Music dilema - advice please

downbey

Hello knotties!  I could use some advise. 

My FI is Mexican, and has mentioned having a mariachi band at our reception (for his family, not him).  I definitely want to honor his culture, and want his family to enjoy our wedding reception.  However, I want my family and friends to enjoy it as well.  The few events I've been to with him that had mariachis were very loud, and not really my taste.  But this is about BOTH of us and our families.  I'm trying to find a good compromise.  Any ideas?  Oh, one more thing, we already have a DJ booked.  We thought of having them play for just the cocktaill hour (if they will agree to only an hour).  Or having the DJ mix in mariachi/mexican music throughout the night.  FI thinks his mother will prefer to have live mariachis, and traditionally they  play  through dinner. I would prefer to have more mellow music during dinner, for everyone.  How do I make everyone happy? 

fallbride1109

Hmmm, what about having them play at the RD instead?  Option?

If not, I think having them play through just the cocktail hour or dinner sounds like a nice compromise.  Then you can have a party reception with your DJ.  I think honoring his parents and his culture is important. 

But I do agree that as I guest, I want to visit and eat and not be overwhelmed by a loud mariachi band.  So maybe they could be asked to stay in one spot so they are not too overwhelming.

cwaggoner07

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_music-dilema-advice-please?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:102Discussion:a284681e-7033-464c-a37d-049bc4f23d0bPost:a66dc58b-8eda-4afc-be56-46a9074c4776">Re: Music dilema - advice please</a>:
[QUOTE]Hmmm, what about having them play at the <strong>RD instead</strong>?  Option? If not, I think having them play through just the cocktail hour or dinner sounds like a nice compromise.  Then you can have a party reception with your DJ.  I think honoring his parents and his culture is important.  But I do agree that as I guest, I want to visit and eat and not be overwhelmed by a loud mariachi band.  So maybe they could be asked to stay in one spot so they are not too overwhelming.
Posted by stephiehall[/QUOTE]

I was going to suggest this before I even read your post Stephie! :)
I think it would be great to have a very culturally rich Rehearsal Dinner that really shows where he comes from. Not only will it be fun, but it will show how important his culture it to you.

juliebug1997

I totally agree with the RD, but I think the cocktail hour would be a great compromise too and maybe have them stay to play like three songs interspersed throughout your reception. 

I know they're loud, but I do think it would be kind of fun too. 

MarieSD

I love mariachi bands! I agree, they are loud, but in the right atmosphere, they are SO fun.

I agree with the other ladies about the RD. IDK if you are inviting his family to that, though. We had a big RD (my ILs hosted and wanted us to invite EVERYONE to it) and they definitely put their mark on it. Texas country band, Mexican food, margaritas and beer -- very Texan, very fun, very "them." (I, and the rest of my family, is from the midwest while his family is from here, and everyone raved about it.)

Our wedding reception, by comparison, was formal and sedate! But, I wanted that kind of atmosphere -- at least, until later in the reception when everyone got kind of crazy.

I think if you do have it at the reception, another option would be to have them come in as a surprise in the middle of the evening -- right after the cake cutting or something like that? That way, it wouldn't be this loud blast of music during the quieter dinner portion of the evening -- it would already be a pretty lively atmosphere, people up dancing, etc.

professorscience

So, there are pros and cons to cocktail hour and dinner.

Cocktail Hour pro: Very informal, good place for mariachis

Cocktail hour con: There's a good chance you and FI will miss cocktail hour because you'll be taking pictures, which means he'll miss it.

Dinner pro: Everyone will be there to enjoy it

Dinner con: I sort of agree with everyone else that it would be a little weird during dinner.  HOWEVER, I have eaten at many a restaurant with a mariachi band, and it has always been great.

I lean a little more toward dinner.  Cocktail hour is when guests will be milling around, mingling and whatnot.  At least at dinner, after all or most of the guests have sat down to eat, they'll be a captive audience and it would definitely be entertaining.

One year at our campus Christmas party, the host actually hired a mariachi band.  They came down the stairs as a big surprise, played a few songs, and then left.  Everyone really loved it.  I would think you wouldn't have a problem finding a band that would play for an hour or less.

You could also bring them in toward the end of dinner, maybe, right before all the dancing begins?  You never know -- that might get your dance floor really going.

downbey

Thanks for all of the advice! Those are all great ideas. I like either cocktail hour or maybe later when everyone has had a drink or two & ready to dance. Our reception iwill be at a country club, so I'm thinking the dance floor or stationed to one side would be more appropriate than walking around to tables while people are eating dinner. Thanks again for the advice. I really don't want to seem like a bridezilla! I just want the wedding to be enjoyable for everyone. :-)

Jen6862

My husband and I are both Hispanic and we had no problem not having Mariachis at the wedding reception. The DJ played a great mix though and included lots of Latin dance songs. We did have Mariachis at the rehearsal and that was a blast! It was very loud though, but it went well with the Tex-Mex restraunt we were at.