Day-of Time Line

pinkjunebride15

I've only attended 2 weddings in my life (shocking, I know) and now I'm trying to plan my own and I'm a little fuzzy at to when things typically happen.

I got up to when we get introduced as husband and wife and it's right at the end of our cocktail hour...then what? do we have our first dances immediately? are those reserved until after dinner (which is pretty much right after cocktail hour) I'm so confused!

HELP!! please...thank you!!

novella1186

pinkjunebride15 said:

I've only attended 2 weddings in my life (shocking, I know) and now I'm trying to plan my own and I'm a little fuzzy at to when things typically happen.

I got up to when we get introduced as husband and wife and it's right at the end of our cocktail hour...then what? do we have our first dances immediately? are those reserved until after dinner (which is pretty much right after cocktail hour) I'm so confused!

HELP!! please...thank you!!

There are lots of different ways you can do it. It's really up to you. 

Some people would go straight into the first dance, then dinner, then cake cutting 

Or 

Cake cutting, first dance, dinner 

Or 

dinner, cake cutting, first dance 

You get the idea. However it will work best for your plans, or help your evening flow the best, is how you should do it. 

charcoalandblush

novella1186 said:

pinkjunebride15 said:

I've only attended 2 weddings in my life (shocking, I know) and now I'm trying to plan my own and I'm a little fuzzy at to when things typically happen.

I got up to when we get introduced as husband and wife and it's right at the end of our cocktail hour...then what? do we have our first dances immediately? are those reserved until after dinner (which is pretty much right after cocktail hour) I'm so confused!

HELP!! please...thank you!!

There are lots of different ways you can do it. It's really up to you. 

Some people would go straight into the first dance, then dinner, then cake cutting 

Or 

Cake cutting, first dance, dinner 

Or 

dinner, cake cutting, first dance 

You get the idea. However it will work best for your plans, or help your evening flow the best, is how you should do it. 

Agreed, I've seen it all of these ways.

pinkjunebride15

Hmm, ok...I was like ahh I don't know what to do! should have just stuck with my trend of doing-whatever-I-want-because-it's-my-day! hehe

Thanks!

pinkjunebride15

charcoalandblush said:

novella1186 said:

pinkjunebride15 said:

I've only attended 2 weddings in my life (shocking, I know) and now I'm trying to plan my own and I'm a little fuzzy at to when things typically happen.

I got up to when we get introduced as husband and wife and it's right at the end of our cocktail hour...then what? do we have our first dances immediately? are those reserved until after dinner (which is pretty much right after cocktail hour) I'm so confused!

HELP!! please...thank you!!

There are lots of different ways you can do it. It's really up to you. 

Some people would go straight into the first dance, then dinner, then cake cutting 

Or 

Cake cutting, first dance, dinner 

Or 

dinner, cake cutting, first dance 

You get the idea. However it will work best for your plans, or help your evening flow the best, is how you should do it. 

Agreed, I've seen it all of these ways.

charcoalandblush  How did you get that countdown in your signature? lol

southernbelle0915

As long as your timeline doesn't include an unhosted gap between the ceremony and reception, you're probably fine.

Some couples prefer to do intros, then dinner, dances, cake cutting. Some prefer intros, dances, dinner cake cutting... Its personal preference.

mikenberger

pinkjunebride15 said:

Hmm, ok...I was like ahh I don't know what to do! should have just stuck with my trend of doing-whatever-I-want-because-it's-my-day! hehe

Thanks!

No. It's not cute and it's not your day when you start inviting people.

hehe

Maggie0829

As a guest, I prefer that any spotlight stuff (dances, cake cutting, tosses, etc) are done prior to and/or right after dinner.  I absolutely detest when the spotlight stuff is spread throughout the reception because this really breaks up the party flow.  For example I went to a wedding where every 10 minutes the music was cut off because the couple had to have their first dance, or they had to have their parent dances, or they had to do the tosses or they had to cut the cake.  After all these interruptions that party really never got going again because people were annoyed that every 10 minutes they had to basically get off the dance floor and stand and watch some other damn thing.  So whatever you choose just don't do this to your guests.

afaber24

My favorite is:

Cake Cutting 

Toast

Dinner

Spotlight dances

Tosses

Open dance floor

Just try not to do too much before people eat dinner. Don't make them sit through a bunch of stuff before eating.

Maggie0829

afaber24 said:

My favorite is:

Cake Cutting 

Toast

Dinner

Spotlight dances

Tosses

Open dance floor

Just try not to do too much before people eat dinner. Don't make them sit through a bunch of stuff before eating.

See my feeling is if you just had a cocktail hour then making people sit through 10-15 minutes of spotlight stuff before dinner isn't a big deal.  Assuming, of course, that you are providing an appropriate amount of appetizers during your cocktail hour for the number of guests attending.