Host welcoming guests - necessary?

kns1988

I'm thinking of the timeline for our reception, and I'm wondering whether it's necessary for the hosts (in this case, FI and myself) to welcome everyone before we eat. The DJ will be in charge of telling people what to do and when so it isn't like I have to release them to the buffet or anything. I'm thinking of the following timeline:

1. Intro of bride and groom as we walk into the room (no intro of wedding party)

2. First dance

3. Prayer

4. Release tables to buffet (should this be before prayer?)

5. MOH and Best man toasts

6. Cut cake and start visiting tables

Does this seem right? I don't think it's traditional to do the first dance immediately, but I've seen it at a few weddings and liked it. 

kns1988

Just extra clarification - when I say prayer, I mean blessing of the meal. 

lyndausvi

We did the first dance right way.  That way our guests could dance in between course.

I would do the prayer first.  Once your start releasing tables I'm not sure when there would be a good time.

I don't think you need a host.  

NYCMercedes

3 goes before 4 as that way guests can start eating without waiting for everyone else. You could even do your first dance while everyone else is finished with dinner. Your host (I our case FOB) welcomes and thanks everyone right before or right after the toasts. Your plan looks good.

Maggie0829

The hosts certainly do not need to say a welcoming speech.  It is prudent though that the hosts and you as the newly married couple at least make the rounds to each person and thank them for coming which I see that you have included.  But I wouldn't wait until after the cake is cut to do table visits.  You don't want to "force" your guests to sit at their tables once dinner is complete.  They will want to get up and talk to others, mingle and dance.  So instead, you need to eat, have the toasts (make sure they keep them short like 1-2 minutes per person tops) and then get up and do table visits as your guests finish their dinner.  Then cut the cake.

As for the first dance being done immediately after you enter.  That is pretty common now.  In fact, many couples do the first dance and the other spotlight dances (parent dances) at the beginning. This way once dinner is done the party can get started and not be interrupted.

holyguacamole79

We did our table visits during dinner (we also had a buffet).  So, B&G went through the line first, followed by WP and our families.  We ate while people were in line (note - we also had our DOC standing by us while we ate so she could be a 'bouncer' of sorts since everyone wanted to say hi & congrats as I was stuffing my face with food).  Once we were done with our meal, our DOC escorted us to do our table visits.

And we had the blessing of the food done before people were dismissed to the buffet line.

kns1988

Great, thank you. My mind was getting very jumbled thinking about how the table visits, toasts, and cake cutting would all work out. Now I'm thinking that if the toasts are short (which they will be), we can just start visiting tables and cut the cake halfway through. 

I was so worried about the cake timing because everyone says some people leave after cutting it, and I don't want to miss my chance to visit every table before people start leaving. Not that I'm really expecting anyone to haul ass out of there, but you never know.

We're expecting 130 - 150 people.