Every wedding has some form of entertainment, and that entertainment can sometimes make or break the evening. When you've decided on a band (or DJ) for your wedding reception, you may find the following checklist to be of some help. Remember, the more information you can communicate to the band, the smoother your evening will flow. As your planning your ideal reception entertainment, make sure to consider and discuss the following points with the band ahead of time:
• How would you like to be introduced? Some go for "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" while others prefer "Susan and Frank Jones". If the bride is inclined to keep her last name, the introduction could be "Susan Johnson and Frank Jones." A clear decision, quickly communicated to the band upon their arrival, will help the evening run smoothly or with less confusion.
• If the bridal party is to be introduced, it's best to include a list with the exact names. If spellings of any names are uncommon, then a phonetic spelling will help.
• First dances are typically a highlight of the evening. Everyone enjoys seeing the newly wed couple on the dance floor for the first time. How long should this be? That depends. Some couples choose to dance the entire first song together while others are opened up during the first or second song to include the bride and groom's parents and ultimately the wedding party.
• Toasts are another highlight of the evening. It helps the band to know how many toasts to expect and how long they will speak. Sometimes toasts are limited to the maid of honor and best man while other times it's an open mic. If you pursue the latter, it's customary for the bride's father to have the final word.
• Cutting the cake and bouquet/garter toss are also traditional parts of many receptions. If you're planning to make this a special occasion, let the band know and they'll provide appropriate music for those events. It's also a good time for the band to break but remember they can fill the gaps with digitized music (iPod/iPad) to keep the evening flowing.
As with corporate or charitable events, it helps for the band to know what to expect from the audience so any information you can provide such as number of guests, average age or age range, geographic background, or favorite musical genres are always a big help.
Jimmy Maxwell has been providing entertainment at galas, balls, and other corporate events around the country for more than a decade. Based in New Orleans, Jimmy Maxwell is available to provide a musical group with the experience and expertise to make your wedding reception an affair to remember. Visit http://www.jimmymaxwell.com for more information.
Jimmy Maxwell 
