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Order of Events at the Reception
[ Checklists Index | Reception Index ]
The following is a suggested order of events for your reception. This is by no means
set in stone, alter according to your taste and style. We did not provide a
specific timeline because the allotted time at the reception facility may differ from one reader to the next.
You may also wish to concentrate more time on one activity over another. Fill in the blanks with the time you
feel each event should start on your wedding day according to your specific needs.
| Time | Event Description |
| |
| ______ |
Cocktail Period
By beginning with a cocktail period, you will give your guests a chance to
gather at the reception facility, deposit their gifts, and meet and mingle with
other guests. It will also provide time for lost guests to find their way to
the reception. Meanwhile backstage, this time can be used by the photographer
to take portraits of the wedding party. If desired, the bridal couple can
arrange to eat at this time, ensuring that they will indeed get to eat, thus
freeing up their time to mix and mingle with guests later on during the
lunch/dinner portion of the reception. The cocktail reception usually takes
place outside the reception hall.
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| ______ |
Receiving Line
The bridal couple opens up the reception hall with a receiving
line and invites everyone inside. This will ensure that the bridal couple will
have the opportunity to greet each guest at least once during the festivities.
The reception line traditionally includes the bridal couple, the couples'
parents, the best man, the maid-of-honor, and any special guests.
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| ______ |
Introduction of the Wedding Party
Once the guests are inside the reception
hall, the wedding party is then introduced by the emcee as they parade inside.
First comes the groomsmen and bridesmaids, then the flower girls and ring
bearer, the parents, and the bridal couple.
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| ______ |
Dancing (Option #1)
Jeff Allen, our resident dance expert, suggests "that The First Dance, Father
and Daughter Dance, etc. occur before dinner immediately upon the Bride & Groom's introduction to the
reception area, for several good reasons. Primarily, it allows the dancing to begin much
earlier in the reception thereby eliminating a lull in activities that so often happens.
Once the bride and groom have danced, and then the parents and attendants, then the guests will
feel comfortable dancing while others may be eating or in a buffet line. This will
allow many of the guests who know how to ballroom and Latin dance to do so on a
non-congested dance floor."
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| ______ |
Toasts
The best man will then make the first toast, followed by the
maid-of-honor, the father-of-the-groom and the father-of-the-bride. If they so
choose, the bridal couple can make a speech thanking the guests for coming, the
parents for paying, and anything else they may wish to say.
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| ______ |
Lunch/Dinner is Served
During this time, the bride and groom (if they have
already eaten) can mingle and make informal visits to each table, or even have
table pictures taken by the photographer. If guests wish to make speeches, sing
songs, tell jokes, do a skit, this would be the ideal time.
|
| ______ |
Dancing (Option #2)
If the bride and groom haven't danced their first dance yet, they may now take
the opportunity to open up the dance floor with their first dance.
Then the father/daughter dance, then the mother/son dance. The attendants then
join in the dancing and then the guests are invited to dance as well.
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| ______ |
Cake Cutting
The bride and groom cut the cake for dessert. Additional toasts
may be made at this point.
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| ______ |
Bouquet and Garter Toss
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| ______ |
More Dancing, if time allows.
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| ______ |
Departure of the Bridal Couple
Amid confetti, bubbles, birdseed, or rice.
|
| ______ |
Departure of the Guests
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In structuring your reception timeline, make sure to consult with your
photographer, your disc jockey or musicians, your reception facility
representative and/or caterer, and your bridal consultant if you have one. Also
make sure your master of ceremonies is familiar with the scheduling of events.
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