Breaking down traditions to make your Wedding personal and unique to you
There are number of things that your guests would expect you to have at your Wedding Reception, but there are also lots of things we can do to make your Wedding more personal and that little bit different. In this blog we will take you through just a few of these extras that you may wish to incorporate into your Reception. We totally understand these sorts of things are not for everyone, so we would only incorporate them into your evening if requested by yourselves. Also, if you have something in mind that we have not suggested below, then please get in touch to discuss how we can make it happen.
Ceilidh Section
A very popular addition to the Weddings we perform at is a section of ceilidh dancing. Sometimes this is just a couple of dances, other times it is a few more dances mixed with the disco throughout the evening. Ceilidh dancing has been a part of Scottish Weddings for centuries and it is a great way to get your guests onto the dancefloor. There are not many songs that can get your grandparents, your wee cousins and everyone in between on the floor all at the same time, but ceilidh really can do this.
Some couples choose to have their ceilidh section near the beginning of the evening as it works well as an ice breaker. Others choose to leave it until a little later on when guests have had a couple of drinks. The great think about us acting as a Ceilidh DJ means that we can be entirely flexible. If your guests are enjoying the ceilidh dancing then we can do a couple more dances, if not, then we can just move back to the disco. We also get couples who are worried about their guests not being able to do the dances, but this is really not a problem. We will encourage people onto the floor and talk everyone through each dance in normal everyday language.
Mr & Mrs Game
This is a great way to add that personal touch in a fun and interactive way that is guaranteed to entertain your guests. The game involves the Bride and Groom sitting back to back each holding a pink balloon in one hand and a blue balloon in the other. We will ask the couple a series of questions and the Bride and Groom answer by holding up either the pink balloon or the blue balloon. Questions might include “Who is the best dancer?”, “Who is the better cook?”, “Who spends the most money?” and “Who takes longer to get ready?”.
We find the Mr & Mrs Game works well towards the end of the evening buffet as it provides the opportunity for guests to finish their food and get back into the party spirit, without going straight back into the disco.
Bouquet Toss and garter toss
Traditionally, the Bouquet Toss was seen as a way of the Bride passing on her good fortune to one of her guests. Whilst this tradition may not be such a focus in modern times, the Bouquet Toss can still form a special moment at a Wedding. We tend to organise the Bouquet Toss for later on in the evening and get all the single ladies out on the dancefloor – sometimes married ladies too as they just want to join in the fun! We then build it up and play a track like “Single Ladies” or “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce. Whilst the tradition of the Bouquet Toss is still there, the focus is more about giving the Bride the chance to dance with all her friends.
Perhaps more of an American tradition and less popular in the UK, but there is a Bouquet Toss equivalent for the Groom and all of his friends. This involves the removal and then tossing of the Bride’s garter.
Dance off
A Dance Off is another fun and interactive activity that tends to get everyone up on the dancefloor later on in the evening. We usually organise guests into two teams with the Bride’s friends and family in Team Bride and the Groom’s friends and family in Team Groom. We often choose tracks like the “Grease Megamix” for Dance Offs, but you are more than welcome to choose your own.
