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Timeline help

tcnobletcnoble member
First Comment First Anniversary First Answer 5 Love Its
in Wedding Etiquette Forum
I know this topic has been beat to death but I haven't shared my timeline yet and would like to know how we are doing at this point in our planning. Everything is at the same venue - different/adjoining spaces for ceremony and reception.

3:30 - 5:00 pictures (first look, bridal party, family)
5:30 - 6:00 ceremony
Reception location will open immediately and open bar available to guests. Guests will need to get escort cards and locate their tables.
We plan to enter around 6:15/6:30 (based on when everyone is seated)
Introductions
Approx 6:30pm buffet dinner begins.

We aren't sure yet on the rest of the time - we have our photographer until 8:30 and want her to capture the spotlight dances and cake cutting. We only have two spotlight dances - our first dance and father/daughter. We are only planning for 2 toasts.. and a cake cutting. What would be the best way to get these things done before 8:30pm? We will have approx 125-150 guests (bearing in mind time for buffet/eating).

Any advice on the timeline would be greatly appreciated!!

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Re: Timeline help

  • kjvaracallikjvaracalli member
    5 Love Its First Comment Name Dropper
    Are you having a DJ?  Our DJ is kind of the master of the timeline for the entire reception, coordinating times so the venue ppl know timing of certain events.  Prob plan an hour for dinner, but before dinner ends you guys can do cake cutting, and then maybe followed by dances?  That will give your photogs time to capture those moments, plus maybe some dancing afterwards.  If not having a DJ, maybe your photog can help with timing issue too. 
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  • tcnobletcnoble member
    First Comment First Anniversary First Answer 5 Love Its
    @kjvaracalli yep we will have a DJ so I assume he will help us really narrow it down, but I was looking for ideas like you provided - doing cake at the end of dinner (though some people say this signals the "end" of the night?) and leading in to dances, which then invites everyone else to dance too! I'll have to inquire more and see what our DJ can help us with.
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  • AprilH81AprilH81 member
    First Anniversary First Comment First Answer 5 Love Its

    I would do the spotlight dances right after you enter the reception, do the toasts after everyone has been served their main course and then cut the cake after everyone ate.

    We did the two spotlight dances and cut the cake before our food was served, but I think that is fairly unusual.

    photo composite_14153800476219.jpg
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  • doeydodoeydo member
    First Anniversary First Comment First Answer 5 Love Its
    After everyone is finished dinner, then I would probably do the toasts and the dances then open up the dance floor for the guests.  Is the cake your dessert or more of a late night snack sort of thing?
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  • tcnobletcnoble member
    First Comment First Anniversary First Answer 5 Love Its
    @doeydo I like the idea of doing toasts and dances as the dinner is finishing up. The cake will be our dessert.
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  • 2leadsingers2leadsingers member
    5 Love Its Name Dropper First Comment
    When I worked for a high end country club, they had the brides cut the cake right after the grand entrance. That allowed the chef to start cutting it as soon as he was done sending plates out for dinner, and allowed it to be served right after dinner. It was usually nice for all involved to get pics and so that no one missed out on cake for dancing. It made clean up a breeze too and the servers were more efficient in keeping tables cleared of all plates silverware for a neater looking room. The DJ usually controls the rest of the timing. I would talk to them about it. 
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  • doeydodoeydo member
    First Anniversary First Comment First Answer 5 Love Its
    tcnoble said:
    @doeydo I like the idea of doing toasts and dances as the dinner is finishing up. The cake will be our dessert.
    Hmm, maybe you should ask your caterer how much time he or she will need for them to cut the cake (after you do the cake cutting ceremony it is usually whisked away then cut into slices for your guests) so that you can plan the timeline more accurately.  Depending on what they say, maybe you could do the 6:30 p.m. dinner then, as dinner is are finishing up, do the toasts, and then the cake cutting, followed by the spotlight dances. Or, you could do the cake cutting before dinner to give more time for the caterer to cut the cake then do the dinner, toasts, and dances.

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