04 Mar Wedding Reception Grand Entrance vs. Grand March
Going on 30 years performing creative wedding entertainment nationwide, one of the top questions from Brides and Grooms is still “what is the difference between Grand Entrance and Grand March?”. I believe the answer stems from the Midwest United States.

Years ago, I was a panelist at the International DJ Show in Atlantic City, NJ. My spot on the panel was illuminating creative Grand Entrances. As I began to discuss some of the creative “Grand Marches” assembled for Brides and Grooms, the room of about 1000 DJ’s became divided. Someone raised their hand “don’t you mean the grand entrance”? I asked for a show of hands to identify “who” knew about Grand March vs. Grand Entrance. Not many hands came up. I explained that in our area, wedding guests would typically ask “when is the Grand March?” which was commonly between 9-10pm. Another DJ asked “why would you introduce someone halfway through the reception”? This brought up a great point for discussion. I asked the DJ’s “who” was familiar with the term “Grand March”. The majority of the hands up were all from the Midwest. We concluded that in the Midwest, many guests lived by farmers hours. They may not make the wedding ceremony and dinner, but they always made the party/dance! We also believed people would repeat the same thing they saw at “other” people’s weddings carrying the tradition forward without asking why as it was common.
Whether just for the Bride and Groom or including the Wedding Party and Parents as well, an introduction done right will always be remembered as “grand”.