First Dance

Ooooh! Good question! We are also having a live band and they play our song (Your Song by Elton John). I was thinking about having the first dance first and then the rest of the band's set because it would get everyone up and dancing.

If you had the band first you and your OH couldn't dance together to it because it wouldn't then be a 'first' dance would it? hmmm got me thinking

R xxx

I'd say it would be best to be governed by your expectations of the band - if you're envisaging the band will be danced to by your guests then you should do your first dance with the band playing. But if the band are more background music before the dancing starts then maybe wait until the DJ comes on.

x

What 'usually' happens is the band kicks off the night with the first dance, carry on with the music and then everyone joins you on the dance floor. I suppose you can do it at anytime though as you are having both. They could even end on your first dance before the DJ starts x

Thanks for your replies!

it's a Barn Dance band we're having (as OH is their drummer and he told me when everyones drunk its a good laugh!) but the song for our first dance is quite a new song so they wont play it.

it might be a bit strange to have the song played from the CD on the sound system and then onto the Barn Dance..

Hello and welcome to Hitched!

Ir all depends on timings. Normally there's a 1-2 hour gap between the wedding breakfast and the evening reception getting started to give everyone chance to stretch their legs, check into thotel rooms etc. and for your venue staff to turn the room around for the evening (if everything's in the same room).

If your band are playing background music (Jazz band or similar), they would be perfect for in this gap before the dancing starts. If your band are playing music to dance to, I would say definitely do your first dance first. Your DJ will welcome everyone, announce your first dance and then the evening will be underway and your band can get everyone up on the floor. In my experience of being asked to sing before the first dance (unless it's background music) guests get confused and wonder why the dancing has started before the bride and groom have taken the floor!

Of course, your band and DJ will know best has worked for them in the past so don't be afraid to go to them with any queries.

Hope this helps!

James

Thanks! that's helped a lot!

seems like im worrying about everything happening at once haha

we will be having our wedding at a church then on to a Barn around 6:30/7:00 for a hot food buffet, quite relaxed as i dont particularly like formal sit down meals, i like to mingle! it should all roll quite smoothly!

Thank you

Welcome to hitched and congratulations on your engagement!

At first I was just going to say "have the first dance before the band" but now I see your predicament... is the sound system built into the venue, as in, would the quality of the first dance track sound as good as the DJ or is the DJ bringing his own kit? If the sound system is the same, I think you could just play the first dance, and then introduce the band and then have the DJ. I've seen this done before and it was fine, I didn't even think of it until this thread! If you're worried it would be less smooth, you could arrange for the band to be ready to start immediately after the first dance song stops. I'm guessing there would be applause at the end of the dance anyway so that would make a natural point for music change, where you could exit the dance floor and everyone could get up straight away!

Hmm those questions i could ask in 2 weeks time when we go and meet up with the venue manager.

i think it will be a case of before the Barn Dance Band but somehow try and make the transition as smooth as possible! maybe i could ask the Venue manager how previous receptions with this band have done it.

all these replies are so helpful, i'm so grateful, thank you

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