One of the photographers featured in the NittanyWeddings.com directory sent me an email after a recent blog post that I wrote regarding the momentum during your wedding reception.  I thought his comments were excellent.

Listen to your vendors – they have a lot of wedding wisdom that you just can’t get anywhere else.  

Read on for the comments from Drew Frank at Meadow Lane Photography.

Dear Kerri, 

I always come at every aspect of a wedding with the "what's going to get me the best images for this couple?" mindset.

Nearly every bride I've ever interviewed gets the old "deer in the headlights" look when I talk to them about how each of the vendors they choose will impact their photography, and how the difference between choosing one vendor over another isn't just dollars and cents...it's better measured in memories lost or gained. 

The reception is the example I use all the time.  The cost difference between an average DJ and a Pro DJ is usually about $250-$300 (most Pro's being around $750-$1000 for a wedding, all others around $500-$750), but that $250 is usually the difference between amazing reception pictures, and pedestrian pictures.

The example of a reception dragging on and on is a prime example.  You will lose guests, and it's always the most important guests to a photographer...it's the older relatives, or friends that have to leave because they live far away.  99% of the time, the guests that stay to the bitter end are the friends/family members that the couple sees all the time, anyway...ones that live in the area, ones they work with.  As a photographer, I want to capture all those family members and friends that will give my images emotional impact, and strength, and when they're not there, the pictures will suffer tremendously. 

Everything you mentioned in your blog about the organizational side of the reception is always handled by a DJ, but only a Pro DJ.  A Pro has ALL that stuff handled before they even set up.  They've got the itinerary ready to go, they've got the names of the bridal party, they've got the important dances planned (and have the music...as an aside, I've been to about a half dozen weddings where the DJ DIDN'T have the B/G's first dance song...and all six of them were non-Pro DJs), and the cake cutting planned...and it usually goes without a hitch..

The best laid plans...

Here's a reception plan that has worked for maximum photographic impact (emotional impact):

-Intros (but make sure you have the parents introduced, as well) 

-First Dance (this is so important to do right off the bat, primarily because you have a captive reception audience....everyone will watch and get involved.  If you do the first dance later in the night, you run the risk of guests not caring, or out of the room, or not paying attention.  You also give your photographer a HUGE advantage, because if the Bridal Party is surrounding the dance floor, the photographer can incorporate them into the background (blurred out) of the images, making it really emotionally strong (see picture).  If you can't have the Bridal Party/Parents around the dance floor, then have them at tables that are next to the dance floor.

-Cake Cutting (always best after the first dance, to feed off of the emotions that are carried over...and because you still have a captive audience. 

-Toasts...again...feeding off the energy.

-Blessing 

-Eat

-Dad/Daughter and Mom/Son dancing...right after the last guests have been served (or even before).  You won't have as many paying attention as the first dance, but it'll still be good. 

-Bridal Party dance

-Money Dance (this is a tough sell, because a lot of couples want this later in the night, but at this point in the night, the chances are still really good that you've got the older relatives and far away guests still around, and doing the money dance now is huge to get images of them....plus it is the PERFECT time for the older relatives to say their goodbyes, tear up, and then the magic happens with the pictures.) 

**NOTE**  The ones who need to leave the reception early will always say goodbye to the B/G...and this could take like 30min, and kill the "juice" from the reception...I've seen it time and time again that doing the money dance early, will kill two birds with one stone....the older relatives can dance (great pictures) and say goodbye at the same time (better pictures) and you don't lose the "flow".

-Garter/Bouquet (this is usually the LAST main event in the night, and a trigger for more guests to leave, giving just the die-hards the rest of the night to party. 

Oh and one more thought –

Getting emotional and meaningful images at your reception could also be as simple as recognizing an important event in your family, like a birthday, or an anniversary, and dedicating a song in their honor.  Nothing will pull at the heart strings more, or provide a magical moment in your reception more than recognizing the Bride and Grooms parents with a song dedicated to them, like their first dance song, or their favorite song.  Starting a dance off with just the grandparents (for instance), playing their song, and then having the Bride and Groom join them in their song are the things that make a couple’s wedding images emotional, memorable, and everlasting.” 

Drew Frank is the owner of Meadow Lane Photography in State College, PA.  He has more than 300 weddings under his belt.  You can visit his website to learn more about him.

http://meadowlanephotography.com/