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Order of ceremonial hoopla & timeline.

ElcaBElcaB member
2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
in Chit Chat
I'm constructing our timeline for our photographer and my brain is broken. What is the standard order of the following? 

Ceremony
Cocktail hour
Dinner
Speeches
Cake cutting
First Dance 
Bouquet/garter toss 
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Re: Order of ceremonial hoopla & timeline.

  • pinkcow13pinkcow13 member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    I'm glad you posted this because I have been thinking about this recently. I was thinking of the following based on the last 2 weddings we attended: I believe we have a 6PM ceremony. Therefore 

    Ceremony: 6PM
    Cocktail Hour immediate following: 6:30 - 7:30
    Reception Starts: 7:30
    Bridal party/Our introductions: 7:30 - 7:35
    First Dance in which halfway through we will invite everyone to join in dancing: 7:35 - 8:00
    Dinner/Speeches within dinner: 8:00-8:30 (Not half hour speeches, I'm thinking that the main part of dinner will take about a half hour?)
    Parent Dances at some point during the dinner: 8:30-8:40
    Party on
    Cake Cutting:10:30
    Party on until the end: Midnight. Bouquet toss around 11:50 within the music to signal the winding down of the party.  I don't tihnk we'll be doing a garter toss.

    This is what I'm initially thinking, and it is a very rough timeline for our wedding. I plan on going over this in detail with the DJ and our venue coordinator for their input as well.
                                 Anniversary
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  • Maggie0829Maggie0829 member
    Eighth Anniversary 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 25 Answers
    As you have it can be pretty standard.

    A lot of times I see speeches given during dinner rather then waiting until everyone is done eating (or during the salad course if you are having a plated dinner).

    As far as first dance (and other spotlight dances if you are having them), you could do those prior to dinner, then go into dinner, cut cake right after dinner then do the bouquet/garter toss.

    The only thing I recommend is don't let the party get going only to stop it to do some spotlight stuff.  It really kills the party mood (I have seen it many times) because you are basically making everyone stop having fun and dancing to stand around and watch you and your new H do something.

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  • climbingsingleclimbingsingle member
    Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    This is what we're doing. 

    Ceremony 
    Cocktail hour 
    Reception 
    Parents/Bridal party entrance 
    First Dance 
    Parent Dance
    Dinner/Toasts 

    We're not doing a cake cutting or any tosses. 
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  • pinkcow13pinkcow13 member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    Maggie0829 said, definitely do not stop the party. It really does kill the flow. One of the weddings I attended had speeches that dragged on for way too long (BM, MOH, MOB, MOG, FOG, and Bride's Aunt. FFS.) Then they stopped the wedding for the 3 spotlight dances - in which they played the entire songs, therefore we had to sit (or in my case run to the bathroom) during each of the spotlight dances. THEN they stopped the party again to take family pictures in the middle of the dance floor, so that was a good 20 minutes or so of just more sitting around, not doing much. Then they stopped the party again for the tosses, which took entirely way too long. In the end, it felt like I was watching a show or something, rather than enjoying a wedding. Then, the wedding I went to last weekend was a blast. Everything flowed, and they made sure not to stop the party at any point. 
                                 Anniversary
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  • ElcaBElcaB member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    Maggie0829 said:
    As you have it can be pretty standard.

    A lot of times I see speeches given during dinner rather then waiting until everyone is done eating (or during the salad course if you are having a plated dinner).

    As far as first dance (and other spotlight dances if you are having them), you could do those prior to dinner, then go into dinner, cut cake right after dinner then do the bouquet/garter toss.

    The only thing I recommend is don't let the party get going only to stop it to do some spotlight stuff.  It really kills the party mood (I have seen it many times) because you are basically making everyone stop having fun and dancing to stand around and watch you and your new H do something.
    You read my mind, Maggie! It's the WORST when that happens, so that's what I'm trying to avoid. 
    image
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  • Maggie0829Maggie0829 member
    Eighth Anniversary 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 25 Answers
    ElcaB said:
    Maggie0829 said:
    As you have it can be pretty standard.

    A lot of times I see speeches given during dinner rather then waiting until everyone is done eating (or during the salad course if you are having a plated dinner).

    As far as first dance (and other spotlight dances if you are having them), you could do those prior to dinner, then go into dinner, cut cake right after dinner then do the bouquet/garter toss.

    The only thing I recommend is don't let the party get going only to stop it to do some spotlight stuff.  It really kills the party mood (I have seen it many times) because you are basically making everyone stop having fun and dancing to stand around and watch you and your new H do something.
    You read my mind, Maggie! It's the WORST when that happens, so that's what I'm trying to avoid. 
    Just get all the spotlight stuff done prior to or right after dinner and you should be good to go!

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  • thisismynickname2thisismynickname2 member
    5000 Comments Sixth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer

    What does your venue or caterer recommend?

    Since our wedding cake is served as dessert, we cut the cake prior to dinner. Ours will be:

    Ceremony

    Cocktail hour

    Bridal party introductions

    Cake cutting

    Sit down for dinner- blessings and toasts

    Dinner

    First dance, M/S, F/D dances

    PARTAYYYYYYYYYYY

    ________________________________


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  • theartistformerlyknownastheartistformerlyknownas member
    10000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers First Anniversary
    thisismynickname said:

    What does your venue or caterer recommend?

    Since our wedding cake is served as dessert, we cut the cake prior to dinner. Ours will be:

    Ceremony

    Cocktail hour

    Bridal party introductions

    Cake cutting

    Sit down for dinner- blessings and toasts

    Dinner

    First dance, M/S, F/D dances

    PARTAYYYYYYYYYYY

    Ditto this, except the toasts will be given during the salad course. Most things in my life are planned around getting food into my face in the most expeditious way possible. it's for everyone's safety.
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  • doeydodoeydo member
    Seventh Anniversary 5000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    Sorry, I don't have any advice, but your OP made me think of this:
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  • ElcaBElcaB member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    So how does this sound?

    Ceremony: 4 p.m.
    Cocktail hour: 4:30-5:30 p.m.
    Intros: 5:30
    Dinner: 6 p.m. 
    Speeches: 6:30/7 p.m. (we are doing a buffet, so I figure this will happen after everyone has gotten a chance to go through the line and start dinner)
    First dance: 7:30
    Cake cutting: Immediately following first dance
    Danciiiiiiiiing for everyone: Following cake cutting
    image
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  • melbensomelbenso member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments Third Anniversary First Answer
    We did:
    Ceremony - 30 minutes
    Receiving Line straight into...
    Cocktail hour - 1 hour
    Introduce bride and groom
    Toasts, thank guests for coming - less than 5 minutes, salads being served during this time
    Dinner - (did some table visits and full family pictures after we ate) - just under an hour until ...
    Cake Cutting
    First Dance
    Parent Dances (cake being served)
    Open reception dancing (and remaining table visits at the beginning of this)
    image
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  • thisismynickname2thisismynickname2 member
    5000 Comments Sixth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    @ElcaB that sounds good. What happens between intros and dinner? Is that when people start filtering to the dining area and getting situated? ______________Generally I haven't observed many people "eating" during speeches though; maybe others have had different experiences. Do people normally chow down during speeches in your experience? I feel kind of awkward doing that myself; I feel like I should be paying attention. I'm definitely not being nitpicky, just thinking that if you don't mind people eating during speeches maybe someone should mention that so guests' food doesn't get cold.
    ________________________________


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  • ElcaBElcaB member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    @thisismynickname, we're doing a buffet so we want to give everyone the chance to get up and get started on their food before we go through speeches. 

    I'm not worried about anyone eating during --- besides, they'll be fairly short. MOH, BM, and then a short little thank you from us to everyone for attending & celebrating with us. Thanks for the input! 
    image
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