Wedding Reception Planning
4 Wedding Grand Entrance Styles
From classic introductions to a nightclub-inspired celebration, find the entrance that fits your wedding.
A Wedding Entertainment Guide
Four Ways to Make Your Entrance
The right entrance comes down to three things: your personalities, your wedding party, and the atmosphere you want to set. Some couples want every pair recognized by name. Others want one loud, shared celebration. Some want the moment to be just the two of them.
Here are the four styles we offer, what each one actually looks like, and how to choose between them.
At a Glance
Compare the Four Styles
All four at a glance, before the details. Each one is a different way to bring your people into the room — none is better than another. They simply suit different couples.
| Style | Who Enters & How | Best Fit | Overall Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional | Parents, wedding party in pairs, then newlyweds. | Couples who want each pair recognized. | Classic and personal. |
| Modern | Parents together, Team Groom, Team Bride, then newlyweds. | Larger or close-knit wedding parties that prefer group entrances. | Energetic and relaxed. |
| Bottle Service | Parents in pairs, the wedding party together with nightclub-inspired marquee and strobes, then newlyweds. | Couples who want a bold, high-energy celebration. | Nightclub-inspired and celebratory. |
| Newlyweds Only | Only the newlyweds receive a formal entrance. | Couples who prefer a more low-key introduction that serves as a seamless transition into their first dance. | Simple and focused. |
Traditional
- Who Enters & How
- Parents, wedding party in pairs, then newlyweds.
- Best Fit
- Couples who want each pair recognized.
- Overall Feel
- Classic and personal.
Modern
- Who Enters & How
- Parents together, Team Groom, Team Bride, then newlyweds.
- Best Fit
- Larger or close-knit wedding parties that prefer group entrances.
- Overall Feel
- Energetic and relaxed.
Bottle Service
- Who Enters & How
- Parents in pairs, the wedding party together with nightclub-inspired marquee and strobes, then newlyweds.
- Best Fit
- Couples who want a bold, high-energy celebration.
- Overall Feel
- Nightclub-inspired and celebratory.
Newlyweds Only
- Who Enters & How
- Only the newlyweds receive a formal entrance.
- Best Fit
- Couples who prefer a more low-key introduction that serves as a seamless transition into their first dance.
- Overall Feel
- Simple and focused.
If two of these appeal to you, that's normal — the styles blend more easily than they look.
Style 1 · Traditional
The Traditional Grand Entrance
Every pair gets a moment.
Parents are introduced first, one pair at a time. Then your wedding party enters in pairs. Then the newlyweds.
Every pair gets its own dedicated introduction — a name, a song cue, and a moment in the spotlight before the next pair is called. The sequence takes longer than a group entrance, and that's the point: nobody gets lost in a crowd, and every couple is seen walking in.
It's the style most people picture when they imagine a wedding introduction, and it still works beautifully when the wedding party is the right size for it.
Because each pair is announced separately, it also gives your guests a chance to recognize faces they know — a nice touch when your wedding party includes family members or friends from different chapters of your life.
Traditional · Reception Setup
Traditional · Wedding PartyBest For
Smaller wedding parties, or couples who want each pair recognized individually rather than grouped together.
Mike’s Tip
If your wedding party is made up of couples or close friends who'd enjoy entering together, this gives each of them a real moment instead of blending them into a group.
Style 2 · Modern
The Modern Grand Entrance
Four groups, one quick, energetic sequence.
Parents enter together and are recognized by name. Then the groomsmen and best man — Team Groom — enter as one group, followed by the bridesmaids and maid or matron of honor as Team Bride. Finally, the newlyweds.
The whole thing moves quickly, and that's the appeal. Entering in groups takes the pressure off individual pairs — nobody has to invent a solo moment — and keeps the introductions from dragging. Your friends can plan a coordinated walk-in together, or simply come through the doors with energy. Either reads well.
Each group gets its own music cue, so the four introductions read as one continuous build toward your entrance rather than four separate announcements.
Worth knowing: this style doesn't require a conventional bridesmaid-and-groomsman arrangement. We group whoever is actually standing with you.
01
The Parents
Introduced together and recognized by name.
02
Team Groom
Groomsmen, best man, and often the ring bearer.
03
Team Bride
Bridesmaids, maid or matron of honor, and often the flower girl.
04
The Newlyweds
Your entrance, after everyone else is in.
Modern · Team Bride
Modern · Wedding PartyBest For
Larger or close-knit wedding parties that prefer group entrances, and couples whose people would rather celebrate together than one pair at a time.
Mike’s Tip
If your group is big and you'd rather not choreograph every pair, groups keep the energy high and the introductions moving.
Style 3 · Bottle Service
The Bottle Service Grand Entrance
A nightclub moment at your reception.
Parents enter in pairs, the same way they would in a Traditional entrance. Then your entire wedding party enters as one group. Then the newlyweds.
What makes this one different is the presentation. We bring out bottle-service-style strobes and a custom nightclub marquee carrying your personalized message — a slogan, a catchphrase, an inside joke. Music and lighting are built around the moment, so the room feels like a club for the length of your entrance. Because the wedding party enters together, nobody is left waiting in a lineup and the energy stays high from the first strobe to the last.
The inspiration comes from Las Vegas and Miami nightclubs: the marquee, the strobes, the way the whole room turns toward the doors at once. Here, it happens at your reception, with your wedding party at the center of it.
Because the presentation is built around the marquee and the lighting, it also gives your photo and video team a lot to work with in a very short window.
Bottle Service · Wedding Party
Bottle Service · Custom Marquee
Bottle Service · Marquee SignBest For
Couples who love nightlife and want a bold, high-energy celebration, with their whole wedding party sharing one big moment.
Mike’s Tip
Pick a song with a drop you love — the lighting cues hit with the music — and settle on the marquee message ahead of time. A short slogan or an inside joke reads best from across the room.
Style 4 · Newlyweds Only
The Newlyweds Only Grand Entrance
Short, focused, all on you two.
Only the newlyweds receive a formal entrance. Your wedding party can already be seated — there's no lineup and no announcements for anyone else.
We build anticipation, focus the room on the entrance, and introduce the two of you. It's short by design, which also means it lands cleanly: straight from the doors into your first dance, if you want it.
It's also a good fit when the reception timeline is tight and you'd rather move straight from the doors into dinner and dancing.
Newlyweds Only · Grand Entrance
Newlyweds Only · Reception EntranceBest For
Couples without a wedding party, couples who have one but would rather skip formal introductions for everyone else, or couples who simply want a short entrance focused on themselves.
Mike’s Tip
Simple doesn't have to mean subdued. A great song and the right lighting still make this feel like a celebration — the difference is that all of it is on you two.
What Comes Next
What Happens After Your Grand Entrance?
Once you're introduced, you have two ways to move into your first dance. Both work well — the choice comes down to the energy you want in that moment.
Either one takes only a minute or two. What matters is that the transition feels intentional rather than like a pause.
Option A: Go directly into the first dance
Your entrance transitions straight into your first dance. The excitement of the introduction gives way to a romantic moment, and guests, your photographer, and your videographer are already focused on you.
Option B: Keep the celebration going briefly
Your wedding party joins you on the dance floor during your entrance song, then we transition into the first dance. It's a fun, energetic way to begin — and it still lands on the same romantic moment.
Mike’s Recommendation
When it fits your timeline, I recommend following the first dance with your parent dances. Guests are already paying attention, your parents and your photo and video team are ready, and grouping the dances together means fewer interruptions later in the evening.
That's a recommendation, not a schedule. We'll plan the order around what matters most to you.
I also use lineup time to confirm names, order, and who's involved in each moment, so the reception runs smoothly from the first introduction onward.
Let’s Plan Your Entrance
Which Entrance Fits You?
Not sure which entrance fits you? We'll talk through your wedding party, music, and reception plans to create an introduction that feels like you.
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