Wedding Reception Schedule of Events

Whether you are planning a formal dinner reception or an informal gathering of well-wishers, it is important to establish a schedule of events to prevent confusion on the big day!  Don't get too hung up on exact times — the idea is to keep the party moving in the right direction.  While the order of events is entirely up to you, here's a sample of a traditional reception schedule.

1. Cocktail Hour.  This is the time between the wedding ceremony and the reception in which guests are served champagne and hors d’oeuvres while the wedding party is having formal photographs made. 
2. Grand Entrance.  This signals to everyone that the wedding party has arrived.  The traditional order of entrance is
1. Groom's Parents
2. Bride's Parents
3. Flower Girl and Ring Bearer
4. Bridesmaids escorted by Ushers
5. Maid of Honor escorted by Best Man
6. Bride and Groom
3. Wedding Couple's First Dance.  Because traditionally guests are not supposed to dance before the bride and groom, the bride and groom may proceed directly to the dance floor for the traditional first dance to encourage guests to start dancing early.

4. Champagne Toasts/Speeches.  This marks the end of the cocktail hour and signifies that dinner is about to be served.
5. Dinner.
6. Special Dancing. 
   The traditional order of special dances is
1. Bride with her Father
2. Groom with his Mother
3. Wedding Party
7. Cake Cutting.  This signifies to the guests that the party is winding down and that it is okay to leave.  Take care not to do this too soon or your party may end before you're ready!
8. Garter/Bouquet Toss. 
9. Last Dance by Bride and Groom. 
10. Grand Exit.  Have guests send you off in a big way!  Exit through tossed rose petals, bird seed, or bubbles!

Reception Planning Details

Selecting the Reception Venue
Choosing a wedding reception location can be a little daunting.  It doesn't have to be, though. By considering the following, you will save yourself time by quickly narrowing down the choices.

• Availability : Ascertain which venues are available to you on your wedding date. It doesn't matter if the location is perfect but not available.
  
  
• Budget : Your wedding reception budget is the single biggest thing to consider when choosing a location. It is far better to choose a less expensive venue with excellent food and entertainment than to opt for the fancy local only to scrimp on the catering.  Another budget saving idea is to hold your wedding and reception in the same place.
  
  
• Central Location : If your wedding reception is going to be somewhere other than where you are getting married, choose a location that is centrally located. This will be greatly appreciated by your out of town guests who may be unfamiliar with the area. It may also save you money if your caterer and florists don't have to travel quite so far. If you live in a city that offers subway or other light rail service, a centrally located wedding reception is perfect in that your guests can have a few drinks without worrying about having to drive home. For towns without convenient mass transit, you might consider providing a shuttle if you have several guests staying in a nearby hotel.
  
  
• Size : The number of guests and type of reception will dictate the size of the venue you need. Be sure to choose a location that is large enough to accommodate your wedding party but not so large that romance is lost. Keep in mind that you will want to have room for your guests to dance and mingle comfortably.
  
  

• Décor : Choosing a reception location that is already beautifully decorated can save you a lot of money. The ambience is also important. Can you envision your wedding party and guests in the space? Pay attention to the lighting the room, as well. Is there enough light? Are there dimmers? Is there lighted greenery? The money you save on décor can be used to upgrade the menu or the entertainment.  

Once you've narrowed the list down to two or three locations, plan to visit each of them.  Speak with the events manager and don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions. Be as specific as you can and be sure to jot down notes to help you later as you make your final decision. There are several things you should consider that are often forgotten:

1. room access for older guests and handicapped guests;
2. restroom availability, convenience, and access;
3. dance floor location;
4. lines of sight across the room;
   (i.e. are there huge pillars that will be blocking the view of your guests?)
5. bar location(s), if alcohol is being served.

By considering all the obvious requirement and not-so-obvious details ahead of time, making the perfect choice for your reception venue will be easy!

Decorating Wedding Reception Tables
Once you have decided where to have your wedding reception, you can start thinking about the design of your reception tables. Using place cards and place card holders not only direct guests to their seats, but they are the perfect way to dress up your reception tables or to continue a theme. Today, many place card holders can do double duty by also serving as a wedding favor for your guests.

Another aspect of reception table decoration is the centerpiece. You want to be sure that the reception centerpieces are not so large that they keeps your guests from seeing each other. One really clever idea is to create a larger floral or candle arrangement using smaller vases and candles.  At the end of the reception, the individual pieces serve as wedding favors when each person seated at the table then takes one of them home.

The Head Table
If you are planning to have a head table for you and your wedding attendants, be sure to put it at the front of the room.  It is customary for the head table to seat each of the attendants facing the other wedding guests.

A very popular decorating idea is to use wedding party toasting glasses at each place setting. Another idea is to consider decorating the head table with one of the accent colors used elsewhere at the reception. For example, if you have chosen garnet and gold for your wedding colors, the guests’ tables may be covered in garnet table cloths, while the head table is covered in shimmering gold with garnet accents.

The Gift Table
Many of your guests will bring their wedding gift with them to the reception. Place your gift table near the entrance of the reception so that your guests don’t have to worry with storing it during the party. You can also move your guest book from the ceremony location to the reception venue and place it nearby. Be sure to use make the table inviting by using the same decorations as the other tables in the room.

The gift table is also the perfect place for a wedding card holder, which can serve as the gift table centerpiece. There are some beautifully designed card holders available today, including personalized etched glass card holder which serve as wedding heirlooms after the event.

The Cake Table
Perhaps the most important table in the room is the table that holds the wedding cake. Because today's wedding cakes are available in so many beautiful designs, this table needs to be centrally located so that the wedding cake serves as both dessert and decoration. If you are planning to have people serve themselves wedding cake, then be sure there’s enough room for people to move on both sides.

Many brides purchase whimiscal cake tops that fit the bride and groom's personality or custom personalized cake tops to set next to the cake as additional decoration and as a keepsake!

Reception Dances & Music
From Frank Sinatra to the B-52’s and everything in between, the music you choose for your wedding reception helps define your sense of style and express your feelings for one another.

The music also can help create wonderful romantic memories for you and your guests—making your big day even more spectacular!

Whether you are using a DJ or a live band, these songs are some of the most popular choices for today’s wedding receptions: (click on each to go to the complete song list)

Your "Organized" Dances
A lot of modern brides and grooms want to have the traditional dances, but also don't want to force their guests to sit idle while these are all going on. Here are some ideas to keep the party moving while still enjoying this tradition: