Wedding Reception Forum

Reception Timeline

I'm looking for some ideas on what other people have done. I am planning on talking with my DJ about all of it, but I still want some other input. Our DJ was one of the first things we booked and we got a great deal on a 6 hour package--2 hours dinner, 4 hours dancing.

I'm a little worried that 2 hours for dinner will be too long since we are not doing a cocktail hour or anything. We are having probably somewhere around 160-180 people and it is a buffet, so I know it will probably take some time for everyone to get their food, plus we will do the toasts and such during dinner. Will 2 hours be fine for that?

Also, we are doing cupcakes for the guests and a small cake for the head table (although I'm considering asking the baker to just do cupcakes for all instead.) Do we still do a "cake cutting" time or just have the cupcakes out the whole reception and don't dedicate any special time to them?

Any timelines you have to share would be great. I've never paid attention to any of this at weddings before so I'm clueless. I've seen some where people did their first dance before dinner but I don't understand how that works? You do one dance and then eat and then dance some more? Sorry for my ignorance. :)
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PitaPata Dog tickers

Re: Reception Timeline

  • We did a lunch reception, and I have been to very few evening weddings, so I'm not "qualified" to answer timeline questions. 

    As for the cupcakes/cake, we had cupcakes for our guests and a small cake for cutting. We did do the whole "cake cutting" thing, and we did it after the meal and my dad's toast. 
    What did you think would happen if you walked up to a group of internet strangers and told them to get shoehorned by their lady doc?~StageManager14
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  • So you're going straight from the ceremony to dinner? We didn't have a full cocktail "hour," but we did have some time between arriving at the reception venue and the start of dinner. This was our timeline:
     
    5:00pm - Guests arrive. Mingle, use photo booth. Apps and drinks served.
    5:45pm - Buffet dinner begins.
    6:45pm - Toasts and wine box ceremony.
    7:20pm - First dance, followed by everyone dancing.
    9:00pm - Cut and serve cake. Thank yous.
    9:15pm - More dancing.
    9:45pm - Last dance!

    Some people do a grand entrance, followed immediately by their first dance, and then yes, they all sit down and have dinner. You can definitely still do a cake cutting with cupcakes.
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