Party Time the Reception Entertainment

Congratulations you're married! Now comes the fun part - your time to let loose and celebrate with all your friends and family. Plus family you've never met and friends of friends you've never met.

You're wedding reception is likely to be one of the most important parties you'll ever throw, and second to the food you serve it's the entertainment you have that your guests will enjoy the most.

If you've already started to check out bands and DJ's you know that their wedding packages can be pricey. But, it's money well spent when you find the perfect entertainers to lead your party - ones who will keep the dance floor packed and bring a end a great energy and excitement to the room.

It's important to interview AND audition every possibility - ask for referrals from friends, family or co-workers and look into ALL the names you get. Don't limit yourself. Another important factor that you'll want to do as part of the interview process is to arrange to see them in action, if it's a band attend a show. if you're looking into a DJ arrange to check him out at another event he's doing. It's important to see how they command the stage and also how the audience reacts to them. This isn't really something that you can judge from an audition tape.

This is an important investment so shop well and remember that you get what you pay for so you don't want to go with the cheapest act in town unless they also happen to be one of the best!

Use the following tips to help you get more value on your reception entertainment for less money.

* If you really want a live band but your budget won't allow it. You can hire a DJ, with special performances by a live singer, musician or ensemble band as a feturette for half an hour during the reception. Professional wedding music companies now offer this option, which is a great budget savor and you get the best of both world's!

* Hire your entertainers for a few hours. Rather than the standard five - hour package choose the three - hour one. Shaving those two hours off can save you hundreds of dollars.

* Check out the going rates for non-wedding musical performers like musicians, soloists,vocalists or jazz bands. Without the label and marketing as "wedding performers" these very professional artists might be charging less per hour just by being out of the bridal loop.

* Find non-wedding performers at local clubs, community events, hotel brunches, even at bookstores and cafes where many great and talented performers have been "discovered" by bride and grooms. Who knows who you might find and how much you could save. It's worth the effort to look around.

* If you're looking for free entertainment, mix your own CD's to create your own soundtrack for cocktail parties, the rehearsal dinner or even your reception if you wish.

* Fun couples may enjoy bringing a karaoke machine to their reception and letting the guests be the entertainment. How fun to watch friends and family laugh and giggle their way through renditions of "I will Survive" and "Paradise by the Dashboard Light". Don't forget some CD's for the first and father daughter dances.

* A growing trend at weddings today borrows from the Academy Awards believe it or not. It's a specially edited video presentation including messages from your closest friends and relatives, a montage of childhood photos of the both of you as well as snap shots from your dating days and when you got engaged along with whatever other footage you'd like. You can make the video yourself using your computers video editing tools or ask a friend to make a DVD for you as a wedding gift. Arrange for a viewing or projection equipment to set up at the site and roll tape! This short video can start your party off in grand style and your guests will never forget it!

Of course the toasts of the night will be entertaining as well. Everyone can get involved - it's not just the best man and maid of honor making a toast anymore, so prepare to take the microphone yourself. A funny friend can bring down the house, your siblings can share great stories about you while you were growing up and your best friend can bring tears to everyone's eyes. Often, it's the personal sentimental words spoken that are the best entertainment of all. Check out the book "Your Special Wedding Toasts" to perfect your speech and find the perfect quotes, poetry and song lyrics you might want to borrow.