Receiving Lines?

What is a Receiving Line?

Traditionally, a receiving line is when the Bride and Groom greet their guests after the ceremony. Giving them an opportunity to say Thank You and allow their guests to Congratulate the them. This is the most secure way to be sure that each and every guests will be able talk to the bride and groom face to face. 

Do I have to do a Receiving Line, How long will it take?

Many Brides are opting out of doing a receiving line, mainly because of the time that it takes. Most guests will take between 15-30 seconds each, but you may have a relative or good friend that will want to chat a little longer. This can add a lot of time to your Itinerary. If the average is 30 seconds per guest, multiply that by the number of guests you will have, and this will be a close estimate on how long it will take. Even at 15 seconds per guest, 100 guests would take 25 minutes. This can be a long time for the guest in the back of the line.

What are my Alternatives? 

The best way to greet your guests without doing a receiving line is during dinner. The Bride and Groom will generally eat first, in fact, should eat first. As they are finishing up, many of the guests will be mid-way or getting started. This is one of the best times for the newlyweds to do a Table to Table greet. The guests will be entertaining each other at the dinner table so there will be no "waiting" feeling to congratulate the Bride & Groom. Also, the newlyweds will be able to greet 5-8 people at a time, so they can spend a little more time at each table. It can be more relaxing and comfortable as well.

Receiving Lines are a wonderful tradition, but for the modern Bride, a great use of alternatives can save time and help with a better flow for the Reception Itinerary. 

www.medforddj.com

Photographers

When should you book your photographer? 

Choosing the perfect photographer can be a very important part in the wedding process. If having a good photographer is one of your top priorities, booking one early is essential. The best photographers will book up to a year in advance or even sooner. Many Brides will book their photographer before they even book the venue. 

A good photographer will help you pick a location for your wedding that will be exquisite in your photos. There are many locations that many look good when you visit, but certain months and times of day may change the dynamic of your pictures drastically. If you book an experienced photographer, they can help you set the perfect place at the perfect time for the Best Pictures.   

With so many Photographers out there, who should you call?

For many Brides, they would like pictures taken at their wedding, but it is low on the priority list. There are hundreds of aspiring photographers to choose from. You can find many people to take your pictures at a low cost. With new photographers, it is important to come up with a plan or itinerary for what photos you would like and how long it should take the day of the wedding. But there are great prices and you can find really good photographers that are just getting started.

If you want to ensure beautiful pictures, you will want to hire a professional wedding photographer. An experienced photographer's prices can very, just make sure you meet with at least 3 or more photographers before you make a final decision. Every photographer is different in their own unique way. It is important that you feel comfortable around your photographer. You will be doing a lot of smiling and you want it to look very natural. 

Most professionals are more than just someone to take pictures, they are also artists. After meeting with each potential photographer, compare the price to the value of the package. Are you able to keep a digital copy? Will they be doing and editing? Will you receive an album of you prints? How long will they be at your wedding? Will they be staying through all the traditions? What time will they arrive? Most important, was there a connection?

What else should you expect from your Photographer?

Your photographer will also help you make important decisions that will affect your timeline. One of the biggest decisions is whether or not your and your Husband-To-Be will want to see each other before the Ceremony or if you want him to see you for the first time as you walk down the isle. 

Seeing each other before can cut down a lot of time after the Ceremony. A good photographer will help you capture the perfect moment when you see each other for the first time. It can be a very personal moment. If you choose this option, you are able to get your wedding party and couple pictures done before any guests arrive. Your hair and make-up will be fresh and your wedding party will look great too. 

If you choose to wait until the Ceremony, it is a very special moment for your friends and family to see the look on your Husband-To-Be's face as well as your own as you walk down the isle. As a traditional approach, it is important that your photographer captures this moment. After the Ceremony, you want to make sure that there is an itinerary for the photographer to finish all photos in timely manner. Start with all the Family and allow a specific time frame. After family is the wedding party, and finally just the two of you. 

Make sure to tell your photographer that you want to be finished at a certain time, especially if food will be served at a specific time. In order for your reception to flow smoothly, it is very important that the two of you eat first. If your photographer knows this information ahead of time, timing is close to perfect. 

Here are some great photographers that I recommend:

Mikota Photography 541.941.3309  http://www.mikotaphotography.com/

Corallee Carlson Photography 541.774.3686 http://www.photographybycoral.com/

Toki Cavener Photography 541-941-1333 http://tokisphotos.com/

   

What will the DJ Play?

When choosing a DJ for your Wedding, Music should be the least of your worries. Every great DJ has a large selection of music or the ability to get it for you. There are many moments during your Ceremony and Reception that would be great to have a certain song played. From the moment your guests arrive to the last song of the evening, I found a great website that have awesome suggestions for these key moments. 

http://www.discjockeys.com/top_wedding.php

Experienced DJ companies will provide you with a top requested list to pick your favorites as well as ask you what songs you would like to add. Every Bride and Groom should be able to choose the music that is played at their wedding. With help from your DJ, you can provide general genres, make a specific list, or a combination of both. The DJ should not play what they want to hear, but what you want played. A good DJ also has the ability to "read the crowd" by looking at your guests and know what to play to keep them dancing while still keeping your music requests in the mix.

There are a lot of wedding websites that will advise you NOT to play the "cheesy" interactive dances. Such as The Electric Slide, Y.M.C.A, Hokey Pokey, Chicken Dance, Conga Line, etc. It really comes down to what you want at your wedding. Many of these dances can help get the party started and keep your guests entertained. They will more then likely stay longer and have a lot of fun. There are also ways to keep your guests involved using classy music does not come across as "cheesy". Ask your DJ how they can get everyone involved. You may want simple elegance in your music or upbeat & fun entertainment, but either way, the music you choose should reflect you and your fiancé.  

Music is the main purpose of a DJ... but a True Disc Jockey is so much more...