The Beginner's Guide to Wedding Planning

Again, inject some personal favorites here. Are you Argentinian? A Tango during dinner is perfect. Latin? Strolling mariachi for cocktails really sets the tone and gets the party started.

A band or DJ can provide everything you need from cocktails to dinner to dancing to after party. For the perfect high-energy reception, have the band play your first dance immediately as you are introduced into the dining room. Guests will join you for a short, quick dance set, and then dinner will begin. The father/daughter dance can kick off the next dance set between soup/salad and entrée.

Cost saver: A DJ is always a low-cost option, typically one-fourth the cost. If you opt for a band, you can have a smaller jazz trio for cocktails and dinner, then the full band for dancing only. Instead of paying for overtime, have the DJ for the late-night hour at the end of the reception.