Reception time line question?

Question

I have to do a timeline for my location. The wedding & reception are in the same place.

The sample timelines I've been given have the bride & groom cutting the cake very early in the reception, 2nd thing that's done at the reception right after the bleesing. Dinner is served, then the cake is passed out after dinner.

I really hate the idea of cutting my cake first thing. I'm spending a decent amout of money for this pretty cake with a floral arrangment on it & it seems like a waste to cut it as soon as we enter the reception.

Would it be weird to eat dinner, then do the cake? Then as the cake is being cut we can have our first dance? Most weddings I've been to have not had dancing, but wait until after the meal to cut the cake. I know it can be done, I was just wondering if it would mess up the flow too much with us eating dinner, cutting cake, dancing, then cake actually being served.

According to the lady from my location, that's what they reccomend doing due to having to take time to cut, plate, and serve the cake. We are having a fairly large wedding, around 90 people, so of course that will take some time to cute & plate.

While I can understand the reason...I really don't like the idea of chopping up my cake really early in the reception. :)

Just wanted to mention, we aren't being rushed out or anything along those lines. We have the place from 1pm (to still set things up in plenty of time for the 4pm wedding) until midnight.

And no such thing as a larger party...we are getting married at a loction that is very pretty, but small. So 90 people is a full house when you add tables & the dance floor. We are actually renting 2 rooms, but on the verge of also needing the 3 room, which is already on hold just in case we do need it.

Answer 1

The flow you mention is good- eat, cake, dancing, cake served... When we started our reception we had the toasting first, then we had dinner. After dinner we cut the cake, but we didn't have dancing. Since you are having dancing, you might have the scheduled dancing (father/daughter dance groom/mother dance, etc) and then cut the cake. This would give everyone a little while to digest their food before the cake is served. Then everyone can start dancing when the music starts back up and they are serving the cake. After cake, throw the bouquet, throw the garter, and continue dancing!

I'm sure the wedding coordinator at the facility means well, but I wouldn't want the cake cut that early either. Insist on having it your way, it's your wedding!

Best wishes, and good luck!

Answer 2

I've been to many weddings and only saw the cake cut before the dancing once.
And by the way, 90 is a small wedding so serving the cake should not be the problem.

Rule of thumb is that you can't leave a wedding until the cake is cut. Is there a reason the banquet hall wants your guests to leave early?? Do they have a larger party coming in later that night??

Also as for dancing, we always started the dancing before the food was even served. We are Italian New Yorkers though.

Answer 3

Okay, first things first - this is YOUR WEDDING! If you want to wait to cut the cake until after the dinner is done, that is your choice. You mentioned that your wedding has about 90 people attending the reception. I've worked in enough banquet halls to know that cutting & plating 90 pieces (or even 100) should not take any more than 20 minutes - unless the chef/cook doesn't know their job. If you are having a dance, than by all means, finish your entrees, cut the cake, have your first dance plus a few others and by the time you are sitting back down, they'll be bring out the plated cake. Keep this one thing in mind when you are discussing this with your contact at the reception venue - they need your business and they need to keep you happy if they want to stay in business. When it comes to poor customer service, when a client is unhappy they will tell 10 people who will tell another 10 people and so on. They can't afford to lose business like that.

Answer 4

I didn't cut my cake until after dinner and I had around 350 people! Everyone got cake and there were no problems. Most weddings I've been to(including my own) were like this:
1)guest congregate in reception hall while bride/groom and parties and family do pictures at wedding site.
2)Bridesmaids and Groomsmen are announced by DJ/Band to guests at the reception...they usually walk through a set of doors while music plays
3)Bride and Groom are announced and walk straight into the first dance.
4)Eat
5)Cake cutting

If you don't want to cut the cake immediately, you absolutely don't have to! It won't mess up the flow at all. I hope this helps.

Answer 5

What i normally see at wedding now, they have the supper and than there will be dessert. You dont have to cut the cake and have that for everyone after dinner you can have something small like cheese cake for everyone after dinner. Than you go have your first dance after you eat, than later on about a hour and a half to two hours after the first dance (which everyone will be dancing and starting to get a bit hunger for somthing sweet) you can announce or have the dj/band annouce that the cake is being cut and served.Have the music stop while you cut the cake and when you and are husband eat a few bits, and than play the music again for those who want to contiue dancing and not eat can, and the ones who want to can sit down and enjoy.
CONGRADS

Answer 6

Our wedding ceremony and reception were located in the same location as well. Instead of renting 3 rooms like you have, we rented two. Also we had approximately the same amount of guests you had, so I'm pretty familiar with what you are planning. Here was our order of activities after the ceremony and pictures:
-announcement of wedding party
-blessing of the food
-brunch served
-toasts
-cake cutting ceremony
-table greeting of guests and pictures (instead of first dance, parent dances)
-cake served

I definatley think the timeline you came up with is good: serve dinner, cute the cake, have your wedding dances, and then have the cake being served. Don't forget to incorporate any other activities you may have such as toasts, garter toss, and bouquet toss in your timeline as well.

Answer 7

Never heard of it being done the way you have described. The cake would usually be on display till after the dinner, then after people visit a bit, you would announce the cutting of the cake - then the dance could start and in the background the cake could get taken care of and set out so people could just pick it up when they would like it. Have it done soon after, so people have room for midnight lunch.

Answer 8

My impressions is that the wedding cord. is trying to rush things along. Do you entrance - eat dinner - then cut the cake - then go into the special dances while people are eating the cake. You want to at least look at the cake a little while - (they are so expensive!) and enjoy it before it is cut. Good Luck!!

Answer 9

i agree with you...cut the cake after dinner. it doesn't take that long to cut 90 slices....and plus, if your having a good meal, your guests might like a (dance) break before they eat dessert...i know i usually do.



a thought about the first dance....i was at a wedding recently where this was the first thing the couple did. their arrival at the reception site was announced, and they went straight into the first dance. all eyes were on them, and it was lovely!

Answer 10

Hi...do not cut your cut when the reception starts! It is so bad because cakes are nice to look at, what you can do is get someone to do a "fake" cake where they cover styrofoam with icing and just do one tier in real cake...you can cut that for your pictures and just make whoever is making your cake make different tiers and keep those in the kitchen, it'll be cheaper because they wont need to be decorated. Have the venue serve those...good luck and congratulations!