Learn About Some Outdoor Wedding Reception Activities

Learn About Some Outdoor Wedding Reception Activities

Wedding receptions that are outdoors are beautiful. Typically you will have some of the reception outdoors and some under a tent, barn or reception area in a building.

Being based in Florida, there are many activities that can be held. However, depending on where the reception will be held, you can plan on having a variety of activities. Whether it is in the park or on a farm, there is a myriad of activities you can plan.

We can break down some activities based on wedding locations. For instance; if your wedding is at a winery, blindfold wine tasting would be good. Imagine having your aunt, college friend and more tasting some of your favorite wines. This type of activity is best for your host to control and ensure the flow of the event is kept.

Golf is another popular theme, typically for the guys. Therefore, if your husband wants that as his theme, here are some activities you can do. You could have a small “hole in one” contest or if you have it on an actual golf course “the best stroke”. For simple golf activities, you can have a large glass vase filled with golf balls and have guests guess how many are in inside.

Casual wedding receptions have become popular with the new generations. If you are doing anything from;

  • Softball
  • Kickball
  • Tag

Women can bring a pair of sneakers to make sure they participate. Just think of the fun photos you’ll get out of a rousing game of football or baseball played by women in dresses and sneakers and men in suits and sneakers!

If your wedding and reception are fairly casual, you can always tell guests ahead of time to prepare for a ball game or some other fun outdoor activity. Women can bring a pair of sneakers or flip flops. Just imagine the fun photos you’ll get out of a rousing game of football or baseball played by women in dresses and sneakers and men in suits and sneakers!

As your instructor, I hope during our sessions that I can provide you with more ideas. Looking forward to hearing back from you soon!

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What Are Some Pre Wedding Reception Activities

Pre Wedding Reception Activities

Wedding planning has so many little details to worry about that some might be forgotten. One tiny detail that often gets overlooked is how to keep guests entertained before the wedding reception “officially” begins.

What do brides and grooms do before the reception? There are no requirements that brides and grooms entertain their guests at all. After all, they have already attended your wedding ceremony (which was surely engaging and entertaining, right?) and they will soon get music, food, and drink. What more could they want? It turns out, a lot. While the bride and groom are off having pictures taken, the guests are left to their own devices, chatting with other guests and wondering when the buffet will open.

In that light, it’s worth at least considering some pre-reception options for keeping wedding guests entertained until the reception begins. Here are a few options, some traditional, some not so, but still fun.

  • Band playing
  • Tour of the property if at a historic site
  • Hors D’oeuvres

The possibilities are endless and really truly depend on your budget. One thing to consider is asking the DJ or entertainment company to provide some sort of add-on for one price. That way, some of the planning can be done by someone else.

First, you can do the traditional thing and provide guests with drinks and perhaps some light snacks. If the wedding is in the summertime, how about providing lemonade and iced tea? Or if it’s the winter, coffee and hot tea or even hot cocoa depending on the style of your wedding. Providing a light snack isn’t a bad idea, either, and that can be some appetizer-type food or just nuts, especially if the meal will be heavy.

Now, if you want to stray from tradition, there are many options. Some brides opt for entertaining the guests in the truest sense of the word. Clowns anyone? How about live music?

If you want to venture into the fun and funky, consult the party planning pages of a local children’s or parent’s magazine. Here, you can find people who will entertain your children at their birthday parties, but many of them will happily take on wedding jobs. You can hire a clown to make balloon animals for the kids (and adults) in attendance or to juggle a few things. Some clowns are true entertainers and will happily get the crowd involved by fetching items out of women’s purses and juggling them.

If there are many children at the wedding, it’s not too expensive to hire a children’s band to sing and entertain the children for a bit. Then if the kids are a bit bored at the reception, they’ll still have the memory of the earlier entertainment with them. In addition, while the children are being entertained, the adults can have a chance to chat and they will surely thank the bride for thinking of them in that way.

Other non-traditional options for entertaining your guests include hiring a band to play music beforehand. If you plan to have classical music at your wedding, you can have a band come and play covers of current pop songs, or you can simply have your hired band arrive a bit early to entertain guests waiting for the full reception to begin.

Some other options for entertaining your restless crowd before the festivities begin are to include them in the reception before it begins. This is a great time to ask people to sign the guest book and write something meaningful since they will have more time than they would usually have as they file into the reception hall.

If the reception and the wedding ceremony take place in the same location, but the bride and groom are off taking pictures, it may not seem as if there is not a dilemma of how to keep the guests entertained, but there is in fact.

In this case, you can have servers circulate with appetizer trays or you can do something more elaborate, such as some of the suggestions above. One popular option doesn’t involve entertaining the guests at all. Say the wedding is being held at a historic house or mansion. During the lull before the reception, guests can be given a tour of the property. If the wedding and reception are both being held at the couple’s new home, a tour of the property might be in order (assuming the guest list is fairly small).

As your instructor, I hope during our sessions that I can provide you with more ideas. Looking forward to hearing back from you soon!

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How to host engagement party games for friends and family

How to host engagement party games

Did someone say party? Yes, your engagement party is a moment in time when both of your families will learn about each other. We all know these times can be awkward and getting a level playing field with the parents of the couple.

With that being said, whoever plans the engagement party (the bride or groom or your favorite friend) should plan a few games and activities designed to enable the families to get to know each other.

First up is a trivia game.

Create a “Trivial Pursuit” type game with questions about the bride and groom’s lives. You can keep the questions just to facts and events relating to both, such as:

  • Where did he propose
  • Where did you both meet
  • Etc.

Games are can be fun and also be an entertaining way for attendees can get to know each other on a deeper level.

Icebreaker for your engagement party.

Icebreakers that are popular at corporate functions and company parties can be also used at your engagement party. Here are the step by step instructions:

Make teams.

Tape a card to each person’s back and encourage him or her to work the room.

Make sure they mingle with everyone and make sure they go to new people in the group.

While the person is walking around, they have to make sure each person makes a comment.

Make sure the comments match the tone of the event. (If family members are part of a religious group, be sure to respect their wishes) Examples include:

“She has very pretty…” or

“He knows a lot about the stock market..”

This icebreaker ends when the mingling amongst everyone is over. Every card will be read aloud to ensure everyone can see what was said to them. Again, ensure that comments are complimentary or somehow presented in a positive light. Hurtful comments, obviously, should not be used in this type of setting.

As your instructor, I hope during our sessions that I can provide you with more ideas. Looking forward to hearing back from you soon!

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Booking a Wedding Venue

Booking a Wedding Venue: 7 Must Ask Questions

Once you’ve broken the news of your engagement and let on that you’re seriously planning the ceremony, one of the first questions you should expect to hear is, “Have you booked a venue?”

In the modern day, there are a variety of different venues you can choose from, including country clubs, art galleries, museums, hotels, sports stadiums, libraries, and more. Essentially, any space that will allow a group to gather is an option. However, wedding receptions often have special concerns. When you’re in the process of booking a wedding venue, be sure to keep these seven questions in mind:

  1. How many guests can you accommodate? If you’re holding a huge shindig for hundreds and your local library will only host 80, you’re going to have major issues. Make sure to clear this up ahead of time.
  2. Do you have an in-house caterer? Are there limitations on outside caterers? There are basically two kinds of wedding venues: full service and not-full service. Full service venues often come with florists, caterers, linens, and table and chair rental – the whole nine yards. Not-full service venues only provide the space and you provide the rest. Full service venues take a lot of the stress out of coordination, but they take away your chance to shop around for the best deal. At some full service venues, you can use your own private vendors, but you’ll need to pay a fee to the in-house vendors on top of paying your private vendor.
  3. Is the site handicapped accessible? Depending on the needs of your wedding party and guests, this is an essential question to remember. Even if nobody in your party is legally handicapped, having elevators and ramps can help elderly guests move about far more easily.
  4. Who is responsible for setting up and taking down the décor? Some venues will have a clean up crew ready to help for an extra fee, and others will leave it entirely up to you. You may be able to pay your private vendors extra to help, if necessary.
  5. How early can I/my vendors arrive at the site for set up? If you’re having your party at a reception hall, generally you can get in very early to start preparing. However, if you’re partying at a museum, library, art gallery, stadium, or other public venue, your time may be limited.
  6. How many weddings will occur on my day? It’s unlikely your wedding will be the only wedding going on at an event space, particularly if you’re tying the knot during a popular time of year. Make sure that you know what else is going on that day and that you get the time for which you paid.
  7. What time do my guests need to leave the building? Knowing how much time you have to set up, celebrate, and then clean up will make logistics a lot easier. Additionally, some venues will levy heavy fees on receptions that go past their time allotment (think up to $500 an hour), so not knowing the limits could be costly.

Understanding the details of your wedding venue will make your party much smoother and more fun. Be sure you’re in the know when it comes to the details surrounding your wedding venue.

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Picking your music playlist for your wedding reception

Picking your music playlist for your wedding reception

Welcome to the 2-Part entertainment for your wedding series

Welcome, in this 2-part series titled: Entertainment for your wedding I will break down what you need to do in order to have great entertainment at your wedding reception; which involves:

    • Finding your music playlist for your wedding reception
    • Finding your DJ for your wedding reception

Your playlist for the wedding reception should reflect your taste in music. The last thing you want is for your favorite aunt to takeover and demand you play something from her prom night unless you’re into that music. After all, this is your wedding and a memory that you and your partner will share for years to come.

There are however some basics that every wedding should have and I will list a few:

    • Intro music (introducing couple)
    • Father daughter dance
    • First dance as married couple
    • Party Anthems
    • Dance for son and mother

Of course this list is not extensive, but with these songs in place, you can begin to fill in with a few songs for your favorite aunt. 😉 In the event there are more questions you need answered, do not hesitate to reach out to me.

In the next section I will break down for your the steps to finding and securing a DJ to actually spin at your wedding. My goal is to ensure your entertainment at the wedding is enjoyable and to your satisfaction based on my experience with couples from all over the country. Therefore, you can be sure that you’ve come to the right place for your wedding dance information.

Get to know your dance instructor

Wedding Dance Florida | Paddock Productions | Carolyn Paddock | AboutHello, my name is Carolyn Yancey Paddock and I am the owner and lead instructor at Wedding Dance Florida. I am a former professional ballerina, who has performed internationally and took my skills and talent to become an accomplished  Producer/Choreographer and Makeup Artist. Reach out to me about your wedding dance questions anytime via email. In closing, I serve wedding dance couples in the state of Florida, in the Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale area but if you’re outside of those markets my services may still be available.

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Rhonda & Greg Zorman

“We were engaged in April, one of the first things my soon-to-be husband suggested was to take dance lessons.  I knew he was right, we were not good dancers!  I researched online, left messages to companies similar to Carolyn’s, but my calls were not returned.

Two weeks before the wedding I realized the dance lessons were not going to happen, we would just be going through the motions of the typical, boring first dance. That same day I received an email from Carolyn offering dance lessons to wedding couples. Thinking maybe she could show us a couple of moves in that short amount of time, I called. She responded back in minutes and we had our first lesson that weekend, two weeks before the wedding.

Looking back, I still can’t believe Carolyn was able to choreograph such a beautiful dance customized for us, at our skill level, in such a short period of time!

We have been together 15 years, our first dance song was Etta James “At Last.” Carolyn broke down each move based on the music, so we learned it quickly and it was easy to remember. We had a lot of laughs practicing, plus it was a good way to bond and enjoy the moment during the last two weeks of the pre-wedding chaos.

Our performance was the hit of the wedding! We did a great job and had so much fun. We are thinking we should try out for “Dancing with the Stars!”

Can’t thank Carolyn enough for all she did! She is extremely professional, a pleasure to work with, and has the patience of a Saint! I would highly recommend her to any couple that wants to have a great wedding experience and bring down the house with their first dance!”

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7 Key Moments to capture on Video by Wedding Dance Florida

Lights, Camera, Action: 7 Key Wedding Moments to Capture on Video

Lights, Camera, Action: 7 Key Wedding Moments to Capture on Video

Some weddings have professional photographers, others don’t but here are 7 key moments to capture on video. Whatever you choose for your own wedding, however, you’ll want to have a keen eye on the ‘important’ wedding moments. A lot of wedding albums end up with a waterfall of pictures centering on the bride walking down the aisle.

While this is no doubt an important moment, there are lots of other moments going on throughout the day that should be captured as well. Remember that a wedding is a long process. There are elements that occur far in advance of the big day, and you may want to make sure that these are captured. Consider the following capture-worthy moments:

  1. Dress shopping. Okay, okay, this doesn’t actually occur during the wedding. But, let’s face it: most women don’t have the chance to play around in gowns potentially worth thousands of dollars all that often. You can do this easily with a camcorder set up in the corner of the dressing room… and then you’ll forever breathe a sigh of relief when you didn’t go with the low-cut polyester number.
  2. Bachelor/bachelorette party. Obviously, this one will depend on who your friends are and what you’re doing. If you’re going extremely drunk and extremely raunchy, well, film at your own risk. Parties that are slightly tamer in nature, though, may very well hold some magic moments.
  3. The “reveal.” It’s highly recommended that brides and grooms do a reveal to each other before they walk down the aisle. Oftentimes the look on both partners’ faces is one not to be missed, and it allows the bride and groom to spend a private moment together before the wedding, which can help with jitters. Not to mention, if the bride and groom don’t see each other before the ceremony, the “first look” magic is often lost in the procession.
  4. Interactions with the most important people of the wedding party. Notify the videographer of parents, siblings, and close friends. Keep a list of these MVP guests. You’re more likely to get impromptu pictures with your loved ones this way.
  5. The first dance. Video is best for this. If you’re doing a choreographed dance, make sure that the videographer shoots your feet in the video as well, as that’s where most of the action is! Also make sure the DJ asks everyone to be seated so that everyone will be able to see your wonderful First Dance that you have created!
  6. The first kiss. This is one of the wedding’s pinnacles; make sure that it’s captured. It’s a good idea if your photographer can scope out the area beforehand to get a good angle. It’s even better if you have multiple photographers.
  7. Pictures from the honeymoon. Again, this is not part of the ceremony itself, but many people regret never capturing the honeymoon on film. There’s sure to be lots of interesting hijinks going on between the newlyweds.

Planning a wedding is a long process. Be sure to document as much as you can! As the years progress, you will be glad these moments were forever captured.

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Booking a Wedding Venue

Booking a Wedding Venue: 7 Must Ask Questions

Once you’ve broken the news of your engagement and let on that you’re seriously planning the ceremony, one of the first questions you should expect to hear is, “Have you booked a venue?”

In the modern day, there are a variety of different venues you can choose from, including country clubs, art galleries, museums, hotels, sports stadiums, libraries, and more. Essentially, any space that will allow a group to gather is an option. However, wedding receptions often have special concerns. When you’re in the process of booking a wedding venue, be sure to keep these seven questions in mind:

  1. How many guests can you accommodate? If you’re holding a huge shindig for hundreds and your local library will only host 80, you’re going to have major issues. Make sure to clear this up ahead of time.
  2. Do you have an in-house caterer? Are there limitations on outside caterers? There are basically two kinds of wedding venues: full service and not-full service. Full service venues often come with florists, caterers, linens, and table and chair rental – the whole nine yards. Not-full service venues only provide the space and you provide the rest. Full service venues take a lot of the stress out of coordination, but they take away your chance to shop around for the best deal. At some full service venues, you can use your own private vendors, but you’ll need to pay a fee to the in-house vendors on top of paying your private vendor.
  3. Is the site handicapped accessible? Depending on the needs of your wedding party and guests, this is an essential question to remember. Even if nobody in your party is legally handicapped, having elevators and ramps can help elderly guests move about far more easily.
  4. Who is responsible for setting up and taking down the décor? Some venues will have a clean up crew ready to help for an extra fee, and others will leave it entirely up to you. You may be able to pay your private vendors extra to help, if necessary.
  5. How early can I/my vendors arrive at the site for set up? If you’re having your party at a reception hall, generally you can get in very early to start preparing. However, if you’re partying at a museum, library, art gallery, stadium, or other public venue, your time may be limited.
  6. How many weddings will occur on my day? It’s unlikely your wedding will be the only wedding going on at an event space, particularly if you’re tying the knot during a popular time of year. Make sure that you know what else is going on that day and that you get the time for which you paid.
  7. What time do my guests need to leave the building? Knowing how much time you have to set up, celebrate, and then clean up will make logistics a lot easier. Additionally, some venues will levy heavy fees on receptions that go past their time allotment (think up to $500 an hour), so not knowing the limits could be costly.

Understanding the details of your wedding venue will make your party much smoother and more fun. Be sure you’re in the know when it comes to the details surrounding your wedding venue.

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Memorable First Dance

How to Plan a Memorable First Dance

How to Plan a Memorable First Dance

After the physical and spiritual nuptials are completed and the bride and groom have ‘sealed the deal’ with a kiss, it’s common for guests to anticipate a memorable first dance. There are many different ways to have a reception, but most of them contain one similarity: the bride and groom’s first dance.

In all the hustle and bustle of planning a wedding, the first dance may seem to be a relatively minor concern, but trust us… it’s not. With most of the guests likely having cameras and phones plastered to their hands, not to mention the professional videographer who is likely near, your first dance will be etched into digital memory for a long time to come. Why not make it memorable with these tips?

  1. Lower the lights. First, lowering the lights is a signal to your guests (who are likely milling around and chatting) that something is about to happen. If you haven’t had your first dance, they’ll figure out what’s next on the agenda. This will also allow your DJ to play with lighting effects as well.
  2. Choose your song by dance type. If you’re planning to execute an actual dance (waltz, swing, rumba, foxtrot, etc), you’ll need to choose music with the correct beat. The good news is that you don’t have to go with an instrumental song that nobody knows if you don’t want, as plenty of pop songs use these beats.
  3. Consider choreography. For those who don’t want to stand on the floor and rock back and forth, taking lessons together to prepare for the dance can be a good choice. You’ll have increased confidence, and be able to prove once and for all that you really can cut a rug. Also, taking the lessons together can be a fun activity as fiancées.
  4. If you can’t dance, waltz. For those who want a choreographed look but can’t be bothered to take intensive lessons, learning a basic waltz can be one of the easiest dances to master. It’s a classic, looks good, and takes very little effort.
  5. Don’t choose a long song. Particularly if you aren’t doing a choreographed dance that is flashy and exciting, a five-minute long ballad is likely going to bore your guests after the first couple minutes. Romantic songs that are three minutes or less are best. Of course, if you’re willing (and able) to tear it up with a salsa, this rule doesn’t apply.
  6. Save the drinking for after the dancing. It seems obvious, but this is a step that some brides ignore to their detriment. You don’t want to have been taking rumba lessons for six months, only to be too tipsy to execute.

Bring the guests in! Sure, it’s traditional to do the first dance alone on the dance floor, but this isn’t a hard rule. If you’re not willing to have a choreographed dance and you’re uncomfortable with the idea of all eyes on you for two straight minutes, break out into a conga line or a group dance after the first minute.

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Top 10 Viral Wedding Dance Videos of All Time

Top 10 Viral Wedding Dance Videos of All Time

Looking for inspiration to make your first dance memorable, these are the top 10 viral wedding dance videos of all time! With the magic of the internet, we can look at literally thousands of wedding videos from around the world. Of course, the internet being what it is, some of these wedding dance videos have become extremely popular and have been shared around the world.

If you’re stumped on how to execute your own first dance, take a gander at these viral wedding dance videos for a glimpse at what everybody loves to see out of first wedding dances:

1

The Dirty Dancing. Of course, “Time of My Life” is probably a popular choice for a lot of first dances, but this couple actually did the dance from the movie right down to a T, including the part where Johnny lifts Baby over his head.

2

The JK Wedding Entrance Dance. This one went so viral that the hit show The Office paid homage to it. It features the entire wedding party dancing down the aisle to Forever by Chris Brown. Its popularity shows that millions of people agree that a fresh approach to the aisle is always welcome!

3

The Best Mother Son Dance Video Ever. Unique dances don’t have to be the province of the bride and groom! This fun take on the mother-son dance clearly makes the crowd go wild, and will be remembered for years to come.

4

The Best Wedding Speech Ever. Want to add some pizzazz to your wedding toast? Why not jazz it up with some professional dancers and a choreographed dance routine? This bride surely won’t forget this toast!

5

A “Crazy” First Dance. First dances also don’t need to be solo! This first dance for a couple is tightly choreographed and involves the entire wedding party.

6

A Breakout First Dance. This dance starts off slow, but breaks out into a fun and zany couple dance. Well choreographed and entertaining, this one certainly didn’t bore the watchers!

7

A Swing of a Dance. Set to a classic big band theme, this couple pulls off a more “traditional” swing dance routine that is entertaining, fast-paced, and yet classic.

8

The Thriller. Hey, you can’t go wrong with classic MJ. This is a fun way to include the wedding party in a dance that doesn’t leave all eyes on you and is set to something family-friendly and easily recognizable.

9

The Multiple Song Procession. This one is similar to the JK wedding entrance dance, but instead of the whole procession dancing to the same song, each member has his or her own!

10

10th Wedding Anniversary Dance. This isn’t exactly a wedding dance, but it’s an anniversary one! This couple makes it their own with a lively routine, and as a bonus… they have their kids join in!

There are plenty of different ways to make your wedding dance (or your wedding toast, or your mother/son or father/daughter dance) your own, and truly make your nuptials something that the guests will remember forever! Remember – it’s your day, and your dance should reflect your personality and individual style.

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