Maggiano's reception timeline help!

psily

I'm filling out my DJ music worksheet from All Night Long right now and it got me wondering about the timeline.  We're going to be in the Calabria room with about 40 guests.

When we do the grand entrance where the DJ introduces us (it will be just us, since we only have 3 people in our wedding party), do we just enter the room and then go straight to our dinner table? Cause that seems kind of weird since the room is pretty small. Or do we start doing our first dance? I really don't want to do our first dance right away, would like to do it after dinner.

My reception will be 4 hours.  If you wouldn't mind sharing your reception timeline I'd appreciate it!

missmo14

We are not having a 'grand entrance' because we will be arriving with our guests. Instead we are going to have the DJ officially announce us right before our first dance. Our timeline is roughly something like this
7:00 - guests arrive
7:15 - appetisers
7:45 - 1st round of speeches
8:00 - main meal
8:45 - 2nd round of speeches, cake cutting, 1st dance, open the dancefloor
9:45 - garter toss & bouquet throw
10 - 11 PARTY LIKE MAD!

psily

That's a great idea about not having the grand entrance and doing it before the first dance instead.  I think that's what we'll do thanks!

abigaildeanna

We're doing a grand entrance, our bridal party is 8 people total. 4 girls/4 guys. I figured when we come in, we'll mix and mingle, get drinks and wait for dinner to be served.

sunni96

We are having our reception at Maggiano's in the Calabria room too.  Our guests will be arriving first for cocktails and then we will arrive.  We are doing our grand entrance and then going straight into our first dance.  We decided to do it this way so once dinner is over people can go straight to the dance floor and don't have to wait for us to open it up!