Please request our Google Document version of this helpful planner. There is no obligation if you have not yet booked BOK-Music. We would be happy for you take advantage of this helpful interactive planning tool. All we need is your gmail address and wedding date. Below is the older version without many of the improvements.

Wedding Formalities Form

Ask us for the Google Doc version now!

FYI only - Do not use this form to submit info to us.

Whether you are planning a traditional or casual wedding, we need to know some important details. Your other vendors will rely on the DJ/MC or bandleader’s knowledge of your ceremony and/or reception details. Most of the timing will be determined by the maitre d’. We have created a combination guide and form to help you understand the formalities at most weddings and to specify your plans. It may seem overly detailed, but all of the points come up quite often at weddings.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Following are three hypothetical weddings: "Traditional", "Modern" and "Casual". Copy and paste this page into your word processor or email program editor. Select your preferences from any of the three columns by deleting what is not needed and adding anything required. If you are not sure about any part, fill it in with a question mark and we will help.

When finished, email it to:

Think about discussing these details with your family, friends, clergy, caterer and photographer as they may have ideas of their own... Usually, the bandleader or DJ makes all announcements and introductions and the timings are worked out with the banquet manager and/or clergy.

IMPORTANT TIPS:

Please use this form as your main worksheet for planning the music and announcement details of your ceremony and/or reception.
To prevent confusion and the merging of multiple lists, please return only one version of this form 30-60 days before your wedding. Feel free to insert questions if you are not sure of something.
Any additions or changes can be made in later emails or phone calls
Since much of this info will be cut and pasted into a short form for your MC, try to keep your comments in a concise item format like: First dance: It Had To Be You - Harry Connick Jr. w/o intro, avoiding lengthy descriptions like: Please play the song called It Had to Be You, recorded by Harry Connick Jr. for our first dance and only play the song from where the weird introduction ends and he starts singing "It Had to Be You".

	*A. TRADITIONAL*	*B. MODERN*	*C. CASUAL*
Prelude or Pre-Ceremonial Music Normally this starts at the time stated on your wedding invitation, approximately a half an hour before the ceremony. What time is stated on your wedding invitation?	Sacred music. Please specify:	Secular baroque and/or classical music. We can pick the selections.	New age or popular music. Please specify:
Processional The bridal party will march to this selection.	Pachelbel's Canon	Bach's Air from the Orchestral Suite in D.	your choice:
Bridal / Spousal March You guessed it.	Wagner's wedding march	Purcel's trumpet voluntary	your choice:
Recessional To be played at the end of the recession.	Mendelsohn's wedding march	Vivaldi's spring	your choice:
Cocktail Hour Start time (appx.):	Classical, baroque and/or romantic music	Classical music 1/2 hour, then jazz and pop songs	Jazz and/or pop songs
Entrance of Guests into the Dining Room	Soft dance music (fox trot, latin...)	Moderate dance music: swing, 50's, motown...	Up tempo dance: disco, rock, house...
Introduction of the bridal party	Introduced (list them below)	Not introduced	not introduced
Introduction of your parents	introduced (list them below)	Not introduced	not introduced
Introduction of the wedding couple	introduced (list them below)	introduced (list them below)	not introduced
After being introduced, the bridal party will	form a line or arch through which the wedding couple will walk	stand around the dance floor and greet the wedding couple and watch the first dance	go to their tables

Bridal Party Introductions

If you choose to have your bridal party introduced into the reception, list them below in the order to be introduced. Try to pair them up.

If you are not sure of the order or if the bridal party is large, use index cards that can be rearranged at the wedding.

Bridal Party Introduction Music

What song should be played while they are introduced? Need Suggestions?

	Introduced EXACTLY as: Spell names phonetically for correct pronunciation if necessary. Include the titles that you wish us to say (see examples in the left column). Should couples be introduced as Mr. & Mrs. So & So or Bob & Linda So & So?
Parents of Wedding Spouse 1:

Parents of Wedding Spouse 2:

Bridesmaids & Ushers:





Flower Girl and/or Ring Bearer:
Maid / Matron of Honor and/or Best Man: Maid of Honor is unmarried and Matron of Honor is married. Please specify.
wedding couple:
First Dance/Song:	Title/Performer:

First Dance	wedding couple dance alone to the entire song:	wedding couple dance to part of the song, followed by the invitation of others to dance	wedding couple dance to the song, not introduced
Invited to join first dance	1. parents 2. bridal party 3. everyone	bridal party with spouses, then everyone	everyone invited to join the wedding couple on the dance floor
Second Song: The Maitre d' may want more dancing before seating the guests for the toasts.	None. Everyone takes there seats for the toasts	Pick a song that is slightly faster to follow the first dance:	DJ's Choice.
Blessing (Grace/Moetzi)	senior member of family. name:	clergy. name:	no blessing
Toasts and Welcomes List the speakers in order of appearance. If you want to speak we suggest early in the party so you can encourage your guests to have a great time and dance! If you have many toasters, spread them out during the meal, not during a dance set.	Parents of Wedding Couple Best man: Maid or Matron of Honor: Wedding Couple:	Best man: Maid or Matron of Honor:	Impromptu toasts. Careful! Do you really want to subject your family and friends to endless toasts? Submitting names to us helps control the microphone.
Dinner Music	classical music	quiet jazz and/or pop	silence
Between Courses Most maitre d's ask us to get people dancing so they can clear the tables for the next course	jazz or classical background music so people can continue to converse.	quiet dance music so people can choose to either dance or converse	up tempo and louder dance music to encourage most guests to dance
After Dining	ALL dance music	50's-current dance music	80's-current dance music
Cake Cutting We prefer letting the maitre d' or photographer direct the cake cutting. Our role is to simply announce the cake cutting and play background music.	"The bride cuts the cake" We consider this so corny that we much prefer enlisting a guest to sing this if you insist on this custom.	Background music or “first song” played quietly in the background. It helps keep people from getting rowdy or jumping into a song.	Silence Careful, some guests might start singing that silly tune.
Parent and Special Dances List here: Couple 1: Song: Artist: Couple 2: Song: Artist: Any more? Let us know if you want us to invite all fathers to dance with their daughters and all sons with their mothers after the parent dances. This seems to be popular.	After the cake cutting. Most common, since bunching together formalities makes it easier to organize and the dance floor is clear. However, people don't look their best later in the party.	At the beginning of a dance set. A great way to kick off a dance set. When people watch this important dance and are asked to join in, they can't resist! Part excitement, part guilt!	Unannounced. The most subtle way is to just grab your dance partner and alert the photographer.
Do you want to give away your flower arrangements to someone at each table?	Given away to whomever's birthday is closest to the wedding day.	Your suggestion:	No announcement made.
Fades and Segues between and after the parent and special dances.	Play parent songs in their entirety.	Midway into the 1st parent dance, fade into the 2nd parent dance. Midway into the 2nd parent dance, invite all guests to join.	Let the DJ or musicians decide.
Bouquet & Garter If you plan on throwing your bouquet and/or garter, pick a song or let us pick one.	Bouquet and garter tossed. Songs:	Bouquet only tossed. Song:	Neither tossed. Alternatives: Anniversary Dance Hand it to:
Last Song(s) Pick a few if you like. Title/Artist: Title/Artist:	Announced and played ____ minutes before the official end of music.	Not announced. Played __ minutes before the official end of music.	No Last Song
Song Requests We highly recommend song requests. There is no better way to insure full participation on the dance floor. Discretion is always used according to your limits.	Requests are encouraged. We will make a brief announcement encouraging requests.	Requests are accepted, but no announcement is made.	DJ consults the hosts before accepting any requests.
Song Dedications Jessica, a guest, asks the DJ to dedicate "Truly" to the wedding couplee and groom. Or, Brother Bob asks the DJ to dedicate "Always" to Aunt Anne and Uncle Uri's 20th Anniversary.	Accept all song dedications and announced them.	Accept all song dedications but don't announce them.	Do not accept dedications or ask the host before accepting them.
M.C. Style	introductions, dedications, encourage dancing & requests	announce circled formalities only	none unless requested
More Suggestions:	Download our most recent song list appx. 2 months before the wedding		Please suggest to your caterer to serve your vendors at the same time your guests are served. We will be ready to perform as soon as your guests are finished eating.

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Bridal Party Introductions

Introduced EXACTLY as:

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