More frequently, we as entertainers are beginning to see a gradual move by the brides and grooms towards what we like to refer to as a "Southern" style reception.
The reason for this are quite obvious along with a desire to depart from traditional norms and wanting to have a unique reception that everyone will remember.
Not at all unusual for weddings in the south, a "Southern" style wedding reception tends to focus more on the relaxed mood that southerners favor over rigid, set ways of doing a reception in the northern states such as Pennsylvania. The traditional bride-groom dance tends to be one of the most emphasized events of the reception for many couples in a Southern style reception. For this very reason, a Southern style reception will have the couple doing their bride-groom dance almost immediately upon entering the reception facilities while the attention is still totally focused on their grand arrival.
Normally, a "Traditional" wedding would follow the routine of first asking all guests upon the arrival of the bridal party to please take their seats and direct their attention to the main entrance for the announcing of the grand entrance of the bridal party. At this point in the schedule is where the different styles of receptions take very different paths where-as a Traditional reception would follow up the entrance with the best man or maid/matron of honor giving the toast at the head table to be followed by a blessing and then begin the serving of the meal.
In the South, the guests have for many years been accustom to the bride/groom dance to immediately follow the entrance of the bridal party. In most cases, the bride and groom walk directly to the dance floor without ever stopping at the head table. Once again, the reason for this is solely based on the Southern style approach that places great emphasis on this particular ceremonial event, which is almost on par with the cake cutting.
A lot of couples are opting for this change to their schedule to reflect more of a southern tilt for obvious reasons, usually, a reception will begin with a 30 minute to one hour cocktail which is usually done before the bride/groom arrive. Then the guests are asked to take their seats for at least another hour for dinner. Now you have the guests waiting for almost 2 hours before any real ceremonial events begin. This one glaring reason is now compounded with the fact that in Pennsylvania, most facilities usually close down the alcoholic portions during dinner and, as almost everywhere else throughout the country now, smoking is not permitted inside during dinner. So, all these factors make for a very restless audience to ask to remain seated for a bit longer while we bring the newlyweds to the dance floor following dinner for their bride-groom dance. What generally happens is a free-for-all mass exodus to either the bar or outdoors for a smoke break while we are having the bride-groom dance. Not a really great recipe for total audience attention for an important event for the bride and groom. Where as a Southern style reception catches their guest's attention immediately upon the arrival of the bride and groom guaranteeing a total audience attention for such a very important dance.
Another huge difference in the two styles of receptions is the dinner portion and the music played during dinner. Once again, the Southern style tries to stay true to their easy and relaxed demeanor by having the entertainment cater their music more towards slow danceable music for couples rather than traditional lounge instrumentals that may not be so geared for dancing. Here once again, the guests, in a Southern style reception are encouraged to get up to dance and mingle. The only drawback to this approach is that it tends to make the banquet facility's staff jobs that much harder when it comes to taking the guests orders for a choice in dinner and of course serving it. At any given time during dinner of a 175 guest or more reception, one can see their frustration at this perceived chaos.
Yet all seems to persevere and the moments of chaos are subdued to the settling back of a much more relaxed atmosphere once the cutting of the cake is done and the staff's responsibilities are almost to an end with the entertainment portion taking over the rest of the reception.
