So… You’re planning a reception… But, you don’t know where to begin.
However… This is YOUR RECEPTION. Whatever you have envisioned for your special day… We will work with you!
5pm Reception Begins:
…with a Cocktail Hour, music played during this time can reflect the personality of the couple, or set the mood of the evening.
5:30 Wedding Party Arrives:
Wedding Party is lined up for introduction, the hall pours Champagne at the head & parents tables for toasts.
5:45 Grand Introductions:
Parents, ushers, ring bearer/flowergirl, attendants and bride and groom introduced into the hall. There are several ways to do the introductions, which we will have in a future blog post.
5:50 Cut the Cake:
Most halls need the cake cut before dinner, so they can serve it (have it available) right after dinner
5:55 Welcome/ Toasts/Thank You:
Father of the Bride and Groom occasionally give a welcome speech to the guests… Followed by Toasts from the Best man and Maid/Matron of Honor… Then, the Bride and Groom will occasionally “thank the guests, friends, and family.”
6pm Blessing/Dinner:
The reverend/father will give the blessing… then the hall will dismiss the tables to the buffet. Look for a future post on dinner selections, or refer to the playlist guide.
(6:30 Bride & Groom greet guests following dinner.)
7pm Special Dances:
All special dances at the beginning of the reception. First Dance, Father/Daughter, Mother/Son, Dollar dance, Anniversary, Bouquet/Garter Toss, Wedding Party. A couple of reasons – First, you’ll have everyone at your disposal… Otherwise, we’ll be tracking people down and holding up the reception… Second, (some) videographers and photographers are paid on a time basis… If you can’t get these special dances done before a certain time it will cost you more money, or worse, you won’t get those photographs.
7:25 Open Dance:
“non – stop” til 10pm
9:55p Last Dance
The Knot Reception Planning – SOURCE:theknot.com
8:00 p.m. Guests head from the cocktail hour into the reception and find their seats.
8:15 p.m. Your emcee begins introducing the wedding party, starting with your parents.
8:20 p.m. The first dance.
8:25 p.m. A welcome speech or a blessing. If you’re not having either, begin the toasts now — best man followed by maid of honor.
8:30 p.m. Dinner is served. The emcee asks guests to take their seats. Music should be low enough so guests can talk at their tables.
9:00 p.m. The music volume starts to increase gradually to get people who finished their meals out onto the dance floor.
9:30 p.m. The father-daughter dance, which is followed by the mother-son dance.
9:35 p.m. A dance set begins with more upbeat songs to entice most guests out of their seats.
9:45 p.m. A couple of slow songs play.
9:50 p.m. Back to more upbeat songs.
10:30 p.m. The cake cutting.
10:35 p.m. Some mid-paced songs play as cake is served so guests can dance if they want.
10:45 p.m. Guests are seated for cake.
11:00 p.m. The bouquet toss, followed by the garter toss, if you’re doing them.
11:10 p.m. The final dance set. Time to play those songs you felt funny playing while all the elderly guests were still there!
11:55 p.m. The last dance, followed by your grand exit if you’re making one.
East Coast – 5 Hour Wedding Reception – SOURCE: ABOUT.com
6:20 p.m.: Band Leader or DJ Introduces Bride and Groom for Their Grand Entrance
They Walk Directly to Dance Floor for Their First Dance
After the First Dance, the Parents Are Invited Up: First the brides, then the grooms’ (In some cases there are more than one set of parents), followed by the wedding party
6:40 p.m.: Guests Invited to Be Seated
6:45 p.m.: Optional Blessing Followed By Welcome and Toast by the Brides’ Parents
6:55 p.m.: Followed By First Course
7:05 p.m.: Best Man and Maid of Honor Toast
7:20 p.m.: Dance Set
7:40 p.m.: Guests Invited To Sit For 2nd Course
7:55 p.m.: Any Other Toasts
8:05 p.m.: Dance Set
8:30 p.m.: Guests Invited to Be Seated For Entrée
9:00 p.m.: Father/Daughter Dance
Optional Mother/Son Dance Can Be Invited Half Way through Father/Daughter Dance or They Can Have Their Own Dance
Followed By Long Dance Set
9:50 p.m.: Dessert/ Cut the Cake
Good Time for Bride and Groom to Make a Toast (Thanks Parents and Guests)
You can decide on the wedding day whether to go into overtime with your band or DJ at the end of the night. Or, if you had a band and expect that your crowd will want to keep dancing, you could decide ahead of time to bring in a DJ later to keep the party going.
You’ve done the hard work, now it is time to party!