Order of Reception

rowenac82

I was just wondering, when are ladies planning to do all the reception activities i.e. toasts, cake, garter/bouquet, special dances. 

I was surprised last night when my coordinator told me that dinner service usually lasts just about 2 hrs?!?!? Really?!?!? How long have you been told that dinner service lasts? This is for a plated dinner with a plated salad. 

TL25

I'm also doing a plated dinner and coordinator said that was less time consuming than buffet, but didn't give me a specific time so idk. I only been to one other plated dinner wedding and can't think of how long it was. Everything else I'm not sure of yet, thanks for giving me something else to worry about lol!

rowenac82

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_order-of-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:9cfacd5a-2ede-4bdc-ac73-b27f5d18c8d7Post:b1de5695-f4fb-4eeb-80df-acc969bc02ab">Re: Order of Reception</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm also doing a plated dinner and coordinator said that was less time consuming than buffet, but didn't give me a specific time so idk. I only been to one other plated dinner wedding and can't think of how long it was. Everything else I'm not sure of yet, t<strong>hanks for giving me something else to worry about lol!</strong>
Posted by TL25[/QUOTE]

<div>YOU'RE WELCOME! <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-wink.gif" border="0" alt="Wink" title="Wink" /></div>

M1ssJ

Reception (Mine is a brunch buffet):

Guests are seated

Intro oof BP

IntroducTION video

Enter Bride and groom

La Hora Loca

First dance

Buffet opens

Bride and groom make rounds

Mother son/ Mother daughter dance

Dance (garter toss/ bouquet toss)

Exit

Nap

Smush time

TL25

lol @ smush time!

MrsJenrette

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_order-of-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:400Discussion:9cfacd5a-2ede-4bdc-ac73-b27f5d18c8d7Post:c0e248da-ce0b-4b59-bfe8-bc394858e7f9">Order of Reception</a>:
[QUOTE]I was just wondering, when are ladies planning to do all the reception activities i.e. toasts, cake, garter/bouquet, special dances.  I was surprised last night when my coordinator told me that dinner service usually lasts just about 2 hrs?!?!? Really?!?!? How long have you been told that dinner service lasts? This is for a plated dinner with a plated salad. 
Posted by rowenac82[/QUOTE]

Our Reception Activities were pushed more by the DJ.. we didn't have any idea where to slip in what:

Introduction of Family
Introduction of Bridal Party
Introduction of Bride & Groom
First Dance
Prayer
MOH & BM Toasts
Buffet Opened (We were served at the sweetheart table)
Cake Cutting (we served the slices plated with embelishments so they needed time)
Greet the guests
Father Daughter Dance
Bouquet/Garter Toss
Money Dance
Dance Floor Open
Last Dance

The suggestion of the DJ to have the Money Dance before openeing up the dance floor was the greatest ever!.. People were already up and dancing with me.. so the transition was soooooo smooth!

MrsJenrette

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_order-of-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:400Discussion:9cfacd5a-2ede-4bdc-ac73-b27f5d18c8d7Post:b1de5695-f4fb-4eeb-80df-acc969bc02ab">Re: Order of Reception</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm also doing a plated dinner and <strong>coordinator said that was less time consuming than buffet,</strong> but didn't give me a specific time so idk. I only been to one other plated dinner wedding and can't think of how long it was. Everything else I'm not sure of yet, thanks for giving me something else to worry about lol!
Posted by TL25[/QUOTE]

This depends on how many guests you have, and how you handle the order of "service". We have about 115 people at the wedding, with mixed service (salad and dessert served at the table, and buffet dinner), and not only did the buffet move smoothly, but quickly. The buffet table was not pushed against the table, so guests were able to use both sides.

We called tables for services 2 at a time... so there are no more than 20-24 people (depending on the type of tables used) at the buffet.. and once they noticed there were less than 5-10 people they called another 2 tables.

It worked for us, but like I said.. it depends on the amount of guests you have.

rowenac82

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_order-of-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:9cfacd5a-2ede-4bdc-ac73-b27f5d18c8d7Post:0c1a9614-cbb2-41cd-a866-5872458ab431">Re: Order of Reception</a>:
[QUOTE]Reception (Mine is a brunch buffet): Guests are seated Intro oof BP IntroducTION video Enter Bride and groom <em><strong>La Hora Loca </strong></em>First dance Buffet opens Bride and groom make rounds Mother son/ Mother daughter dance Dance (garter toss/ bouquet toss) Exit Nap Smush time
Posted by M1ssJ[/QUOTE]

<div>What's La Hora Loca? I guess I could look it up. </div><div>
</div><div>I am guessing you guys will eat first before making your rounds?</div><div>
</div><div>No toasts?</div>

rowenac82

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_order-of-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:9cfacd5a-2ede-4bdc-ac73-b27f5d18c8d7Post:66f05d50-1266-4c26-b3a7-4f4266784ce9">Re: Order of Reception</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Order of Reception : Our Reception Activities were pushed more by the DJ.. we didn't have any idea where to slip in what: Introduction of Family Introduction of Bridal Party Introduction of Bride & Groom First Dance Prayer MOH & BM Toasts Buffet Opened (We were served at the sweetheart table) Cake Cutting (we served the slices plated with embelishments so they needed time) Greet the guests Father Daughter Dance Bouquet/Garter Toss Money Dance Dance Floor Open <strong>Last Dance </strong>The suggestion of the DJ to have the Money Dance before openeing up the dance floor was the greatest ever!.. People were already up and dancing with me.. so the transition was soooooo smooth!
Posted by MrsJenrette[/QUOTE]

<div>Just curious what was your last dance song?</div>

MrsJenrette

@ rowena... it was Kem "Share My Life"...

mejai1

I'm late to this, but here's our preliminary timeline...

6pm Cocktail hour begins in upstairs location

6:15pm Bride, Groom, additional bridal party travel to Reception

6:30pm Limo drop off  - Limo wraps.

7pm Guest seating in reception room

7:15pm Grand entrance

7:20pm First Dance

7:25pm Salad served

Toasts after all salads dropped 

7:55pm Second course served

Slideshow

8:30pm Groom dances with his daughter; Bride dances with her son.

First dance set

9pm Cake Cutting

Bouquet toss

Garter Toss

9:30pm Dance set

Photographer wrapped

10:55pm Last Dance

11pm Load out

12midnight Guests/vendors depart.

rowenac82

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_order-of-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:9cfacd5a-2ede-4bdc-ac73-b27f5d18c8d7Post:29a7a08a-8c01-4911-baf4-df877cf9bee2">Re: Order of Reception</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm late to this, but here's our preliminary timeline... 6pm Cocktail hour begins in upstairs location 6:15pm Bride, Groom, additional bridal party travel to Reception 6:30pm Limo drop off  - Limo wraps. 7pm Guest seating in reception room 7:15pm Grand entrance 7:20pm First Dance 7:25pm Salad served Toasts after all salads dropped  7:55pm Second course served Slideshow 8:30pm Groom dances with his daughter; Bride dances with her son. First dance set 9pm Cake Cutting Bouquet toss Garter Toss 9:30pm Dance set Photographer wrapped 10:55pm Last Dance 11pm Load out 12midnight Guests/vendors depart.
Posted by mejai1[/QUOTE]

<div>Did you decide all this on your own or did dj help with this? Or coordinator?</div>

mejai1

Coordinator put it together. It's still in the works... we might do a money dance, but not sure where yet. I have the timeline for the earlier part of the day too if you're interested...

M1ssJ

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_order-of-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:9cfacd5a-2ede-4bdc-ac73-b27f5d18c8d7Post:7611d84f-7890-4287-ab42-164ff5ec1314">Re: Order of Reception</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Order of Reception : What's La Hora Loca? I guess I could look it up.  I am guessing you guys will eat first before making your rounds? No toasts?
Posted by rowenac82[/QUOTE]

<div>La hora loca - translates to "the crazy hour", basically the DJ gets everyone up and dancing and its like an action packed dance hour. </div><div>
</div><div>I forgot toasts, the will be during brunch after our rounds</div><div>
</div><div>FI and I decided to munch in the holding room before the brunch because we don't want our time to feel rushed in the room, the hotel is also sending us a lunch and dinner on the house to our honeymoon suite (probably leftovers we already paid for)</div><div>
</div><div>We're waiting to take most of our pictures until the next day so we will have time</div>

M1ssJ

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_order-of-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:9cfacd5a-2ede-4bdc-ac73-b27f5d18c8d7Post:eddea2e8-477a-4a0d-9fd2-6ed56c776fa2">Re: Order of Reception</a>:
[QUOTE]lol @ smush time!
Posted by TL25[/QUOTE]

<div>GIRRRRRLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!! I need it! amen</div>

MissusD1116

In Response to

[QUOTE]Reception (Mine is a brunch buffet): Guests are seated Intro oof BP IntroducTION video Enter Bride and groom La Hora Loca First dance Buffet opens Bride and groom make rounds Mother son/ Mother daughter dance Dance (garter toss/ bouquet toss) Exit Nap Smush time
Posted by M1ssJ[/QUOTE]

@smush time

I AM NOT fixing to play with you! LOL!