FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Regarding hiring entertainment, music selection and dancing for your reception
* Sources include, Jeff Allen, Dance Expert

Hiring Entertainment

Q - How do I hire a DJ ?
A - Click here to get information about hiring a DJ.

Q - How do I hire a Band ?
A - Click here to get information about selecting a Band.

* Get it in writing ! Click here for contract terms and pointers.

Dancing

Q - How should I coordinate my first dance music, order of presentation, with the D. J., band or orchestra?

A - When making wedding preparations, we often fall into the attitude that the people we have hired are professionals - they've done lots of these - they know what to do!

Don't forget this is your day!   Although it means spending extra time on what appears to be small details, it will be worth it.   Being prepared and knowing exactly when things should and will happen will ease some of your nervousness.   White Rabbit Entertainment will use the information from your  Questionnaire   to plan every detail of your event. 

Q - Order of dances for a wedding reception.

My bride-to-be parents are still together, but my parents are divorced. My mom is single again, but my dad has remarried and has been married for 20+ years. My step mother is just like a mom to me. Our problem is, in what order should we dance at our reception, i.e. Bride and Brides father, then Bride and Groom, then Groom and Mother, and then Groom and step Mother? Or do the Bride and Groom dance first?

A - There can be some sticky areas here.

1. The Bride & Groom must be first!  This is your first act as man and wife and should start every wedding reception.
2. Father of the Bride or whoever presents the Bride with the Bride.
3. Groom with natural Mom and then Step-Mom

Both sets of Parents dance with each other at the same time and have the Best man dance with your Mom. That will make her feel special rather than left out.  A close uncle or her brother could also pinch-hit.   I'd go for the Best Man!!

Reception Entertainment preparation and attention to detail

Be very certain that the MC (sometimes one and the same as the D.J.) knows how to properly pronounce all the names of the wedding party!  Know the exact order of the dance presentations and plan the length of each dance etc. It sounds like a lot of extra time and effort but it will be well worth it. We meet with the Bride and Groom to discuss these details. Come to the meeting prepared with written questions and ideas. Each and every wedding reception has similarities as well as great differences, please don't leave anything to chance!

Q - Are there any hints regarding our attire for the reception?

A - Many times in the excitement of outfitting the wedding party, individuals forget that they won't be posed for photographs all day! They will actually have to sit down, walk around, bend over, hug people, and yes, dance!  Keep this in mind as you try on your wedding day attire.  Actually go through the motions when you have your gown/ tux/ bridesmaid/ attire on.  Many a bride and groom have made their entrance onto a dance floor only to find one member of the couple (or both!) can't raise their arms to form the dance couple.  Keep this in mind if you plan to do the limbo.


Q -What would be your best ideas for a "stress free" first dance as well as emotionally touching?

A -Your First Dance as Husband and Wife should be memorable and emotionally touching.   Historically the First Dance is symbolic of the consummation of the wedding vows.   This Dance is the wedding couple’s first cooperative engagement and joint endeavor.  When the Bride accepts her dance with the Groom she accepts it for the rest of her life.  The frame and posture of the Groom while he proposes that the Bride accept this dance all speak of the source of strength, love, companionship, and guidance he offers his Bride.

The following is a list to help you make these moments as meaningful and memorable as possible. 

1.  Learn to dance no later than 6 months prior to your wedding date.  You don't want to do this at the, "panic stage," or last minute.

2.  Select a song that you love with a good dance tempo.   Slow ballads are beautiful but too slow for either Foxtrot or Waltz which makes it very difficult for beginners.  If you have chosen a Slow Ballad there is a popular dance form known as Slow Dancing that you may want to investigate.

3. Find a book that teaches you to dance and that offers advice for conducting your 1st Dance.  This will save you hundreds of dollars should you need a quick one or two lessons brush up from an experienced professional.  The foreknowledge that a book can provide, about social dancing, will make any lesson experience highly successful.  The book will then become a great reference for the future.

4. You must be willing to practice often but in short increments.

5. Never make your First Dance at the wedding the first time you are dancing in public.  You must get out on a social dance floor and 'swim with the sharks.'

6. Be kind, understanding, and forgiving to each other and yourself when learning to dance together.  It isn't easy and it will be a good test of your patience and cooperative skills as a couple.  After all, you'll have to do things together, not unlike this, the rest of your lives.