Im getting married in June... and im clueless about the reception!?

Question

In what order do you do things? Like the cake, garter/bouquet toss, ect.... HELP!

Thanks For ALL The Help So Far Everyone.... What About The Dollar Dance And Stuff Like That?

Answer 1

Talk to your DJ, they generally know how to keep things running for you.... they are your Master of Ceremonies. That being said... it usually runs something like this (though I have seen many variations):

Newlyweds Announced
Idle Time (people still arriving, getting seated, hor devours, etc)
Dinner
Toasts
First Dance
Father/Daughter Dance
Mother/Son Dance
Wedding Party Dance
Open Dancing (Dollar Dance would fall into this area)
Cake Cutting
Bouquet Toss
Garter Toss
Last Dance
The Getaway

Another "line-up" I have seen work well (as long as you are having some time lapse between end of ceremony and the couples arrival at reception - photos usually give you this gap):
Newlyweds Announced
First Dance
Father/Daughter Dance
Mother/Son Dance
Wedding Party Dance
Dinner
Toasts
Open Dancing (usually the DJ will put in something here to get everyone up and going.... like the Dollar Dance, chicken dance, YMCA, hokey pokey, etc)
Cake Cutting
Bouquet Toss
Garter Toss
Last Dance
The Getaway

Answer 2

when the reception starts the bridal party and families then you and your groom are announced. Then you and your husband have your first dance. After that usually the best man and maid of honor do toasts. Then dinner orders are taken and appetizers and salads eaten then guests dance for a while then dinner. after dinner you can do the bouquet toss/ garter i decided to do a bouquet dance hwere all married couples danced and the couple married the longest got the bouquet and there was no garter toss. after that you can do the cake cutting then the parent dances. it is a lot and it flies by. you don't have to include everything either.

Answer 3

Most of the weddings that I have done have a timeline similar to this one:

Music playing when reception area is open
Guests asked to take their seats
Wedding Party announced
Newlyweds announced
First Dance
Wedding Party Dance
First Course
Father/Daughter Dance
Mother/Son Dance
Second Course
General Dancing
Dinner
General Dancing
Cake Cutting
General Dancing
Bouquet Toss
Garter Toss
General Dancing
Last Dance
The Departure

Answer 4

I answered the question about dances too. Once again, go to www.theknot.com this is a GREAT help---timelines, articles, pictures----and it is all FREE!

Reception Timeline:
00:00 | THE COCKTAIL HOUR
After being pronounced husband and wife, the newlyweds often are the first to leave the ceremony, heading off (with photographer in tow) for pictures together before the partying gets under way. Your guests will head to the reception site for cocktails. Depending on the logistics of the event, your cocktail hour will begin immediately (if the ceremony and reception are held at the same venue), or it might start more than half an hour later (if there's travel involved). Cocktails will kick off your reception and will last for at least an hour. During this time stationary or passed appetizers and drinks will be served, which will get people mingling and in the mood. Don't forget: Greeting your guests is essential! It's customary for the couple, along with their parents and the bridal party, to form a receiving line outside the ceremony site to greet guests before the escape. Many couples these days are opting for this post-ceremony receiving line, rather than going from table to table during dinner. But if you haven't done so, you should form one now.


01:00 | NEWLYWEDS' ARRIVAL/FIRST DANCE
Here's the part where the bride and groom make their grand entrance. The coordinator usually will make sure guests are seated before the emcee alerts them to your imminent arrival. Generally, both sets of parents and the wedding party are introduced, followed by the announcement of the couple for the first time as husband and wife. In many cases, your newlywed first dance will begin as you step out onto the floor and into the spotlight after being announced. Alternately, you can wait until after the first course of the meal is served, but since everyone already is cheering you as you enter the reception, use the applause as encouragement enough to skim away any shyness and step on out.


01:20 | CHEERS & TOASTS
Following your first dance, you might want to take the opportunity -- while all eyes are still on you and most attentive, since hopefully no one yet has had too much to drink -- to thank everyone en masse for taking part in your wedding. A family member, often a parent of the bride, will say a blessing (depending on the families' faiths). Then, since toasting signifies a transition in the course of an event, the mother and father of the bride will thank guests for attending and invite everyone to enjoy the celebratory meal. Keep in mind that the toasts given by the best man and the maid of honor should occur between courses, to spread out all the high-emotion, much-anticipated moments and keep guests in their seats.


01:30 | MANGIA, MANGIA
Time to dig into the main course. If you're having a seated meal, the band will play subdued, conversation-friendly background music as the waitstaff makes the rounds. If you're having a buffet, your coordinator or bandleader will dictate how the rotation will work by calling each table when it's time to head to the front of the line. Just remember: The bride and groom need to do everything possible to take their seats and eat!


02:45 | PARTY TIME
Monkey-see, monkey-do is how this game is played. Guests are going to follow the lead of the bride and groom. Once dinner dishes are cleared, the newlyweds should be the first ones on the dance floor so people know it's time to start partying like it's 1999 -- er, 2005. Throughout the jammin', the music will stop for any extracurricular activities you've planned (also known as the bouquet toss, the garter toss, the centerpiece giveaways, and whatever else you've dreamed up). If you do choose to toss the bouquet, make sure to get a throwaway from the florist so you can keep your original bouquet as a memento.


04:00 | CAKE CUTTING
About one hour before the conclusion of the reception, when the party starts getting a little too rowdy and the bar starts getting a little too empty, your waitstaff should start preparing tables for coffee and dessert. Since the cutting of the cake generally signals to guests that it's okay to leave soon thereafter, be sure not to do this too early or things could start wrapping up before you're ready.


04:15 | SHAKE A LEG
Once the cake is cut, the band should start right back into swing and rock music for those wanting to trade in their slices for another turn on the dance floor.


04:45 | LAST DANCE
End your wedding on a high note and choose a dance song that will leave a lasting impression. You'll want everyone to have a chance for one last twirl, so select something fast and festive.


05:00 | FINAL FAREWELL
Now the time has come to say good-bye. Your coordinator will usher everyone into the foyer or onto the steps outdoors so that as you make your grand exit from the reception, friends and family can blow bubbles, light sparklers, or toss rose petals -- and cheer to your successful celebration and future together.

Of course you can tweek as you like....it is your wedding!

Answer 5

I think I answered your question about dances too. The garter and bouquet are done during the Grand March after all the attendants have switched and everyone has danced with everyone else, but before anyone else joins in. Your band or DJ usually wrangles that part. The cake can be before or after the grand March. One thing...perhaps people can be eating their cake during the Grand March while they're watching.

I've been to a lot of weddings, including a swanky one in Chicago and I have never seen any dancing before dinner.

Answer 6

The order of things at a reception is pretty much based on your personal preferences.

Of course, the bridal party are announced when they arrive, followed by the bride and groom.

Other than that, the only "rules" are that the toasts come before the dinner, and that the first dance really is the first dance.

You can either cut the cake after you are announced and before the toasts (if you want it ready to be served as a dessert immediatly after dinner), or you can cut the cake near the end of the evening, which would signal to people that it's time to leave.

As I mentioned, the first dance needs to be first. Typically, this dance is immediately followed by the daddy/daughter dance, then the mother/son dance, and then the bridal party dance (if you choose to have one). You can either do the dollar dance after these special dances, or you can open the floor for a while and do the dollar dance later, interrupting the open dancing.

Do the garter and bouqet at the end of the evening.

Answer 7

The easiest thing to do is get with someone working your wedding. Im a photographer in Texas and I can tell you that at the last 5 weddings I did I was asked those same questions..when do I do this, do we do that?? etc. The easy answer is this... It is YOUR wedding when do YOU want to do them.

I never reccommend hireing a consultant as then it seems like it is not your wedding anymore as you tend to lose control over things... yes im a bit of a control freak.

If you want, contact me at my email and I will give you some sets of how other weddings I have shot have gone.

[e-mail]

Answer 8

you can do it however you like we did
Introductions
first dance
toast dinner
father daughter dance/mother son
garter
cut the cake

Answer 9

Why don't you just hand the organisation over to event managers/wedding planners? It's their job to come up with different ideas to do these things and organise them while you concenterate on looking good.

Answer 10

you eat, you toast, you cut the cake, you dance, you pass around the money bag while you are dancing if you are catholic or just want money, you throw stuff and then you leave everyone else to go start making grandkids.