What Are The Wedding Reception Timeline Traditions & Etiquette?

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    A sample wedding reception schedule is shown below, with each hour based on the duration of a typical cocktail hour and a five reception.

    Each wedding requires careful consideration of the reception schedule.

    You and your party planner can use this schedule to make sure everything goes properly throughout the reception. As an added bonus, it can facilitate the incorporation of all the fun things you're planning to do during this special part of the day.

    Keep in mind your perspective on each element as you construct your timeline reception playing out and plan spend your time wisely For instance, if you plan on having four people make toasts, you'll need more time for such toasts. It's also a good idea to leave at least 5-10 minutes between each stage of the celebration.

    Following is a basic outline of what you'll need to do to get started with your wedding reception timeline.

    FAQs About Wedding Venue

    • Grand Entrance. After the wedding guests have entered the reception and taken their seats, it's time for the grand entrance! 
    • First Dance. 
    • Parent Dances. 
    • Toasts and Speeches.
    • Cake Cutting. 
    • Bouquet Toss and Garter Toss.
    • Anniversary Dance. 
    • Guest Book.

    Typically, the banquet will include a speech from the parents, the best man, the maid of honour, and the guest speaker. In addition, there will be cake cutting, toasts, a tea ceremony, and dancing. The two tables at the centre of the room are for the groom's and bride's families.

    Blue is the colour of love, purity, faithfulness, and modesty. To keep with tradition, the bride can wear a blue piece of jewellery. But for a modern take, you can write a little note or another small message in blue on the bottom of her shoes.

    The tradition of a bride wearing "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" comes from an Old English rhyme. Something old represents continuity; something new offers optimism for the future; something borrowed symbolises borrowed happiness; something blue stands for purity, love, and fidelity.

    Many couples also ask, "what time do receptions usually start?" In most cases, the answer is between 5 pm and 6 pm, but your specific wedding reception timeline will depend on several factors. For example, if the ceremony is at a different location than the reception, you must consider that.

    00:00 | The Cocktail Hour

    When the minister has finished saying "I do," you and your new spouse will likely be the first guests to leave the ceremony and head straight to the reception. The group then moves on to the venue for the cocktail reception. The cocktail hour may start right away if the event's organisers see fit. It could be delayed for at least 45 minutes. Cocktails will be served at the start of your reception, which will last for at least an hour. During this time, appetisers and drinks will be provided to start people mingling and into the party mood. There will be opening statements after the first dance kiss. The toasts at a wedding are typically made by the wedding hosts, the couple getting married, and either the parents or in-laws of the couple being married.

    These remarks shouldn't be given too much time. They're just a simple gesture to get guests in the party spirit and show appreciation for their presence.

    Seeing as how supper is imminent, now would be a good opportunity to mention any dietary requirements or intolerances. It is customary to inform visitors that their table numbers will be called out by the emcee when it is their turn to eat the meal (whether it is served buffet-style or at a specific time).

    01:00 | Newlyweds' Grand Entrance

    Before the emcee even has a chance to announce your presence, the planner will have already made sure that everyone is seated comfortably. It is customary to first introduce the grandparents and wedding party to the group, and then to publicly announce your new marital status. Keeping to this schedule on your wedding day is not just a thoughtful gesture towards your wedding reception's other attendees, but also a meaningful gesture towards your future spouse. The timetable needs to be given a lot of attention.

    It's crucial because it helps establish a benchmark for what follows next. There should be an appearance by the newlyweds any minute now.

    The host will formally introduce you and your date when the time comes. In the foyer, you can anticipate a standing ovation and applause. As soon as guests arrive, the first dance is typically held. As soon as the bride and groom are ready, they will ask guests to take their seats so that the festivities may begin in earnest with the entrance of the bridal party and the newlyweds.

    This part of the reception can be extended by 30 minutes if you want to give your guests ample opportunity to dance before moving on to other events.

    01:10 | First Dance

    Once the bride and groom have been formally presented on the dance floor, the newlyweds traditionally share their first dance together. The roar of applause and shouts of welcome as you enter the lobby should help you overcome any feelings of timidity. If not, just hold off until after the starters have been sent around. Looking for some tune inspo? Listen to our suggested music for the first dance so you don't miss out on the fun.

    Following dinner, some couples may opt to start the festivities with a parent dance, while others may choose to switch partners at this time. In traditional weddings, the first dance takes place after the bride and husband have arrived at the reception. Dinnertime or afterwards is as appropriate for this dance. We should all make an effort to lower the volume and concentrate on the dancing couple.

    01:20 | Cheers & Toasts

    While everyone's eyes are still on you after the first dance, it's the perfect time to make a dramatic entrance and personally thank everyone en masse for taking part in your wedding:

    Those who will be making toasts should be informed of this news at least ten minutes in advance so that they have time to wrap up their meal and prepare their remarks.

    While the best man and maid of honour are the traditional speakers at a wedding, other loved ones and friends can also be requested to share their views and sentiments. Request this well in advance of the wedding day so that they have time to prepare. Then, after everyone has finished talking, you and your spouse can exchange some views.

    During the toasts and reception, loved ones can express their gratitude to those who attended the wedding, laugh over memories of good times spent together, and offer their best wishes to the newlyweds. At the absolute least, a toast should be made by wedding party to thank the guests 

    Parents of the bride and groom often deliver speeches as well. The DJ should know ahead of time who will be giving speeches. The guests could be bored to tears if anyone in the wedding party is given the microphone.

    The toasters need to know how much time they have left, so inform them. A speech that lasts five minutes is about right. It's also a great idea to prevent anyone from addressing the group after the toasts. There is no rule about how long a toast can be.

    01:30 | Mangia, Mangia

    It's time for the main course. Music will be played by a band or DJ at a low volume so as not to interfere with your conversations as you dine at your table. A coordinator, DJ, or conductor will periodically call all tables to the front of the line during a buffet rotation. Keep in mind that you should do everything in your power to ensure that they have a pleasant dining experience. It's customary for friends and family to sit down together for dinner each night. Consider the event at hand while deciding between a buffet and plated meals. A buffet can minimise the wait time for customers by releasing tables at set times in sync with the music. By the time dessert is delivered, guests will have had plenty of time to decompress from the day thanks to the bottle of champagne waiting for them at their table.

    02:30 | Parent Dances

    A dance with your parents is something you should definitely do if you haven't previously. In this case, all eyes (or at least all pairs of feet) will be on the dance floor. Listed here are some of our favourite dance tunes that both mothers and fathers can enjoy with their children. This portion of your speech can be timed to coincide with the wedding reception. After dinner, the celebration could finally begin. You may now start dancing because all the reception formalities have been completed. Gather the guests and start the dancing. On the main stage, enjoying yourself and requesting a song that will get more people dancing. Until it's time for the last dance, the DJ will probably switch between fast and slow tunes. At the appropriate time, the emcee shall make a statement.

    As a helpful hint, have the wedding planner or host announce that there will be 15 minutes before the DJ plays the closing song for guests to start saying their goodbyes.

    02:45 | Party Time

    This is a game of "monkey see, monkey do." It is expected that guests will follow your direction. You and your dance partner should remain on the floor after the meal is over to signal that it's time to party time to start partying. There will be a pause in the action for any extracurriculars you have on your wedding reception timing plan for the duration of the dancing.

    Put on your dancing shoes; the meal is over. It's time for the first dance between the bride and groom if it didn't happen right after they walked down the aisle. Following the ceremony, guests often participate in a "money dance" or "parent dance," during which they dance with the newlyweds and give them money to put towards their honeymoon. When these are over, everyone is free to hit the dance floor wedding guests. Games and supplementary activities will be detailed by the party planners.

    03:30 | Bouquet And Garter Toss

    The bouquet and garter toss, if done, can come after guests have had a chance to let loose on the dance floor. There is a lot of history behind these events. You don't have to invite them if they don't feel right for the occasion. Get a toss bouquet from florist so the real one can be retained as a keepsake, and pick out a fitting song for the bouquet toss if you choose to have one at your wedding.

    04:00 | Cake Cutting

    It is recommended that the wait staff begin putting up the coffee and dessert tables one hour before the reception's end, when the party begins to get raucous. If you don't want the party to finish before you're ready, you shouldn't start eating the cake until everyone's ready. A sweet treat will be served soon. When the emcee announces the end of the parent dances, you and your husband will be required to cut the cake. Many married couples slice the cake as one, holding the knife in both hands. You and your partner then have the option of going completely bonkers and stuffing the cake into each other's faces, or keeping things low-key and sharing slices. Near the end, the wedding party will cut and serve the cake, and then there will be another hour or two of dancing and celebration.

    When you're done, the caterers can come in and slice up the rest of the cake for the guests. The caterers can come in and serve the remaining cake to the guests once you're finished. If you'd prefer to save the cake's topper for your first wedding, please let the caterer know.

    04:15 | Shake A Leg

    If you want your guests to have the option to skip dessert in favour of extra time on the dance floor after the cake has been cut, have the band or DJ start playing again. Please do not merely turn off the music when it is time for everyone to depart at 04:45. Don't forget to take note of the time of the last dance during the wedding reception, as this will signal when it's time to leave. Pick up some tunes for the DJ to play that will have your guests talking for weeks after the party is over. It's a nice touch to end the night by having everyone dance together to an energetic song as a parting ritual.

    05:00 | Final Farewell

    It is time for us to split ways now. Your organiser will bring everyone into the foyer or down the stairs. Tossing rose petals, igniting sparklers, and blowing bubbles at the newlyweds as they leave the reception are all great ways to show your excitement as they leave.

    Conclusion

    A sample wedding reception schedule is shown below, with each hour based on the duration of a typical cocktail hour and a five reception. The cocktail hour may start right away if the event's organisers see fit, or it could be delayed for at least 45 minutes. It's also a good idea to leave at least 5-10 minutes between each stage of the celebration. It is customary to first introduce the grandparents and wedding party to the group, and then to publicly announce your new marital status. In traditional weddings, the first dance takes place after the bride and husband have arrived at the reception.

    Some couples may opt to start the festivities with a parent dance, while others may choose to switch partners at this time. During the toasts and reception, loved ones can express their gratitude to those who attended the wedding. Request this well in advance of the wedding day so that they have time to prepare. The DJ should know ahead of time who will be giving speeches. A buffet can minimise the wait time for customers by releasing tables at set times in sync with the music.

    After dinner, you may now start dancing because all the reception formalities have been completed. On the main stage, enjoying yourself and requesting a song that will get more people dancing. There will be a pause in the action for any extracurriculars you have on your wedding reception timing plan for the duration of the dancing. It is recommended that the wait staff begin putting up the coffee and dessert tables one hour before the reception's end. If you don't want the party to finish before you're ready, you shouldn't start eating the cake until everyone's ready. Near the end, the wedding party will cut and serve the cake, and then there will be another hour or two of dancing and celebration.

    Content Summary

    • A sample wedding reception schedule is shown below, with each hour based on the duration of a typical cocktail hour and a five reception.
    • Each wedding requires careful consideration of the reception schedule.
    • You and your party planner can use this schedule to make sure everything goes properly throughout the reception.
    • Keep in mind your perspective on each element as you construct your timeline reception playing out and plan spend your time wisely For instance, if you plan on having four people make toasts, you'll need more time for such toasts.
    • It's also a good idea to leave at least 5-10 minutes between each stage of the celebration.
    • Following is a basic outline of what you'll need to do to get started with your wedding reception timeline.
    • The group then moves on to the venue for the cocktail reception.
    • The cocktail hour may start right away if the event's organisers see fit.
    • Cocktails will be served at the start of your reception, which will last for at least an hour.
    • There will be opening statements after the first dance kiss.
    • The toasts at a wedding are typically made by the wedding hosts, the couple getting married, and either the parents or in-laws of the couple being married.
    • It is customary to inform visitors that their table numbers will be called out by the emcee when it is their turn to eat the meal (whether it is served buffet-style or at a specific time).
    • It is customary to first introduce the grandparents and wedding party to the group, and then to publicly announce your new marital status.
    • Keeping to this schedule on your wedding day is not just a thoughtful gesture towards your wedding reception's other attendees, but also a meaningful gesture towards your future spouse.
    • The host will formally introduce you and your date when the time comes.
    • As soon as guests arrive, the first dance is typically held.
    • As soon as the bride and groom are ready, they will ask guests to take their seats so that the festivities may begin in earnest with the entrance of the bridal party and the newlyweds.
    • This part of the reception can be extended by 30 minutes if you want to give your guests ample opportunity to dance before moving on to other events.
    • Once the bride and groom have been formally presented on the dance floor, the newlyweds traditionally share their first dance together.
    • Listen to our suggested music for the first dance so you don't miss out on the fun.
    • In traditional weddings, the first dance takes place after the bride and husband have arrived at the reception.
    • Dinnertime or afterwards is as appropriate for this dance.
    • While everyone's eyes are still on you after the first dance, it's the perfect time to make a dramatic entrance and personally thank everyone en masse for taking part in your wedding: Those who will be making toasts should be informed of this news at least ten minutes in advance so that they have time to wrap up their meal and prepare their remarks.
    • While the best man and maid of honour are the traditional speakers at a wedding, other loved ones and friends can also be requested to share their views and sentiments.
    • Request this well in advance of the wedding day so that they have time to prepare.
    • During the toasts and reception, loved ones can express their gratitude to those who attended the wedding, laugh over memories of good times spent together, and offer their best wishes to the newlyweds.
    • At the absolute least, a toast should be made by wedding party to thank the guests Parents of the bride and groom often deliver speeches as well.
    • The DJ should know ahead of time who will be giving speeches.
    • The guests could be bored to tears if anyone in the wedding party is given the microphone.
    • The toasters need to know how much time they have left, so inform them.
    • It's also a great idea to prevent anyone from addressing the group after the toasts.
    • There is no rule about how long a toast can be.
    • Music will be played by a band or DJ at a low volume so as not to interfere with your conversations as you dine at your table.
    • A coordinator, DJ, or conductor will periodically call all tables to the front of the line during a buffet rotation.
    • It's customary for friends and family to sit down together for dinner each night.
    • Consider the event at hand while deciding between a buffet and plated meals.
    • A dance with your parents is something you should definitely do if you haven't previously.
    • In this case, all eyes (or at least all pairs of feet) will be on the dance floor.
    • Listed here are some of our favourite dance tunes that both mothers and fathers can enjoy with their children.
    • This portion of your speech can be timed to coincide with the wedding reception.
    • After dinner, the celebration could finally begin.
    • Gather the guests and start the dancing.
    • On the main stage, enjoying yourself and requesting a song that will get more people dancing.
    • Until it's time for the last dance, the DJ will probably switch between fast and slow tunes.
    • At the appropriate time, the emcee shall make a statement.
    • As a helpful hint, have the wedding planner or host announce that there will be 15 minutes before the DJ plays the closing song for guests to start saying their goodbyes.
    • You and your dance partner should remain on the floor after the meal is over to signal that it's time to party time to start partying.
    • There will be a pause in the action for any extracurriculars you have on your wedding reception timing plan for the duration of the dancing.
    • It's time for the first dance between the bride and groom if it didn't happen right after they walked down the aisle.
    • Following the ceremony, guests often participate in a "money dance" or "parent dance," during which they dance with the newlyweds and give them money to put towards their honeymoon.
    • When these are over, everyone is free to hit the dance floor wedding guests.
    • Games and supplementary activities will be detailed by the party planners.
    • The bouquet and garter toss, if done, can come after guests have had a chance to let loose on the dance floor.
    • Get a toss bouquet from florist so the real one can be retained as a keepsake, and pick out a fitting song for the bouquet toss if you choose to have one at your wedding.
    • It is recommended that the wait staff begin putting up the coffee and dessert tables one hour before the reception's end, when the party begins to get raucous.
    • If you don't want the party to finish before you're ready, you shouldn't start eating the cake until everyone's ready.
    • When the emcee announces the end of the parent dances, you and your husband will be required to cut the cake.
    • Near the end, the wedding party will cut and serve the cake, and then there will be another hour or two of dancing and celebration.
    • When you're done, the caterers can come in and slice up the rest of the cake for the guests.
    • The caterers can come in and serve the remaining cake to the guests once you're finished.
    • If you'd prefer to save the cake's topper for your first wedding, please let the caterer know.
    • If you want your guests to have the option to skip dessert in favour of extra time on the dance floor after the cake has been cut, have the band or DJ start playing again.
    • Please do not merely turn off the music when it is time for everyone to depart at 04:45.
    • Don't forget to take note of the time of the last dance during the wedding reception, as this will signal when it's time to leave.
    • Pick up some tunes for the DJ to play that will have your guests talking for weeks after the party is over.
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