Wedding Reception Planning: A Traditional Reception Timeline

Planning a traditional wedding reception doesn't have to be a difficult task. Making the timeline may actually be the easiest part of the process. What is included in a traditional timeline?

The first event of a traditional wedding reception is the cocktail hour. Once the ceremony has ended, guests should start making their way toward the reception site. Cocktail hours can be held in a smaller, more intimate area than the main reception, or in the same location. My cocktail hour was held in the same ballroom as the reception. Some couples also serve Hors d'oeuvres, though I chose not to. During the cocktail hour is when the wedding party and families are having photographs done.

Once all of the pictures are done, the wedding party will make their entrance. In the traditional timeline, the bridal party enters first, then the bride and groom. The newlyweds make their way to the dance floor and have their first dance.

From the first dance, the best man and maid (or matron) or honor will make their toasts. These are usually stories of friendships throughout the years. At my wedding reception, we chose to have the champagne toasts right before we cut the cake.

After the toasts comes the dinner. If you choose to have a buffet style dinner, then the bride and groom will be the first up to fill their plates. If having a sit down dinner, then this is not an issue, as the bride and groom will be served by the wait staff.

When the guests are seated or all of the meals have been served, then the DJ will start the music. A good DJ will play a wide variety of music that everyone can enjoy. I made sure that my DJ played the fun songs like the Macarena, the Chicken Dance, and the Cotton-Eyed Joe so people would get up and dance. Other activities during this time include the bouquet toss, the garter toss, and a dollar dance.

The cake cutting should be held after the crowd has had some fun on the dance floor. Tradition is to cut the first piece to feed to your new spouse, and the wait staff will finish the cutting and serving to the guests. Are you a cake smasher? It's a personal choice. Some people think its fun, but I think it's too messy and not very nice.

By now, your reception should start winding down. If you are having a last dance, this would be the time to do that. Your wedding coordinator or a friend should make sure that everyone has their bubbles, or birdseed to toss as you and your new spouse make the walk to your waiting ride. Preferably, by the time the song ends, everyone is lined up outside waiting for the newlyweds to make their grand exit.