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Cake & Punch reception

ivy+wesleyivy+wesley member
First Comment
in Wedding Reception Forum
My FI and I are having a cake and punch reception in the church hall. My only conern is that I haven't been to one of these before. Can someone help me understand how you pass the time? 

It won't be a long reception (there will be light snacks while we finish photos) and there won't be dancing (except our first dance). I just need help in understanding how the time should go. Do we have our dance, do toasts, cut the cake and mingle or should there be some mingling in between?? I just don't want really awkward gaps, but I also don't want to fly through a checklist of duties and then feel like veryone has to scurry out.

Anyone done or been to these before???
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Re: Cake & Punch reception

  • jelatajelata member
    First Comment
    This sounds like something you should ask someone at the church, such as the social director. I was a bm in a wedding like this and their wedding went like this:
    After the wedding service was over people were ushered into the basement area for punch/light food and there was a time to mingle. After the bride and groom joined they then also mingled with guest for about another 30 minutes making the casual time last approx 45 minutes. After that we all sat down (the whole wedding party) and then we had toasts.(approx 10 minutes) After that they bride and groom cut the cake and guests went up to get cake and we all enjoyed eating. During this time when all the guest were sitting down the bride and groom danced. After that was done the reception was basically over. During the entire time there was light background music. The bride and groom left approx 15 minutes after the dance was over. It was all very short but nice. Every guest had been talked to and personally thanked by the bride and groom, I think that is the best way to figure out how long it needs to last. They had a small wedding so it wasn't hard to have that personal feeling without it lasting 3 hours.
    I hope this helps..
    =)
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  • LasairionaLasairiona member
    500 Comments
    edited March 2010
    People have cake and punch receptions all the time. They last 2-3 hrs max and people eat and mingle the entire time. Also, alcohol is not served because you are not serving substantial food that will prevent them from getting drunk or sick. There is no structure needed for one since it will take care of itself.
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  • pandasquishypandasquishy member
    1000 Comments
    I was a MOH at wedding with a cake and punch reception.  Guests made their way to the church hall while the BP did pictures and they munched on fruit platters.  Then we joined them and mingled for a couple minutes.  The bride and groom cut the cake, her mother served it, and we all ate it.  Then people started leaving.  I think the whole thing lasted maybe an hour, hour and a half max.  There were only 20 or so people total so I think it would have lasted longer with more people.

    There were no toasts and there was no "first dance" but only because the bride didn't think she wanted one until the morning of and there was no way to figure that out in a couple hours before the ceremony.
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