Can you skip the grand entrance?

[ladyciel]

Or are there any gentle ways of doing it? FI''s eyes roll into the back of his head every time he sees a DJ demo video of a grand entrance (he despises anything pep rally/cheerleader-esque), so I''m not sure what we should/can do. Also, we decided to have the guitarist playing our ceremony to also play during cocktails and dinner. If we did a grand entrance, would we just have the DJ interrupt the guitarist briefly? If we skip it, would people think it was weird if we just walked in and let our arrival ripple through the crowd naturally?

 

[Isolde]

Date: 2/7/2008 10:01:25 AM
Author:ladyciel
Or are there any gentle ways of doing it? FI's eyes roll into the back of his head every time he sees a DJ demo video of a grand entrance (he despises anything pep rally/cheerleader-esque), so I'm not sure what we should/can do. Also, we decided to have the guitarist playing our ceremony to also play during cocktails and dinner. If we did a grand entrance, would we just have the DJ interrupt the guitarist briefly? If we skip it, would people think it was weird if we just walked in and let our arrival ripple through the crowd naturally?

I'll be honest, I'm with your FI; I usually find the majority of these grand entrances to be completely cheesy. Why does the DJ have to be involved? I say, just let the guitarist play as you come in, something simple that doesn't draw too much attention (as opposed to a DJ announcing, playing a bad techno song, with flashing lights

). Or, just skip it all together! Who cares if the crowd thinks it's weird (though I don't see why they would), what's most important is that you're both comfortable.

 

[Courtneylub]

Date: 2/7/2008 10:23:26 AM
Author: Isolde

Date: 2/7/2008 10:01:25 AM
Author:ladyciel
Or are there any gentle ways of doing it? FI''s eyes roll into the back of his head every time he sees a DJ demo video of a grand entrance (he despises anything pep rally/cheerleader-esque), so I''m not sure what we should/can do. Also, we decided to have the guitarist playing our ceremony to also play during cocktails and dinner. If we did a grand entrance, would we just have the DJ interrupt the guitarist briefly? If we skip it, would people think it was weird if we just walked in and let our arrival ripple through the crowd naturally?

I''ll be honest, I''m with your FI; I usually find the majority of these grand entrances to be completely cheesy. Why does the DJ have to be involved? I say, just let the guitarist play as you come in, something simple that doesn''t draw too much attention (as opposed to a DJ announcing, playing a bad techno song, with flashing lights

). Or, just skip it all together! Who cares if the crowd thinks it''s weird (though I don''t see why they would), what''s most important is that you''re both comfortable.

LOL

That image with the flashing lights cracked me up!

I don''t mind the DJ announcing Mr. and Mrs. Brown to everyone, but don''t say it in a strip club DJ voice.

 

[Erin]

Date: 2/7/2008 10:29:46 AM
Author: Courtneylub

I don''t mind the DJ announcing Mr. and Mrs. Brown to everyone, but don''t say it in a strip club DJ voice.

I''m in tears!

 

[Isolde]

Date: 2/7/2008 10:29:46 AM
Author: Courtneylub

Date: 2/7/2008 10:23:26 AM
Author: Isolde

Date: 2/7/2008 10:01:25 AM
Author:ladyciel
Or are there any gentle ways of doing it? FI''s eyes roll into the back of his head every time he sees a DJ demo video of a grand entrance (he despises anything pep rally/cheerleader-esque), so I''m not sure what we should/can do. Also, we decided to have the guitarist playing our ceremony to also play during cocktails and dinner. If we did a grand entrance, would we just have the DJ interrupt the guitarist briefly? If we skip it, would people think it was weird if we just walked in and let our arrival ripple through the crowd naturally?

I''ll be honest, I''m with your FI; I usually find the majority of these grand entrances to be completely cheesy. Why does the DJ have to be involved? I say, just let the guitarist play as you come in, something simple that doesn''t draw too much attention (as opposed to a DJ announcing, playing a bad techno song, with flashing lights

). Or, just skip it all together! Who cares if the crowd thinks it''s weird (though I don''t see why they would), what''s most important is that you''re both comfortable.

LOL

That image with the flashing lights cracked me up!

I don''t mind the DJ announcing Mr. and Mrs. Brown to everyone, but don''t say it in a strip club DJ voice.

LOL.

Or that Monster Truck Rally voice. "Prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenting Mr. and Mrs. Brown, Brown, Brownnnnn".

 

[misysu2]

Woo you ladies are a hoot this morning. It''s SO true! Thanks for the early morning smiles.

 

[Courtneylub]

Date: 2/7/2008 10:40:29 AM
Author: Isolde

Date: 2/7/2008 10:29:46 AM
Author: Courtneylub

Date: 2/7/2008 10:23:26 AM
Author: Isolde

Date: 2/7/2008 10:01:25 AM
Author:ladyciel
Or are there any gentle ways of doing it? FI''s eyes roll into the back of his head every time he sees a DJ demo video of a grand entrance (he despises anything pep rally/cheerleader-esque), so I''m not sure what we should/can do. Also, we decided to have the guitarist playing our ceremony to also play during cocktails and dinner. If we did a grand entrance, would we just have the DJ interrupt the guitarist briefly? If we skip it, would people think it was weird if we just walked in and let our arrival ripple through the crowd naturally?

I''ll be honest, I''m with your FI; I usually find the majority of these grand entrances to be completely cheesy. Why does the DJ have to be involved? I say, just let the guitarist play as you come in, something simple that doesn''t draw too much attention (as opposed to a DJ announcing, playing a bad techno song, with flashing lights

). Or, just skip it all together! Who cares if the crowd thinks it''s weird (though I don''t see why they would), what''s most important is that you''re both comfortable.

LOL

That image with the flashing lights cracked me up!

I don''t mind the DJ announcing Mr. and Mrs. Brown to everyone, but don''t say it in a strip club DJ voice.

LOL.

Or that Monster Truck Rally voice. ''Prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenting Mr. and Mrs. Brown, Brown, Brownnnnn''.

"Candy, stage 4 please!!! Gentlemen, get out those dollar bills!"

 

[partyjewels]

It didn''t always used to be done that way, you could ask them to do it the traditional way. I''ve forgotten exactly what thats like since I haven''t seen it done in years, but it''s still around!

Our DJ sent along a Wedding Reception Planner with our contract, and one of the questions is Would you like a grand march? Yes or No, if Yes, Before Dinner or After Dinner. And then How would you like the Grand March announced? Slow/Traditional or Faster/Party Style!

Now, I am just not the type of person to run into a room with the truck ralley voiced DJ announcing us, I''d feel like an idiot!! FI and his side of the bridal party would probably have no problem with it, but I certainly don''t want to do it, and I think only one of my bridesmaids would do it, the rest are more like me. lol.

I''d rather just have him lower the cocktail music when we come in and say presenting Mr. and Mrs. PartyJewels! And have that be that.

But FI apparently wants to have the grand march, where they announce everyone in the bridal party. If he insists, I''m putting my foot down that it has to be the traditional style. Because honestly if someone announced me in that party style way, I''d turn beet red and refuse to come out! I don''t care if it''s on my wedding day or that makes me seem childish, it''s who I am darn it! And now I sound like a child again, lol.

 

[AceP]

nothing against strippers, of course, but i''m not a big fan of the intro, either. i see no reason you can''t just walk into the room without all of that craziness. we plan on just walking in - no formal intro required - saying hi to people... and then having the dj kick off the first dance.

 

[Delster]

The usual approach over here is that before dinner the venue co-ordinator (or someone else of the couple's choosing) says "Ladies and gentlemen, will you please be upstanding for your bride and groom?" And everyone stands up and claps as the bride and groom walk in... definitely no fairground atmosphere! Generally there's no music at this stage anyway but some couples do start a song of their choice playing just as they walk in. Would that be a happy middle ground?

ETA - wait, I'm confused, your grand entrance happens after dinner???

 

[partyjewels]

Date: 2/7/2008 11:53:53 AM
Author: Delster
The usual approach over here is that before dinner the venue co-ordinator (or someone else of the couple's choosing) says 'Ladies and gentlemen, will you please be upstanding for your bride and groom?' And everyone stands up and claps as the bride and groom walk in... definitely no fairground atmosphere! Generally there's no music at this stage anyway but some couples do start a song of their choice playing just as they walk in. Would that be a happy middle ground?


ETA - wait, I'm confused, your grand entrance happens after dinner???

If you're referring to me and the choices I posted that our DJ gave, I was a little confused about that too... it's kind like whats the point if we're already in the room?! But then thinking about it I think I have been to weddings where they didn't do the grand march till after dinner. Not a lot, but a few. *shrug*

 

[ladyciel]

Yes, exactly!! UGH!!! Funny now, but not so funny when it''s YOUR reception. So, if we want to stay away from Stripper bar/Monster Truck/mall fashion show/highschool pep rally......what do we do instead? Walk in completely unannounced and wait for people to notice? Have the DJ just say we''ve arrived and maybe introduce us by name so everyone knows who is who? I guess we just don''t like the pomp and circumstance. Yes, it''s "our very special day", but I don''t think either of us wants to be treated like royalty, you know? Maybe we should just even the playing field and have an announcer to introduce every single guest as they walk into the door (I know I''ve seen it done for fancy parties in old movies). "Mr. and Mrs. Smith, friends of the groom!"....."Mr. and Mrs. Jones and their son, Ryan: Uncle, Aunt and Cousin of the bride!"..."The Bride and Groom: Mr. and Mrs. Ladyciel"

 

[Delster]

partyjewels it was both your post and ladyciel's. It just occurred to me that at weddings I've been to (and bear in mind I haven't been to many!), at the point the grand entrance happens, the band / DJ wouldn't even be there yet, because the grand entrance happens before dinner. That said, though, after dinner the band / DJ usually announce the first dance and invite people to gather round and welcome the bride and groom onto the dancefloor. So I guess we usually do it twice!

 

[ladyciel]

Wow, I must not have refreshed before starting my reply. Sorry!! I''ll have to talk to FI about the possibility of just having somebody say we''ve arrived and be done with it. I don''t want people to feel left out if they don''t see us come in and 10 minutes later be saying "wait...they''re here???", which I''m afraid might happen if we just walk in.

 

[Courtneylub]

Speaking of strippers, my FI just sent me this:

http://www.jibjab.com/sendables/view/hGBHhk8UtwcY3a2uJI0nj2WF

 

[bensbride]

You guys are so hilarious! I can''t stop giggling!

 

[bensbride]

Also, I just went to a wedding in late December where the grand march was done after supper, because they waited to to do pictures until after the ceremony. It was really important for the them to not see each other before the ceremony, I am supposing. They had a buffet style dinner (that was amazing bbq) and everybody was allowed to eat while the couple was taking pictures. They didn''t arrive until the guests had all been through the buffet line once. I thought it was a neat compromise to having hungry guests annoyed by how long pictures are taking and the bonus was they had a captive, non-hungry non-impatient group of guests at that point.

 

[Independent Gal]

I''ve actually never been to a wedding where the bride and groom were announced, so I guess it must be fine! We certainly won''t be. I think I would be horribly embarassed.

So, do what''s comfy!

 

[Erin]

Date: 2/7/2008 12:06:34 PM
Author: ladyciel
what do we do instead? Walk in completely unannounced and wait for people to notice?

That''s what I say. And that''s what I would do.
He''s the groom and you''re the delicious looking bridal confection. Who''s not going to notice???
I would like people to break into cheers all by themselves. That would mean more than a guy holding up a sign that read "APPLAUSE"

 

[bee*]

Date: 2/7/2008 12:10:32 PM
Author: Delster
partyjewels it was both your post and ladyciel''s. It just occurred to me that at weddings I''ve been to (and bear in mind I haven''t been to many!), at the point the grand entrance happens, the band / DJ wouldn''t even be there yet, because the grand entrance happens before dinner. That said, though, after dinner the band / DJ usually announce the first dance and invite people to gather round and welcome the bride and groom onto the dancefloor. So I guess we usually do it twice!

Yeah we do, don''t we?! I love it when they announce the couple in before the dinner starts.

 

[zoebartlett]

Date: 2/7/2008 10:01:25 AM
Author:ladyciel
Or are there any gentle ways of doing it? FI''s eyes roll into the back of his head every time he sees a DJ demo video of a grand entrance (he despises anything pep rally/cheerleader-esque), so I''m not sure what we should/can do. Also, we decided to have the guitarist playing our ceremony to also play during cocktails and dinner. If we did a grand entrance, would we just have the DJ interrupt the guitarist briefly? If we skip it, would people think it was weird if we just walked in and let our arrival ripple through the crowd naturally?

I was just thinking of this today! I feel the same way. My FI and I aren''t pump up the volume types, if that makes sense, and I don''t really understand the whole pep rally feel to a grand entrance at a wedding. I''m so glad you posted this!

 

[zoebartlett]

Oh my, I''m blushing. It''s like Mara''s "go elf yourself!" thread (or wahtever it was called).

 

[KimberlyH]

We skipped it, and just wandered into the cocktail hour of our reception (where a guitarist, who''d played during our ceremony was already playing, we didn''t have a DJ/dancing). We didn''t even go together, my dress needed bustled and it was a pain in the bootay (it took more than 20 minutes the hooks were so well hidden), so I sent DH ahead to entertain the guests while my mom and our good friend took care of me. I joined him once they got me situated. Neither one of us enjoys being the center of attention so it was perfect.

 

[gtn]

I say skip the grand entrance. I have been weddings with both. Alternately, you could walk in mingle, be announced for your first dance and that''s it.

 

[partyjewels]

Date: 2/7/2008 7:14:49 PM
Author: gtn
I say skip the grand entrance. I have been weddings with both. Alternately, you could walk in mingle, be announced for your first dance and that''s it.

OOH! I love this idea!