Congratulations!! You’ve just been pronounced husband and wife; the new Mr. & Mrs, and now, it’s time to party!! A well-planned wedding reception will ensure that your reception will run smoothly and you’ll throw a party your guests will talk about for years to come. Here is a reception timeline, based on a traditional four-hour reception, to give you an hour-by-hour guide to the day’s post ceremonial events.
00:00 – Cocktail Hour
After you’ve said your “I Dos,” you and your new husband and your bridal party will take post-ceremony photographs. At this time, your guests will head to the reception site to begin cocktail hour. If the ceremony and the reception take place at the same venue, the cocktail hour will begin immediately after the ceremony. If there is travel involved, it might start more than half an hour later. During this time your guests will munch on appetizers and drinks, which will get people mingling and in the mood. Following cocktail, your guests are either given their table numbers or escorted to their tables. In some cases the guest can look up their own table number and seat themselves.
After you’ve said your “I Dos,” you and your new husband and your bridal party will take post-ceremony photographs. At this time, your guests will head to the reception site to begin cocktail hour. If the ceremony and the reception take place at the same venue, the cocktail hour will begin immediately after the ceremony. If there is travel involved, it might start more than half an hour later. During this time your guests will munch on appetizers and drinks, which will get people mingling and in the mood. Following cocktail, your guests are either given their table numbers or escorted to their tables. In some cases the guest can look up their own table number and seat themselves.
01:00 – Grand Entrance/First -Special Dances
This is the time where you and your new husband will make your grand entrance into your reception. The facility or event coordinator will gather your guests to await your arrival. It’s the bride and grooms decision whether or not the bridal party and both sets of parents will be introduced. If they are to be introduced, they’ll be announced first, followed by the introduction and grand entrance of the bride and groom. Since all eyes are on you, this is the perfect occasion to step immediately into your first dance. Sometimes the father/daughter and mother/son dances can take place at this time as well – or you can choose to hold those dances after the meal. If there was no receiving line, most couples opt to go from table to table to greet their guest before going onto the dance floor for the first dance.
This is the time where you and your new husband will make your grand entrance into your reception. The facility or event coordinator will gather your guests to await your arrival. It’s the bride and grooms decision whether or not the bridal party and both sets of parents will be introduced. If they are to be introduced, they’ll be announced first, followed by the introduction and grand entrance of the bride and groom. Since all eyes are on you, this is the perfect occasion to step immediately into your first dance. Sometimes the father/daughter and mother/son dances can take place at this time as well – or you can choose to hold those dances after the meal. If there was no receiving line, most couples opt to go from table to table to greet their guest before going onto the dance floor for the first dance.
01:20 – Speeches/Toasts
Following your first dance and while all eyes are still on you, this is a perfect time for speeches/toasts. The father of the bride may choose to welcome and thank your guests for gracing the occasion with their presence, followed by other members of the bridal party to speak. The first toast is proposed by the best man and may be followed by toasts from the maid of honor, other relatives, friends or the bride and/or groom.
Following your first dance and while all eyes are still on you, this is a perfect time for speeches/toasts. The father of the bride may choose to welcome and thank your guests for gracing the occasion with their presence, followed by other members of the bridal party to speak. The first toast is proposed by the best man and may be followed by toasts from the maid of honor, other relatives, friends or the bride and/or groom.
01:30 - Dinnertime
Depending on your religion or culture, now would be the time to bless the food. If your officiant is invited to the reception, you can ask him/her, or you can ask a family member or friend to say a few words. If you’re having a seated meal, the band or DJ will play light, conversation-friendly background music as the waitstaff makes the rounds. The bride and groom and their parents are typically served first or are the first in the buffet line. If you’re having a buffet, the banquet captain or emcee will dictate how the rotation will work by calling each table when it’s time to head to the front of the buffet line.
Depending on your religion or culture, now would be the time to bless the food. If your officiant is invited to the reception, you can ask him/her, or you can ask a family member or friend to say a few words. If you’re having a seated meal, the band or DJ will play light, conversation-friendly background music as the waitstaff makes the rounds. The bride and groom and their parents are typically served first or are the first in the buffet line. If you’re having a buffet, the banquet captain or emcee will dictate how the rotation will work by calling each table when it’s time to head to the front of the buffet line.
02:30 – Let’s Get this Party Started!!
Your guests have probably been seated for quite some time and they are ready to ‘cut loose’. Guests usually follow the lead of the bride and groom, so once the dishes have been cleared, it’s time to hit the dance floor. You and your husband should get out on the dance floor so guests will know it’s time to start the party.
Your guests have probably been seated for quite some time and they are ready to ‘cut loose’. Guests usually follow the lead of the bride and groom, so once the dishes have been cleared, it’s time to hit the dance floor. You and your husband should get out on the dance floor so guests will know it’s time to start the party.
03:30 – Cake Cutting
About an hour and a half, before the end of your reception, your waitstaff will begin preparing for dessert and coffee. The cake cutting is one of my favorite traditions, as it symbolizes the first task the newlyweds execute together. It signifies the commitment for them to provide for one another. Be sure your cake cutting doesn’t happen too early. Many of your guests will start to leave after the cake cutting, so don’t be surprised if you see your party size start to dwindle down.
About an hour and a half, before the end of your reception, your waitstaff will begin preparing for dessert and coffee. The cake cutting is one of my favorite traditions, as it symbolizes the first task the newlyweds execute together. It signifies the commitment for them to provide for one another. Be sure your cake cutting doesn’t happen too early. Many of your guests will start to leave after the cake cutting, so don’t be surprised if you see your party size start to dwindle down.
03:45 – Bouquet toss/ garter toss/ more dancing
After the cake cutting, some brides and grooms held back out to the dance floor for the bouquet toss which is immediately followed by the garter toss. Following these activities, the band or DJ should kick right back into lively dance music for those all-night partiers who relish another turn on the dance floor.
After the cake cutting, some brides and grooms held back out to the dance floor for the bouquet toss which is immediately followed by the garter toss. Following these activities, the band or DJ should kick right back into lively dance music for those all-night partiers who relish another turn on the dance floor.
04:45 – Last Dance
The best way to top-off your wedding is by ending it on a high note and choosing a dance song that will leave a lasting impression. Try to find the perfect song that will tell your guests how appreciative you are of them being there and also is represent of you and new husband starting a new life together. You’ll want everyone to have a chance for one last twirl, so select something fast and festive.
The best way to top-off your wedding is by ending it on a high note and choosing a dance song that will leave a lasting impression. Try to find the perfect song that will tell your guests how appreciative you are of them being there and also is represent of you and new husband starting a new life together. You’ll want everyone to have a chance for one last twirl, so select something fast and festive.
05:00 – Grand Exit!
When it’s time to leave the reception, it is customary to have your guests participate in the send off. Usually, the guests will line the walkway or the stairs of the venue, prepared to blow bubbles, toss rose petals, or even light sparklers to wish you good luck on your merry way towards a lifetime of happiness together.
When it’s time to leave the reception, it is customary to have your guests participate in the send off. Usually, the guests will line the walkway or the stairs of the venue, prepared to blow bubbles, toss rose petals, or even light sparklers to wish you good luck on your merry way towards a lifetime of happiness together.
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