Reception Insight

A disorganized reception can lead to unprepared moments of readiness and time delays. We attempt to prevent these momentary hindrances by coordinating an itinerary of scheduled events. Generally most wedding professionals work with some type of schedule. In addition to playing the music, Future Sounds emcees coordinate the reception events with other wedding professionals such as your photographer and caterer to make sure we are all on the same page. We are in the middle of reception activities throughout the evening, so therefore we can easily watch the pace and movement of your guest. We do not take breaks nor leave the room. We modify the schedule with the other wedding professionals as needed to assure that the evening flows smoothly and that expected traditional events occur without a hitch. Simple communication can help prepare champaign for the toast or get ready the wait staff for the cutting of the cake. The itinerary is our little bible for the evening. It gives us insight into the intended structure you have in mind for your wedding day. We are willing and capable to lead the event or follow someone else who is the acting coordinator.  Feel free to call us for help if assistance is needed. If you have a wedding planner, please make sure they share their information and itinerary with us.

Some wedding planners tend to space traditional events throughout the reception. This will work fine if reserved events like the toast and cake cutting are done during cocktails and dinner and interactive events like the bouquet and garter toss are done during the dance. The events scheduled in the middle of the dance or late in the reception that require everything and everybody to stop and offer their attention--could cause your guests to lessen their participation and diminish numbers at the end of the event.

Our announcements are made based on the information shared on the format guide. We ask that you fill in specific times for you ceremony, arrival of you and your guests into the reception room or hall, dinner and expected departure. The remaining events like the cake cutting, toast and first dance are scheduled based on your expected number of guests and the turnaround time for the buffet or sit down meal. We suggest doing reserved events like the cake cutting and toast following dinner. Doing these two events following dinner keeps the captive attention of your guests. Doing these two events after the dance has begun or in the middle of the dance breaks or completely halts the momentum expected for the dance. Furthermore, it is more difficult to gain everybody’s attention for the toast and cake cutting the later it is in the evening. We suggest that while you are taking the formal pictures of the cake cutting, the caterer or servers pass out the champaign or sparkling cider. We suggest to your guests to refresh their beverages at the beverage station if champaign or sparkling cider is not offer or preferred. The formal toast is immediately after the cake cutting placing you in the center of the dance area which will then lead you into the first dance. While you are doing the formal dances, the caterer is slicing the cake and passing it out to your guests. Guests can enjoy the cake now or later if they wish. Our goal is to get the reception moving once dinner and desert is done.

The bouquet and garter toss is an outgoing event and can be done at any point in the reception. Generally, we like to allow for an hour of dancing before doing another traditional event. Our Format Guides are designed to help you plan out and customize your evening. In addition to scheduling traditional events, the music guide completes the second page and helps you focus and plan out specific music request. The Format Guides above are geared specifically towards wedding receptions and ceremonies. However, we do have specialized Format Guides for other events such as Bar / Bat Mitzvahs, Anniversary / Birthday parties and general Corporate Functions. These Format Guides are due one month (4 weeks)before the reception occurs. This helps us prepare needed materials and organize special request. Last minute music request that are not listed in the on line library may not be readily available the next day. Please consult any changes or adjustments with Cheryl at the Future Sounds Office.