, send off and other events because of time restraints. Make it clear in your contract how long you expect them to stay. A note of experience here: A professional, experienced MC/DJ will help in coordinating all of those events, including making sure the photographers and other people important to the reception's success are present BEFORE the event itself begins. Tunes To Go will keep it running smoothly, so the bride & groom need not sweat the timing and details that are SO critical to the reception's success and your future memories of your wedding.
• Have someone make an emergency kit with extra buttons, thread, needles, safety pins, tape, scissors and other things that might be handy in case of a 'minor' emergency. This can all be put into a little basket and easily carried.
• Drink plenty of fluids the night before and the day of the wedding - You will likely be on your feet and dressed for many hours.
• Remember to place your wedding cake away from the traffic flow and out of direct sunlight. Cutting of your wedding cake is one of the highlights of the reception, have it announced for your guests to enjoy (and for family members to grab their cameras).
• Stick around! Don't run off and leave your guests and family during the reception. Also make sure the others in your wedding party do the same thing. Everyone in the wedding party should be involved in your reception events too, not just the wedding ceremony!
• Make a pact with your new spouse not to fight about ANYTHING on your wedding day - and stick to it! Most things are minor anyway and not worth the headaches. Be aware that both of you, as well as the in-laws on both sides, will be under an extraordinary amount of stress... Just remember to take a deep breath, put things in perspective that you have planned the reception well and the MC/DJ will take care of things once you arrive at the reception -- and KEEP SMILING. :) If you haven't hired Tunes To Go as your MC/DJ for the reception, it's anyone's guess whether the DJ/MC will earn their pay and take much of the reception stress off you. You get what you pay for. ;)
• USE your Maid/Matron of Honor and Best Man as much as possible! They are there to help you. Also, don't forget the other members of the wedding party too! The less the bride & groom have to take on, the better!
• Make sure the Best Man and MOH know that they should be making a toast (either before or after dinner) so they won't be surprised. Often times a short story from each about how they know you and your spouse will suffice. Funny stories are great too!
• Don't open presents at the reception!! Nothing makes people leave faster! Why? Some don't want others to know how 'little' they could afford to spend and others are just plain bored! (TTG Success Tip: Good dance music and a lively entertainer will keep people there longer).
• Make sure you and your wedding party eat first and in a timely fashion. The rest of the reception is timed on you. Dancing cannot start until YOU start it off.
• Kids and Weddings: It is probably a good idea to make some special arrangements if you're going to have children at your reception. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
• Babies and strollers are a no-no. Arrange sitters for guests in you have to. Sometimes setting up a baby sitting center at someones home and staffing it with a few teenagers is preferable and cheaper for guests. General rule: Have 1 baby-sitter for each 4-5 kids.
• Young adults and teen-agers like to dance too! Make sure there are some songs they will know and have fun with. (again, this falls upon the DJ/MC to do their job).
• Kids don't like grown-up food. Ask your caterer about kids meals, try to figure out how many under 12's there will be - Hamburgers or chicken strips are favorites.
• Try to have kids seated towards one side of the reception hall - they can 'mingle' easier with each other and are less distracting if they get out of hand.
• If you don't want kids running all over the dance floor (as is so often seen at receptions), it'll be up to the bride and groom to specify how tolerant the reception will be in this regard. The DJ/MC will have their hands full doing the best job possible for you during the reception, and certainly doesn't need to be distracted by a bunch of bratty kids sliding around the dance floor. A suggestion: Allow the DJ/MC the authority to POLITELY ask parents of the unruly kids to keep them under control and OFF the dance floor.
• Have FUN!! Remember that this is YOUR wedding and YOUR reception!! Make sure to take the time to have a great time!
  
  We hope you consider hiring Tunes To Go for your reception.
  
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