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Why Does a Groom Throw the Bride's Garter?

From Erik Michaels and June Hoffman of Megasound

We recently covered the bouquet toss tradition of weddings; today, we will cover the garter throw tradition. As we mentioned previously, during medieval times it was possible that guests might grab the bride's garter or the bride might toss the garter to prevent her guests from ripping her dress apart. Another variation on how the garter toss tradition originally began is in the fact that the whole point of many of these special traditions was to bless the bride and groom and their marriage and ward off evil spirits. One way to bless the couple and ward off evil spirits was to throw the bride's garter out a window of the inn the happy couple was staying in on their wedding night. The bride would hang her stockings or garter on the doorknob of the room they were in and the wedding party would then throw them out the window. Still yet another variation suggests that the wedding party would take the bridesmaids' garters and toss them into the bride's and groom's faces.

The garter throw was a chance for the single men to share in the good fortune of the groom. Just like how the girl who catches the bouquet is supposedly the next girl to get married, the man who catches the garter is supposedly the next guy who shall get married. In like manner, just like how some brides stage the bouquet toss so that one of her friends who is already engaged will catch it, some grooms stage their garter throw so that his friend who is engaged will catch the garter.

Nowadays with all the political correctness and such, some brides and grooms have decided to forego this ritual, claiming that it is sexist. Considering how this tradition actually began with women rather than men grabbing pieces of the bride's clothing, the so-called "sexist" portion of the tradition actually evolved to become the way that it is today. Regardless, it is still a fun way to celebrate with your guests during your reception!

At Megasound, we have all sorts of appropriate garter removal song suggestions for your reception. Contact us today to find out how to streamline your planning with song suggestions.

How Did the Bouquet Toss Began?

From Erik Michaels and June Hoffman of Megasound

Like many of today's wedding traditions, the bouquet toss also originated in Europe during medieval times. Surprisingly to many people, this custom is more closely related to the “Garter Throw” than many would believe. Back in those times, most brides would not wear their dress again, and the dress was considered to be good luck for other women to wear as a sort of fertility charm.

After the wedding, single women would chase the bride and rip pieces of her dress off, leaving her in tatters. Wedding dresses became far more expensive over time and it became traditional for women to keep them as a memento or to pass on to a daughter for her wedding day.

To prevent guests from ripping the wedding dress, brides began throwing other objects as a distraction; one of which was the garter. Later, the bouquet became the most traditionally thrown object. The wedding bouquet is particularly suited to this use, as flowers symbolize fertility; and as perishable items, they are not something the bride would wish to keep. The bouquet is also a safer item to toss than the garter, as unruly and impatient wedding guests were sometimes known to try to take the garter from the bride while she was still wearing it.

Today, some brides and grooms do not like the tradition of throwing the bouquet and either modify it or do away with it completely. Tossing the bouquet can be uncomfortable for unmarried female guests who do not wish to marry or who feel "put on the spot" by the custom. Also, competition to catch the bouquet can become a violent stampede. Some brides stage the event so that their maid of honor or a friend who is engaged catches the bouquet. Others choose to give a small bouquet to each of their bridesmaids, or to give each woman at the reception a flower from the bridal bouquet.

The Megasound staff works with each bridal couple ahead of time to determine if the bouquet toss is a tradition that they want to incorporate in their wedding reception. We offer many tasteful song suggestions as well. Give us a call for your complimentary consultation so you can find out firsthand how Megasound will assist you with your wedding.

Day #21: Cocktail Music At Your Reception

from Erik Michaels and June Hoffman of Megasound

Some people think of cocktail music and dinner music as the same thing. While there is nothing wrong with playing the same type of music for your cocktail hour as for your dinner hour, your dinner music should be slightly more relaxing than the music played for the cocktail hour. You want your guests to enjoy their dinner and be ready for fun and (usually) dancing afterwards.

Cocktail music can be almost any type of music, although I believe that upbeat jazz is probably the most popular type generally played. "Rat Pack" type music (Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, etc.) is featured fairly often for cocktail music, but other types of jazz also work well. Utilizing older types of music will impress your older guests and generally bring back memories for them. Another idea which can be used for your cocktail hour is to play old TV themes. If you want your wedding to be memorable, that will definitely do the trick! Just imagine peoples' expressions as they hear "The A-Team" theme! There are so many different styles of music one can use for the cocktail hour because there aren't any particular traditions going on at this point and people generally are not ready for dancing yet. Since there isn't much structure at this point, almost any type of music will fit the bill. You can use a single type of music or you can spice things up by choosing music of all different types. Themed music such tropical, heritage, and others work well here also.

Basically, the only rule of thumb for cocktail music is to have fun with it! Since dancing is not generally featured during the cocktail hour, other types of "listening" music can also be played during this time which would not fit in well later in the evening. Many couples generally have at least one song that just isn't "danceable" but which they want played at some point during their reception. This song would fit in very well during the cocktail hour. Keep in mind, of course, that the wedding party is not usually at the reception yet. This time is generally reserved for the photographer to take pictures of the couple, their wedding party, and the immediate families.

If you need examples of cocktail music, call Megasound TODAY!

Day #19: Great Closing Songs for Your Wedding Reception

From Erik Michaels and June Hoffman of Megasound

We wanted to share five “closing” songs for your reception as well as fourteen ways to “say goodbye” to your guests at the end of the wedding celebration.

Among the many songs that one may use to end the evening, one song tends to make the list time and again with Fort Wayne brides and grooms. "Closing Time" by Semisonic has been the overwhelming recent favorite and one of the most popular closing songs over the past decade. Another song which has hit favorite status is "Goodnight Sweetheart" by The Spaniels. However, there are many songs which fit the bill of being good closing songs. Another great song to use for the last song is "Save The Best For Last" by Vanessa Williams. Two more songs which have hit the Megasound "Top Five" are "I've Had The Time Of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes and "The Party's Over" by Nat King Cole.

Just for fun, we included fourteen different “ways” to say good night to your guests as well. These are: “so long”, “arrivederci”, “sayonara”, “ciao”, “good night”, “bye, bye”, “so long”, “farewell”, “see you later-alligator”, “in a while-crocodile”, “say goodnight”, “auf wiedersehen”, “bon voyage”, and “aloha”.

For more great closing songs, call Megasound now!

Day #18: Fun Reception Introduction Songs

From Erik Michaels and June Hoffman of Megasound

Here are 18 suggestions of music for your introduction. For a more dramatic feel, use one song for the wedding party and a separate song for just the two of you! The bride and groom are the focal point of the reception, so have fun with it.

"20th Century Fox Theme" from the Original Soundtrack
"David Letterman Theme" by Paul Schaffer
"Finally" by Ce Ce Peniston
"I’m So Excited" by the Pointer Sisters
"Let’s get Ready to Rumble (Pacer’s theme)" by Michael Buffer
"Living in America" by James Brown
"Love and Marriage" by Frank Sinatra

"Me & My Gang" by Rascal Flatts

"Mission Impossible Theme" from the Original Soundtrack

"Peter Gunn Theme" from the Blues Brothers Soundtrack

"Pulp Fiction Movie Theme (Misirlou)" by Dick Dale

"Pump It" by The Black Eyed Peas

"Strike It Up" by Black Box

"Tonight Show Theme" by Doc Severinsen

"Vogue" by Madonna

"Walkin’ on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves

"White Wedding" by Billy Idol

"World Championship Team (Chicago Bulls Theme)" by Alan Parsons Project

For more ideas on introduction music, call Megasound today!

Day #16: Parents Dances at Your Reception

From June Hoffman and Erik Michaels of Megasound

Traditionally, some time after the first dance, the bride dances with her father and the groom dances with his mother. This can be done to separate songs or some couples enjoy using one song to combine the parents' dances. In this time of ever-changing traditions and second (and sometimes third) marriages, some couples (brides and grooms) want to dance as parents with their children (from a previous marriage) rather than dance with their parents.

As an idea to include your guests, ask your DJ/MC to announce about half-way through the dance for all fathers to bring their daughters (or all mothers to bring their sons) to the dance floor. This suggestion is very helpful if parents of the bride and groom or even the bride and groom themselves are uncomfortable with dancing or being in the limelight on the dance floor.

We will break down a few dance combinations with the following sixteen song suggestions:

Bride dancing with her Father (or in some cases, Stepfather):
“Daddy’s Little Girl” by Al Martino
“My Girl” by the Temptations
“Sunrise, Sunset” from the Fiddler on the Roof Soundtrack
“Daddy’s Hands” by Holly Dunn
“The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
“Butterfly Kisses” by Bob Carlisle

Groom dancing with his Mother (or in some cases, Stepmother):
“Through the Years” by Kenny Rogers
“Unforgettable” by Nat “King” Cole
“What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
“Have I Told You Lately” by Rod Stewart
“Can I Have This Dance” by Anne Murray

Bride and/or Groom dancing with their children:
“Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion
“Let Me Call You Sweetheart” by Lawrence Welk
“In My Daughter's Eyes” by Martina McBride
“You Are So Beautiful” by Joe Cocker
“Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” from Various Artists

For more suggestions of songs to share with parents (or children) at your reception, contact Megasound today!

Day #12: Questions to Ask a Potential DJ

from Erik Michaels and June Hoffman of Megasound

Here are just a few questions to ask when interviewing disc jockeys for your wedding reception in Fort Wayne or other areas.


-How many years of wedding experience do you have as a DJ (disc jockey)?
-How are you different from other disc jockeys?
-What type of attire do you perform in?
-What types of planning assistance do you give before the wedding?

Check out Megasound's “Key Questions” page for additional information and questions for prospective DJ’s!

Day #10: Must-Have Announcements at Your Wedding Reception

From June Hoffman and Erik Michaels of Megasound

Much of your reception is planned out ahead of time and only a few select people will know what is going on at any given time. Announcements are important so that your guests know “what” is going on and if they have to participate in an activity. Your MC or DJ should review the announcements that you want to include at your wedding reception. Make sure that your DJ has the correct pronunciation of all names (ahead of time) for the introductions.

The Introduction – This should at least be the bride and groom (as the reception is in their honor). Many couples like to include wedding party members, ushers, any flower girls, and ring bearers. Occasionally, the parents of the bride and groom are introduced (prior to the wedding party and generally they simply stand up where they are seated). One couple even asked that we introduce as a special honor, four sets of grandparents in attendance (as all were still living and still married to their respective spouse).

Prayer/Blessing/Welcome (before dinner) – The prayer or blessing can be done by your pastor or minister (if they are attending the reception) or even a parent or grandparent. A “welcome” is generally given by the parent(s) hosting the reception (in most cases, the bride's parents are the hosts). A "welcome" can also be done immediately prior to the toasts.


Dinner – Your MC (or DJ) should discuss ahead of time (with the banquet manager or caterer) the order of “how” dinner will run at your reception. A dinner announcement is generally made so that all guests know how they will receive their meal (whether the meal is served plated or buffet style). Many full-service caterers have a well-defined dinner plan that works best for their facilities and will make your dinner run smooth and orderly.

Toasts – Whether you are having a full champagne toast or some variation (with signature drinks or no alcohol), drinks should be poured before the toast. Generally, the Best Man leads the toasts to the new bride and groom and then is followed by the Maid/Matron of Honor. Your MC should introduce those individuals you want to perform a toast. Toasts should be short (no more than five minutes each) and tasteful. If allowed to run unchecked, toasts can get out of control and cut into your reception time. If you have a lot of people who have prepared toasts, consider having the toasts after the salad and rolls are served, but before the start of dinner.

Cake Cutting – The cake cutting is the transition from meal time to celebration time. Many of your guests will want to take photos so your MC should include this announcement.

Traditions – Things like your first dance, wedding party dance, bouquet and garter throws should all be announced as well. This allows your guests to be aware of the fact that, "We are now doing "X," come on up and join us!" You will want your guests to be an integral part of your festivities so that they don't get bored and want to leave. One of the MC's jobs is to keep your guests having fun so that they will stay to celebrate with you. This is also why having an "I-pod" wedding doesn't work very well. Having announcements and someone to "run the show" is just as important as having music at your reception!

Closing – Signaling the end of your reception, the closing lets your guests know that it's time for the last dance and for them to congratulate the bride and groom before leaving.

For more ideas on must-have announcements, please feel free to contact us!


Happy Planning!!

Day #8 Girls, Get Ready to Toss...Your Bouquet

From Erik Michaels and June Hoffman of Megasound

Calling all single ladies as it is time to catch that bridal bouquet. The following are eight song suggestions for the tradtional bouquet toss. Brides; remember to take a couple of minutes to enjoy the excitement. Hold on to the bouquet until the MC (or disc jockey) counts to three. This will also give your photographer ample time to line up the best shot for the photos.

Enjoy!

8 bouquet toss song suggestions:

1. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" by Beyonce
2. "Evacuate The Dancefloor" by Cascada
3. "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper
4. "Chapel of Love" by The Dixiecups
5. "Barbie Girl" by Aqua
6. "Ladies Night" by Kool and the Gang
7. "All I Wanna Do" by Sheryl Crow
8. "Don't Cha" by the Pussycat Dolls

Day #7: Family Dynamics and Your Wedding

From June Hoffman and Erik Michaels of Megasound

One of the biggest things to remember (about planning your wedding) is that you will NOT please everyone with every decision that you make for your wedding. With that being said, we would like to offer Fort Wayne brides and grooms seven ways to incorporate your family in your wedding (without driving yourself crazy).

1. Ask a parent or sibling to walk you down the aisle. If you have older children, ask them to be your escort. This is an honor that they will remember for a lifetime.

2. Ask brothers from both sides (brides and grooms) to act as ushers. The general rule of thumb is one usher for every fifty guests. It will speed up the seating process (as well as releasing guests after the ceremony) to have more escorts.

3. Teenage nieces and nephews are good choices for guest book attendants and greeters (to distribute programs) at the ceremony. They would also be able to hand out bubbles and/or flower petals (if allowed by ceremony location) directly after the ceremony.

4. Only ask family members who are comfortable with public speaking to share a special reading or Bible verse during the ceremony.

5. Older nieces, nephews, or children could assist guests with locating place cards at the reception.

6. Ask a grandparent, aunt, or uncle to lead the prayer before the meal. Be sure to let your DJ/MC know this person’s name ahead of time so they can be introduced before dinner.

7. Before the reception, ask family members who love dancing to be party-motivators or dance instructors. Of course, request that they do this tastefully as you want excitement and celebration, not chaos and embarrassment.

When asking family members for help with your wedding, be sure to take into consideration age, proximity, maturity, and willingness.

Happy Planning!

Day #6 Offers Exciting Suggestions for Traditional Garter Toss

From Erik Michaels and June Hoffman of Megasound

Calling all single guys! Whether you are in Fort Wayne or elsewhere, get ready, as here are 6 song suggestions the traditional garter removal and toss. Enjoy the wedding reception!

6 garter toss suggestions for the guys:

1. The Stripper by The David Rose Orchestra

2. Hot, Hot, Hot by Buster Poindexter

3. Oh Yeah by Yellow

4. Legs by ZZ Top

5. Jump Around by House of Pain

6. Another One Bites The Dust by Queen

Day #4 - Four Unique Ways to Include Guests in Your Wedding

From June Hoffman and Erik Michaels of Megasound

Your wedding is the celebration of you and your fiancé tying the proverbial “knot”. You invite your closest friends and family (and sometimes a few more people) to share in this unique experience. Here are fours ways to involve your guests in your wedding (more than just as spectators).

1. Create a Bouquet – ask your ushers to distribute roses (or other flowers) to the guests seated closest to the middle of the aisles. As you walk down the aisle, collect the flowers from your guests. Either have your maid of honor tie the flowers together with a ribbon when you hand them to her or have a vase available near the alter area to place the flowers in.

2. Unity Sand – as guests arrive for the ceremony, have the guest book attendant ask guests to add a pinch (or spoonful) of sand to a clear glass container. During the “unity” ceremony, have the Officiant (or other special guest) pour the “guests” sand into the "unified" container in which both bride and groom are pouring their sand.

3. Wedding Photos – ask guests to either bring or send you a copy of their wedding photo (or one of their parents or grandparents). Incorporate the photos in varying sizes and unique frames at the wedding reception. This can be done at the reception entryway or on each table as a part of the table décor by assigning someone to make certain that they have each frame put together on each table. Of course, it will be easier to have the photos ahead of time so you can put together all the frames beforehand so that they can be placed on each table at the reception during your decoration time.

4. Sparkling Departure – for evening receptions, have your DJ/MC announce (about a half an hour before the end of the reception) for guests to line up outside the reception hall. Have groomsmen distribute unlit sparklers (either short ones or a bit larger specialty size) to the guests. Then have the groomsmen light the guests sparklers as you and your groom exit and you will have a sparkling departure to a waiting limo or car. An afternoon alternative is to replace the sparklers with a helium balloon release.

Of course, there are other unique ways to involve your guests in your wedding. Just keep in mind logistics, cost, time, and having someone else available to organize things for you so that, as the bride, you can enjoy your wedding.

Happy Planning!!

Day # 3 - Unique Ceremony Locations Around Fort Wayne

From Erik Michaels and June Hoffman of Megasound

Many people are familiar with the Bridal Glen at Foster Park, Lakeside Rose Gardens, and the Botanical Conservatory being top spots for Fort Wayne weddings. But have you thought of alternative locations to hold your wedding ceremony? Fort Wayne offers many different locations in and around the area that may be "just the answer" for YOUR wedding ceremony!

Almost any park has space which can be utilized for an intimate wedding ceremony; and most Fort Wayne parks have areas which can be reserved for your ceremony. Quite a few locations also offer pavilions for your reception as well. Many county parks present beautiful areas for your ceremony. Some locations do not have pavilions and can only be used if the weather cooperates, so make sure that you have an adequate backup plan if you decide to use an area where you don't have access to something with a roof such as a tent, pavilion, or gazebo. Keep in mind that your backup plan should be at approximately the same time as your main plan (reserving separate times will cost considerably more with some vendors).

For a rural feel; two county parks in particular, Metea and Fox Island, provide facilities to accommodate almost any type of ceremony. Just to the east of State Road 1 near Leo-Cedarville is a park along the St. Joe River with new adjoining cabanas perfect for river-inspired weddings! Another gem just outside Allen County is the covered bridge in Spencerville; although since it is still open to traffic, one would have to obtain a permit to hold a ceremony on the bridge. The old barn at Salomon Farm is another cool location that gives you the country feel while still close to Fort Wayne. The Cedar Canyons area has its own appeal to brides with beautiful vistas and a multitude of natural areas.

Fort Wayne boasts the Foellinger Theater at Franke Park as a unique location to hold a “theatrically” inspired wedding ceremony and seating, bathrooms, and overhead coverage is already part of the package! Other exceptional locations that offer charm and distinctive backdrops include Headwaters Park, Old Fort Wayne (across the St. Mary's River from Headwaters Park), the new Japanese pavilion at Swinney Park, Parkview Field, and a multitude of locations along our Rivergreenway trail system. The old (uncovered) Wells Street bridge IS closed to traffic and gives a rustic, yet urban charm. Freimann Square offers a fountain backdrop making this a refreshing location for a wedding ceremony (minus restroom facilities). Contact the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation department or the management offices of these facilities for full details and pricing.

Do you like a lot of privacy? If so, look for a more enclosed type of setting. If being in the public eye doesn't bother you at all, then almost any location might work. Megasound has the ability to provide our services at ANY location regardless of whether the location has electricity or not. This means that we can perform your ceremony literally ANYWHERE!! Happy planning!!

"I Gotta a Feeling" About this Song

by June Hoffman of Megasound

The Black Eyed Peas’ song “I Gotta Feeling” is already filling the airways (as well as two recent television commercials). This hip, shout-out song would make a great selection for any bride and groom’s grand introduction song.



“I Gotta Feeling” is the 2nd super-charged dance selection from the Black Eyed Peas’ E.N.D. album. The first hit (Boom, Boom Pow) packs the dance floors at many recent Fort Wayne wedding receptions.

“I Gotta Feeling” will bring your guests to their feet whether you have your wedding DJ play it for your intro or some time after the traditional dances. This song offers some great beats for any type of wedding reception. Happy dancing!