An organized timeline is essential for a wedding reception to run smoothly. We receive a lot of questions about what a reception timeline should look like, and the answer is that it is completely up to you! You can go totally traditional or mix it up and add modern, unexpected touches. For simplicity’s sake, I’ll describe a typical evening reception with a cocktail hour, dancing, dinner, and cake cutting.
Right off the bat: Ready, set, cocktail hour!
As the wedding party leaves the ceremony to be photographed, guests head over to the reception site to mingle, find their seats, write in the guest book, get drinks, and indulge in appetizers. Cocktail hour should last about an hour. (Hence: cocktail hour. Get it?)
One hour in: Wedding party announcements
After guests have had a chance to get comfortable at the reception site, they will be seated and the entrance of the wedding party will be in order. You can be creative with the msic as the DJ announces each member of the wedding party, whether it is classy and light or upbeat and fun. We’ve seen people treat this moment very formally, and we’ve also seen a bridesmaid leap on top of a groomsman and use him as a pretend surfboard (Kowabunga!).
One hour and 20(ish) minutes in: First dances
This is the perfect time for the bride and groom to segue into their first dance. After the newlywed’s dance the father of the bride can join his daughter on the dance floor, and then the groom and his mother will have their turn. This will take another 15 minutes, during which time salads are usually served.
An hour and a half in: Cheers!
After the dances, the toasts and speeches can commence. Make sure to bring extra tissues and wear waterproof mascara for this part! The toasts can be long or short, depending on how much the people in your wedding party like you (kidding!). Typically this lasts about 10 to 15 minutes.
Two hours in: Mangia, mangia
Our personal favorite: Dinnertime! There are options as to how you may have the main course presented. You can choose a traditional served dinner, a family style dinner, or a buffet. You can serve the same meal to everyone, or give people different meat or vegetarian options. A family-style dinner consists of platters of food being brought to each table so guests can make their own plates. Buffets are popular too, and allow people to get seconds (or thirds, or fourths,) if they wish. Dinner can last an hour or more, during which the bride and groom will want to visit each table to give thanks for their guest’s attendance.
Three hours in: Cutting the Cake
After you and your guests have eaten dinner, you can move right into the cake cutting. We love seeing the unique, beautiful cakes that are created for weddings. A warning: if there’s makeup involved, don’t, under any circumstances, mess it up!
Three hours and 15 minutes in: Cut up those rugs!
Now is the time to let loose and party. Every item on your timeline list has been checked off and now you can totally relax and watch the rest of the night unfold.
Keep in mind that there is no wrong or right way to plan your reception. As mentioned previously, this is a traditional timeline, but everything about your wedding is up to you! Some people opt out of dinner or toasts, some folks don’t have dances with their parents, etc. You can always mix and match the pieces of your event timeline to match your style and preferences—just make sure that it represents you.