The first dance of an open dance floor can tell you a lot about a wedding. On October 17 at Brookside Country Club in Canton, Ohio, the couple opened theirs with a Greek dance. Of all the music I played at that reception, that’s the moment I’d start with if you asked me about the night.
I was there to DJ the reception. The other moment that stuck with me came from the father of the bride. He had the mic for his speech, and for once the part of the evening I remember best has nothing to do with a song. That’s one of the things I love about working a wedding: sometimes my job is picking the music, and sometimes it’s making sure everybody can hear Dad.
What do you want to open the floor with?
If we were sitting down to plan your reception, I’d ask this before asking for your request list. At Brookside, the answer was a Greek dance. At yours, it might be the song your cousins play at every family party. If you already know the answer, tell your DJ why you picked it. Send the exact recording, let them know who starts the dance, and decide whether you want an invitation over the mic or just the first notes of the song. Those little decisions are easier to make together ahead of time.
The family at Brookside had also planned for an extra hour in case people wanted to keep dancing or stay and listen. I liked that they left room for both. You can give the first song a lot of thought and still let the end of the night find its own pace.
Venue: Brookside Country Club, 1800 Canton Avenue NW, Canton, OH 44708.
Planning a reception in Canton? Explore my wedding DJ and MC services or send me your date. I’d love to hear what you’d open the floor with.