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Music and Tom Rudolph Orchestra's Role

at Your Wedding

copyright © 1997 Tom Rudolph Entertaniment

 

|| Introductions || Music for Introductions || First Dance || Dances with Parents || Dancing Between Courses ||

Introductions

There is no firm rule for introductions. You can choose to introduce your entire wedding party including ring bearers and flower girls plus parents and grandparents, or you can introduce just the bride and groom, or any variation on those themes. The same goes for the way people are introduced. A few examples of introduction style are by:

Formal names: Miss Robin Alicia Rudolph escorted by Mr. Joseph James Kirkland.

Personal names: Miss Robin Rudolph escorted by Mr. Joe Kirkland

Nicknames: Robin Rudolph escorted by J. J. Kirkland

Relationship to the bride and groom: the bride's sister, Robin escorted by the groom's best friend from high school, Joe Kirkland, or any other way for that matter.

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Music for Introductions:

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First Dance

If you want to get the party rolling immediately or if it is important to you that everyone see the first dance you should have your first dance immediately, up front, right after introductions. If you want a party with maximum dancing, invite everyone in to dance immediately after, or during the first dance. In a Jewish wedding, traditionally the first dance will be immediately after introductions of just the bride and groom, followed by a set of frailachs and the chair ceremony.

The first dance can be any song that is important to the two of you. If you have "a song," by all means use it. No matter what it is, we will learn it. If you don't, you're in good company. Almost 50% of couples do not have an obvious choice. Since this song will be with you for fifty years, pick something that says something to you and that you won't be embarrassed by when you're 64. For example, "What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life" is a timeless classic that speaks volumes about love, whereas "I Knew The Bride When She Used to Rock and Roll" is a funny first dance (yes, it's been done) but may be a little hard to explain on your 25th anniversary (then again, it might be perfect). Regardless, it's your call, and we'll play what you like. To spur your thinking, read over the following list and maybe check out the lyrics to some of these songs to see if one captures your fancy:

Classic Standards for Your First Dance

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Dancing Between courses or after dinner?

Dancing between courses will increase the momentum of your party, however, it will also prolong the food service. Whether or not this is right for you is a matter of personal style and family tradition. Some families like to mingle throughout the event, and others want to eat first and then dance. However, If you have food stations, where guests have access to food for several hours in several locations, it is generally a good idea to have dancing throughout the food service.

Dinner music can be a variety of styles, but we generally try to play something quiet and uninvasive during the main food service. You will determine whether that is jazz, classical, show tunes, new age or some combination of those styles. This is also a good time for any family favorites that may be of significance to the you but aren't good for dancing. For example, one mother had always sung You are My Sunshine to her children and we surprised her by playing it during the dinner service. Jimmy has also serenaded mothers in Italian to the strains of Mama, when requested.

After dinner the party will take off, and we can be as interactive or as removed as you would like. Those choices will be determined by you, and if you're not sure, here are some questions to consider, answering them will give you an idea of the style of interaction that's best for you.

Do you want circle dances?

Do you want the Macarena or Electric Slide?

Would you like Jimmy to teach the Macarena and its variations or the Electric Slide?

Would you prefer that we stand back and let our music speak for itself?

Would you like us to invite people up to dance, or should we be completely silent?

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Dancing With Your Parents

Some time after dinner you will most likely have a father-daughter dance and a mother-son dance. You may also, or in addition, dance with step parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, who knows!! These can be formal, announced dances, or they may just happen, again that is up to you. I recommend that you ask your parents what they would like to dance to, they may have a firmly preconceived notion of the ultimate song they would like, and we will certainly learn it. For cases without an obvious choice, here are some suggestions (some songs are appropriate for either category)

Father Daughter Dance

Bridal Party Dance

The bridal party dance has never really caught on as a tradition per se, but if you have a sizable bridal party you may want to do one. We can also recognize the bridal party by having them join in with the first dance when it is half over. If you would like a separate bridal party song, good times for this are right after dinner, as the first dance before people rally get going again, or after the cake cutting or bouquet (Should you choose to throw it). The best bridal party songs is the one that you all identify with and love as a group, but in lieu of that, here are some suggestions:

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We generally close the evening with a last pair of dances, first a ballad followed by a fast song to send everyone home tired and jazzed up. If you have a favorite, please let us know what it is.

We hope that this has been helpful in stimulating your thinking, and we look forward to helping you create your own special wedding.

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