Want to know the best way to structure your wedding reception timeline? These are the most common and essential steps that you will want to include in your own wedding reception to be sure you don’t forget anything on your special day!
Planning your wedding reception timeline can get pretty stressful and if you’re anything like me, you are searching for the perfect step by step guide to know the exact sequence of events to follow. Having just gotten married this past year, I can totally relate, and I am giving you the very best wedding reception timeline steps in a simple format that you can use on your wedding day.
You are going to find inspiration on how to structure your perfect wedding reception timeline from wedding reception order of events, non traditional wedding reception timeline, cocktail wedding reception timeline, and more!
After going through this list of events to include in your wedding reception timeline, you are going to feel so much more confident in making you worn decision regarding how to structure your reception. You’re going to LOVE the outcome, and my hope is that this will help the stress of planning your events will decrease. I’m so excited for you!
This post is all about the best wedding reception timeline steps for you to follow as you plan out your special day.
Wedding Reception Timeline
1. Cocktail Hour
The cocktail hour is a very important step in the wedding reception timeline. It acts as a buffer between the wedding ceremony and the wedding ceremony. This time allows your guests to mingle and walk around after having been sitting for a while.
This is also the time when any additional guests can come, be welcomed, and start enjoying themselves.
Typically the cocktail hour lasts for about an hour (hence the name), but you can decide however long you want it to last. Just be sure to let your guests know the structure of the itinerary so that they aren’t confused or late.
At the end of this cocktail hour, guests will move into the reception hall and find their seats.
2. Grand Entrance
After your guests have been seated, this is when entrances begin. I only mention the grand entrance in the title of this wedding reception timeline step, but you can also have the bridal party entrances at this point in the night.
This can be whatever you want it to be. Maybe you have a DJ there and people dance in. Maybe an MC announces each person. Put your own personal touch in, and have fun with it!
Finally it’s your time to shine as the brand new newlywed couple. This is a special moment for you both. This is why it’s important to make a clear distinction between when the bridal party enters, and you do.
Again, this is your wedding and you can enter however you choose. Some like goofy, some like classic. You may not even want to have the spotlight and forego this step all together. That’s totally fine! Just remember that this is your special day.
Typically the entrances can take anywhere between five and twenty minutes. Be sure to coordinate before hand on how this will all go down.
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3. First Dance
Now that everyone has entered the wedding reception, everyone has been introduced, it’s time for the couple to have their first dance. Let the spotlight continue for the newlyweds! I mean, why not?!
This is a great time, at the beginning of the night, for some great photos to be taken, for people to observe your happy moments after having just gotten married. It’s super special, and one of my favorite steps of the wedding reception timeline.
Don’t forget to plan this part ahead too. Decide if you are going to do a choreographed dance, or simple and slow. Decide what song you want. Honestly, this is such a fun way to show your guests the personality of you two as a couple. It’s “branding” you so to speak. Make it your own.
Typically the first dance takes about five to ten minutes.
4. Dinner and Toasts
The newlywed couple has just danced, sat down together, now it’s time to begin speeches and dinner. Typically after a nice welcome speech by either the newlywed couple, or the mother and father of the bride, the meal can start! This welcome speech is the perfect time to express love and genuine gratitude for your guests.
Be sure to give enough time for everyone in attendance to eat and enjoy their meal. There is nothing worse than feeling like you can’t enjoy the food in front of you because you want to be quiet while someone is speaking. Let the toasts and speeches wait.
Once enough time has been given for food and mingling, the toasts can begin! Typically the best man and maid of honor will give toasts, but this is totally up to those who plan the event. One recommendation would be to plan ahead.
There is nothing worse than an embarrassing toast that you weren’t expecting… But toasts can be some of the best and most meaningful parts of the reception!
This whole section usually takes between an hour and an hour and a half.
5. Dancing
Now is when the party really gets started! Usually the dancing starts with the family dances. The father and bride dance, and the mother and groom. This is a very tender moment that is great for guests to observe.
After the last family dance, find a creative way to get everyone up out of their seats and onto the dance floor. This could be by having everyone getting up to get a picture together, or invite everyone to join by slow dancing with a partner. Use the bridal party to help get the party started.
The open dance floor is such a fun part of the wedding reception timeline. Everyone gets to let loose and celebrate with you. During this portion of the night, you can also consider doing the bouquet garter toss, perhaps during a slower song.
This is also a really fun time to get candid fun photos, don’t skip this step even if you aren’t a dancer!
Typically dancing will take up about an thirty minutes to an hour.
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6. Cake Cutting
Everyone has been partying, now you get to take back the spotlight by getting dessert underway. Whether you take pieces of the cake and smash them in each other’s faces or not, this is a very fun tradition to keep in your wedding reception timeline.
Be sure to have your DJ keep the music rolling during cake cutting and dessert. Also, don’t forget to have someone assigned to cutting up the rest of your cake for your guests.
Take your time with this one too, It’s a great time, while eating dessert, to mingle with guests and thank them for coming. In addition, this is a good time for any changing of clothes to take place if needed.
Typically cake cutting and eating will take about 30 minutes to an hour.
7. Grand Exit
Finally, if you have completed all of the wedding reception timeline steps that you have always hoped for and dreamed of, it’s time for the grand exit! Be sure to have your exit car where you want it, and have sparklers or rice ready for guests.
Take your time exiting. This is the perfect and most iconic photo op!
Be sure to have all the cleanup and teardown assigned so that you can leave and not worry about anything else! You made it through your special night. The rest of your guests can party and enjoy as long as they want.
These steps are just an outline to follow. Feel free to move things around and amend as you want. It’s your wedding, and everyone is there for you. Enjoy the night, it goes so fast!