Reception timing

cu97tiger · February 2012

Quick question for you all... are you doing your first dances and toasts all together, or will you be stopping the dancing to do toasts, then stopping it again to do the cake? I would rather stop the music as little as possible, but am wondering about the logistics of it all. Maybe the toasts can be right before or after we cut the cake?

amh04 · February 2012

We are doing our first dance when we get to the reception, and then dinner will be served and then we will do the special dances (father daughter/mother son) with normal dancing after and then I believe we are doing the toasts/cake. And then the garter/bouqet toss and anniversary dance and then normal dancing. We'll only be stopping the music once, but doing the special things throughout the night - rather than all at once.

[Deleted User] · February 2012

We're doing our first dance right after we're introduced... so before dinner.

As dinner service is ending, we'll cut the cake and have the toasts, then father/daughter dance will kick off the dancing. The only thing that will "interrupt" the dancing with be the bouquet/garter toss.

adrienne0925 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_reception-timing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:9c530bd6-3cc9-4704-8d64-95a08683d468Post:92839152-40ac-41ab-a5c2-5515cfee3f83">Re: Reception timing</a>:
[QUOTE]We're doing our first dance right after we're introduced... so before dinner. As dinner service is ending, we'll cut the cake and have the toasts, then father/daughter dance will kick off the dancing. The only thing that will "interrupt" the dancing with be the bouquet/garter toss.
Posted by harmony0417[/QUOTE]

This is what we want to do as well.

andreamarie77 · February 2012

Here's what I have planned... we'll see if this actually happens!!

7:00 PM	Guests seated for dinner
7:05 PM	WP/parents introduced
7:10 PM	Couple introduced
7:15 PM	First dance
7:20 PM	First guests through buffet
7:50 PM	Last guests through buffet
8:00 PM	Toasts (BM/MOH)
8:10 PM	Family dance
8:20 PM	Cake cutting
8:25 PM	Dancing, etc.
11:00 PM	Final dance/last call
11:15 PM	Send off
12:00 AM	Guests all out of VVL

cu97tiger · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_reception-timing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:9c530bd6-3cc9-4704-8d64-95a08683d468Post:92839152-40ac-41ab-a5c2-5515cfee3f83">Re: Reception timing</a>:
[QUOTE]We're doing our first dance right after we're introduced... so before dinner. As dinner service is ending, we'll cut the cake and have the toasts, then father/daughter dance will kick off the dancing. The only thing that will "interrupt" the dancing with be the bouquet/garter toss.
Posted by harmony0417[/QUOTE]

<div>I like this order... so we'd get introduced, do our first dance, have dinner, then cut cake, have toasts, father/daughter, mother/son dances then DANCE PARTY! (We aren't doing any of the tosses...) </div><div>
</div><div>Thanks for the help!</div>

amh04 · February 2012

I like the idea of doing the cake/toasts right after dinner. I think we'll be emailing our DJ to change that..

[Deleted User] · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_reception-timing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:9c530bd6-3cc9-4704-8d64-95a08683d468Post:871ba20a-47d5-45c5-969a-ba0f471d0a44">Re: Reception timing</a>:
[QUOTE]I like the idea of doing the cake/toasts right after dinner. I think we'll be emailing our DJ to change that..
Posted by amh04[/QUOTE]

<div>We did it this way so that we can sort of keep things moving along... we have a shorter reception and figured dinner could overlap some with cake cutting/toasts... I think people can listen to toasts and finish eating their meal at the same time.</div>

cmac3504 · February 2012

I recently went to a wedding that had a toast between each course... I really liked that because it broke things up. I also liked many weddings I've been to where the FOB "welcomed" everyone and thanked everyone for coming prior to the first course.

I think I'll have intro's, first dance, dad toast, blessing, 1st course, MOH toast, 2nd course, BM toast, entree... then tosses/ anniversary dance, cake, dancing.

ralbro · February 2012

We talked to our DJ and worked out the following:

Wedding party intro

Our intro

Blessing of the meal

Everyone eats

Toasts toward the end of dinner

First dance/FI/FMIL dance, Me/Dad dance

THEN ALL DANCE! We aren't doing any of the tosses either so after the first dances we're done with any interruptions. :-) IMO it'll flow better this way so hungry guests won't have to sit through our dances with no food!

rachel801231 · February 2012

We are going straight to the dance floor, after we enter the reception site, for our first dance. Then we will have dinner (some soft music in the background). After dinner we will do the father daughter dance and mother son dance. Then we will cut the cake. After everyone is done with cake, then we will have the bouquet dance (we aren't doing a bouquet or garter toss). When that's finished it will be just dance music for some fun.

ETA: toasts will be right after dinner and before the dances

JCWhitey · February 2012

This is just an observation as a guest, but I've noticed a lot of time that once you stop music it's hard to get things going again. I was at a wedding once where the dance floor was FLOODED! Everyone was having a great time. Then they stopped it for the toasts and it just never picked back up. I noticed a lot of people just started leaving. It was kind of a bummer because it started off so strong!

Also, if you have a venue where tables need to move to reveal the dance floor you'd probably want to do the cake cutting before that all starts so your guests can sit and eat cake. I've also been to a wedding where they moved some tables (including mine) before the cake was served and it was weird. I got my cake and was like "Um... I have no place to eat it" so me and my table mates went outside and sat on the front steps. It was a messy cake (it had some sort of honey filling) and not something you'd want to eat standing up.

Just little things to think about. We're not doing any dancing so the toasts and cake will just happen during dinner.

But in general I like it when the toasts happen during dinner, the cake is cut shortly after dinner, and the dances start of a night of fun dancing. I expect the bouquet toss and garter to happen during dancing, but that's guest interactive, so it's not like everyone is just sitting around.

scooterpie7 · February 2012

We are actually having the speeches before dinner. I know its not the normal format, but the bestman in particular is quite nervous, and we just want our speakers to be able to get it over with. It will be after cocktail hour and there will also be assorted farmhouse breads and cheeses on the table to stop people getting hungry.The first dances will be right after dinner.

This is our 'Run Sheet':

3:30 pm - Ceremony

4 - 5:45 pm ish - Champagne and nibbles on lawn/photos

5:45 ish - Everyone head into marquee. Cheeses etc on tables.

6:00 pm - Speeches

1. MC (Sam) - Welcome

2. FOB (Simon) – Speech, Thanks/toast to the Groom’s mother

3. MOB (Jane) - Short speech

4. MOG (Linda) – Short speech, Thanks/toast to the Bride’s parents

5. MOH (Genevieve) – Speech, Thanks to the Groomsmen

6. BM (Tim) – Thanks to the Bridesmaids, Speech, toast to the Bride and Groom

7. Bride (Libby) – Short speech

8. Groom (Pete) – Speech

9. MC – Reading of Telegrams

10. GOB - Barry/BOG - Alan – Toast to Absent Friends

11. MC - Wrap-up

6:45 pm - Dinner begins (buffet, table by table)

8:00 pm - First dance, father-daughter dance

8:10 pm - Everyone can dance. Also Mr Whippy arrives around here.

10:00pm - Little fish and chip cones served.

12:00 am ish - Band finishes and we switch to Ipod for remainder of evening.

rebeccaa12 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_reception-timing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:9c530bd6-3cc9-4704-8d64-95a08683d468Post:6252d10c-6740-4593-9f0e-14b173fe1fb9">Re: Reception timing</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>This is just an observation as a guest, but I've noticed a lot of time that once you stop music it's hard to get things going again. I was at a wedding once where the dance floor was FLOODED! Everyone was having a great time. Then they stopped it for the toasts and it just never picked back up. I noticed a lot of people just started leaving. It was kind of a bummer because it started off so strong</strong>! Also, if you have a venue where tables need to move to reveal the dance floor you'd probably want to do the cake cutting before that all starts so your guests can sit and eat cake. I've also been to a wedding where they moved some tables (including mine) before the cake was served and it was weird. I got my cake and was like "Um... I have no place to eat it" so me and my table mates went outside and sat on the front steps. It was a messy cake (it had some sort of honey filling) and not something you'd want to eat standing up. Just little things to think about. We're not doing any dancing so the toasts and cake will just happen during dinner. But in general I like it when the toasts happen during dinner, the cake is cut shortly after dinner, and the dances start of a night of fun dancing. I expect the bouquet toss and garter to happen during dancing, but that's guest interactive, so it's not like everyone is just sitting around.
Posted by JCWhitey[/QUOTE]

That's really good insight. I hadn't thought about it like that.

brittandjp · February 2012

I'm pretty sure I just changed at least half of the order I'm doing things thanks to this thread. lol

Thanks for your ideas ladies!

4n6chick · February 2012

I think we're going to do the first dance, then dinner, and speeches before cutting the cake (give everyone a little bit of time to digest before cake!), then dancing. I don't know if we'll do any more special dances - maybe one with my FI and his mom. I love my brother but I don't want to do a father/daughter dance with him, even though he's walking me down the aisle. I would dance with FI's dad though, if they want to do that (and if I can stop myself from trying to lead...I'm a terrible dancer).

femmepink · February 2012

We are doing toasts during each course of dinner.

Our first dance is after dinner, right before dancing.

We are only stopping the music for bouquet toss and garter toss, which isn't really stopping the music at all since there will be music played.

Reception timing

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