Reception Timeline

Caitlynmk · September 2012

Hello all! Just wondering if anyone has started thinking about their reception timeline? I'm trying to decide the order of things because we're going over it during our walkthrough at our venue next week. We need to do table visits so I'm really hoping we can squeeze those in during dinner, but we have a big guest list so it could be challenging. I also don't want it to feel rushed with a lot going on before the blessing. Here is the order I have so far:

Introductions
First Dance
Cake Cutting
Blessing
Toasts during the first course
Fi and I served first- then table visits while everyone is eating
Bride/Father dance
Groom/Mother dance
Open Dancing
Bouquet Toss
Garter Toss
Open dancing

Alternatively our catering coordinator said it works well to do the cake cutting around the time I have us doing table visits, but she said it will cut back on time for us to visit our guests during dinner. EEks, so much to consider! Any thoughts you can share or if you have a different order of events I'd appreciate it

Thanks!!

jennipea382 · September 2012

I've been thinking a lot about it and I'm glad I saw where you put the speeches - that's the one thing that was throwing me off if we do table visits instead of a receiving line (ceremony and reception is in the same room so that doesn't work as well!).

Tentatively (including ceremony since they're at the same place)

4pm - ceremony
4:30ish - ceremony ends
4:30ish-5:30ish (I'm really specific) - "cocktail hour". This time frame is something I'm reconsidering over and over because we will do our pictures earlier in the day.. what do WE do during this time since I want to do the fun entrance? I figured signing the marriage certificate (license?) and a few pictures but that won't take an hour.
5:30pm - Entrance. Yes, we will go outside and come back in through the side door, not the door guests use.
6pm - Start serving dinner
6:15pm - Speeches (threw that in there, not 100% sure).
6:30pm - Serve entree. Do table visits after we finish (so like 6:45-7:15 or 7:30? How long does it take to visit like 25 tables?! Ahhh)
7:30pm - First dance, mom/groom, dad/bride dances
8pm??? - Cake cutting. I've been at weddings where they just kinda do the cake cutting sometime when people are eating or busy. I usually miss it unless they announce it or do it in the middle of the room or something.
12am - End of reception (though we have the room until 2am!)

So yeah all totally tentative. If anyone has suggestions let me know! I typed this all out before fully reading Caitlyn's so maybe I should look at that again :-)

jennipea382 · September 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2013-weddings_reception-timeline?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:2fb7282e-ed53-4794-84c9-f5617fc97f8bDiscussion:97406f33-b600-435d-a081-48231ecba62cPost:fb187610-9548-476b-9583-8e4cea3536af">Re:Reception Timeline</a>:
[QUOTE]Caitlyn, I agree with your coordinator. If I were you, I'd move the cake cutting to later. It seems a little odd to me to be doing that before dinner's even been served.
Posted by Sleeper2013[/QUOTE]

I have seen this done before. At my friend's wedding, they did the entrance and then did the cake cutting right away in the middle of the room like how some people do their first dance (I prefer mine as people are finishing dinner so it leads right into the rest of the dancing!).

Caitlynmk · September 2012

Thanks ladies! I am starting to think cutting the cake after FI and I are done eating, but the guests are still eating is a good idea. I want it to be served as dessert right after guests are done with entrees because if we wait to cut it until later, few people are still at their seats or know the cake has been cut. I have seen the cake cut right after the first dance a few times but it always seems like they are rushing from one thing to another.

@Jennipea- I think your timeline looks great! I think the speeches during the first course are a great way to keep things moving and not waste too much of the valuable dancing time! During the cocktail hour you could either join your guests and greet them (that way you don't have to try to get through all the table visits during dinner) or you can ask your venue if they have a separate area you can have a private cocktail hour with your wedding party. The latter is what we are doing, it gives the wedding party some time to put your feet up, get some food, touch up makeup, etc. and still have a grand entrance.

As far as visiting tables, I've heard that 3-5 min per table is average but with that many tables (you're like us!) you won't be able to get to everyone. Our venue coordinator told us to aim to visit the tables with your older family members who won't get up that much and who would really like to spend a few minutes with you. She said that your friends and younger family will come see you while you're dancing and they won't mind if you skip their table as long as you talk with them at some point in the night. Alternatively she said you could split up and have the bride visit one side while the groom visited the other side but we personally didn't like that idea.

FI and I are still going to try to visit everyone, but we are going to prioritize like our coordinator said to do. Sorry this was a long post! haha

091109brIANna033013 · September 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2013-weddings_reception-timeline?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:2fb7282e-ed53-4794-84c9-f5617fc97f8bDiscussion:97406f33-b600-435d-a081-48231ecba62cPost:12401936-ce5f-4c4b-8863-9d987de2b48a">Reception Timeline</a>:
[QUOTE]Hello all! Just wondering if anyone has started thinking about their reception timeline? I'm trying to decide the order of things because we're going over it during our walkthrough at our venue next week. We need to do table visits so I'm really hoping we can squeeze those in during dinner, but we have a big guest list so it could be challenging. I also don't want it to feel rushed with a lot going on before the blessing. Here is the order I have so far: Introductions First Dance Cake Cutting Blessing Toasts during the first course Fi and I served first- then table visits while everyone is eating Bride/Father dance Groom/Mother dance Open Dancing Bouquet Toss Garter Toss Open dancing Alternatively our catering coordinator said it works well to do the cake cutting around the time I have us doing table visits, but she said it will cut back on time for us to visit our guests during dinner. EEks, so much to consider! Any thoughts you can share or if you have a different order of events I'd appreciate it :) Thanks!!
Posted by Caitlynmk[/QUOTE]

Since our ceremony and reception are at the same location, and the ceremony is pretty short, the ceremony and reception timelines flow together. Our DJ helped us create our timeline based on the many details and ideas I already had:
 5:30pm: Prelude music 6:00pm: Ceremony starts, groom's entrance, processional 6:15pm: Recessional 6:15pm to 6:45pm: Guests find their tables, bar and buffet open 6:45pm: Grand entrance 6:45pm to 7:30pm: Meal and table visits 7:30pm: 1st Dance 7:35pm: Garter toss 7:40pm: Bouquet toss 7:45pm: Maid of Honor and Best Man Toast 7:50pm: Cake cutting (guests can grab cupcakes after the cake cutting) 7:55pm: Thank-you speech from the bride and groom 8:00pm: Father daughter dance / flash mob 8:05pm: Open Dancing 10:45pm: Last Dances 11:00pm: Reception is over
I have music lists for pretty much everything, except open dancing since our DJ will be responsible for keeping the party going.

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