This past weekend I had the privilege of watching my brother marry a wonderful girl. As I was preparing for the big day I thought back to what seems like the millions of weddings I have been to. As a wedding dj I have seen beautiful, bizarre, one-of-a-kind, and jaw-dropping (both good and bad) sights.
I’ve noticed that there are certain “personalities” that are present at almost every wedding. Here is a list of the 6 kinds of people you may run into at your next reception. You will never people-watch at a wedding the same way again.
Behold! My list of Wedding All-Stars:
1. The Creep Dancer
Hide yo kids, hide yo wife. You know this guy. The Creep Dancer is usually a middle-aged white man who has a hankerin’ to dance…and by dance I mean sneak up behind someone and grind on them like a pepper mill. The Creep Dancer may be inappropriate, but he doesn’t discriminate. He dances belly to belly with no preference of age or race and doesn’t care if you came to the wedding with a date or a husband- ’cause he’s coming for YOU.
2. The Old Maid
The Old Maid Wedding All-Star doesn’t necessarily have to be old. In fact, she is usually the same age as the bride and feels left behind by the recent transition her friend has made from “single gal” to “wife.”
You can recognize an Old Maid by the noises she makes. They usually have a slight air of happiness mixed with 100 decibels of desperation. Frequent phrases are : “Now I’m the only one left in the unmarried club!”, “What’s it like to have someone love you?” and “Does the groom have any single friends? No? Well, are any of them in unhappy marriages?” Nothing says “congratulations” like a guilt trip for finding love. She may also be seen throwing elbows at the bouquet toss.
3. That Guy
I once d.j.’d a wedding where the groom missed the last dance because he was outside loading his best man into an ambulance because he had 68 too many drinks. Good choice of moral character, groom. Good choice.
This All-Star isn’t always in the wedding party, however. Keep an eye out for several clues and you will be able to spot him in no time. If there is an open bar, he will be triple-fisting drinks. If there is no open bar, he will have his own flask filled with straight tequila. His favorite activities at a reception are: drinking, fighting, fist-pumping, inappropriately dancing with the elderly, drinking, breaking things and drinking. Cheer up, Old Maids-this guy’s a keeper!
4. The Town Crier
I get emotional at weddings, but this All-Star takes crying to another level. The Town Crier is usually the Maid of Honor. When it is time to give the speech, she is so overcome with emotions that none of the words are audible, and it usually ends up sounding like this:
5. The Golden Oldies
These two love birds make you feel inadequate for never fighting in a world war. They’ve been married for 40+ years and put everyone on the dance floor to shame. They fox-trot, swing the mood and two-step past all the whipper snappers and their pathetic cha cha slides. They serve as a constant reminder that there is only one great generation, and it ain’t ours.
6. The Mom Dancer
She’s been packing lunches, doing dishes and carpooling for the past 298 days. She’s pulled on her spanx and utilized the open bar. She’s toe-tapping to “Get Low.” Watch Out.
Do you recognize anyone on this list? If you recognized yourself, don’t feel too bad. You’ve provided hours of entertainment for the other guests.
Are there any other wedding personalities that I’ve missed? Leave a comment with your own observations.
Holy hilarious. Maybe I should stop attending weddings. I see a “mom dancer” on the horizon…
~T
T, I doubt you would EVER toe-tap to a rap song. You’re too good for that 🙂
I would just go out on a limb and note that the “That Guy” character can easily be re-cast as “That Girl.” My experience at Rachael Murphy (Mayer)’s wedding is testament to that. My lowest moment was taking a drunken spill in the hallway on the way to the ladies room. I took Anna Balok’s pants down with me in an effort to catch myself. Classy.
You are absolutely right. Weddings have THOSE girls as well 🙂
oh no!!! I think your GAT is a mom dancer………(without the 298 days of packing lunches, etc….never been the stay-at-home, pack the lunches, pick the kids up from school mom type)……but, alas, a ‘mom-dancer’, nonetheless……..sigh.
I don’t think you’re a mom dancer, but hey, no one said it was a bad thing 😉