Planning Guides
Straight answers for couples and hosts, from choosing a band to handing out the last tip of the night.
Each guide covers one decision, in roughly the order you will meet them: the venue, the band, the music for each part of the day, the timeline and the emcee, then the thank-yous at the end. Where a guide gives a typical length or amount, it names the publisher the figure came from.
Planning a celebration instead of a wedding? The New Year's Eve guide is at the end, and our private parties page covers birthdays, anniversaries and more.
Choosing your band and venue
Questions to Ask a Wedding Venue, Starting With the Music
Sound limits, end times, power and load-in: the venue questions couples forget to ask.
Wedding Band vs DJ: An Honest Comparison
Energy, flexibility, space and volume compared, with the DJ Hybrid as a middle option.
How to Choose a Live Wedding Band
What to watch for in footage, what to ask, and what the contract should say before you sign.
What Is a Band Rider? A Guide for Couples, Planners and Venues
The power, space, meals and timing a band needs, explained before you sign.
Music for every part of the day
Wedding Ceremony Music, From Prelude to Recessional
Prelude, processional, the entrance, interlude and recessional, with instruments and song ideas.
Cocktail Hour Music: Setting the Tone for Your Reception
Who to book for cocktail hour, how loud to play, and how to move guests into dinner.
The Wedding Do-Not-Play List: What to Put on It and Why
What belongs on the list, from line dances to painful songs, and how to send it.
The Hora: Hava Nagila, the Circle and the Chairs
What the hora is, when it happens, and how to lift the chairs safely.
Running the day, and the party after
Wedding Run of Show: A Sample Timeline That Works
A sample reception timeline with times, moments and who leads each one.
The Wedding MC: What a Great Emcee Actually Does
The announcement order, what good emceeing sounds like, and the mistakes to avoid.
Tipping Wedding Vendors: Who, How Much and When
Typical tip amounts by vendor from two wedding publishers, plus timing and envelopes.
New Year's Eve Party Ideas That Actually Work
Plan the night backward from midnight, at home, at a private venue or for a company.
Ready to plan yours?
Tell us your date and your venue, and we will take it from there.
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