Meal Courses and Dancing - scheduling

[nylalany]

I would like my wedding to have dancing in between courses and my wedding coordinator is used to the type of wedding where you eat dinner first, then dance, so she asked me to provide her with a schedule. I'm trying to remember back to how long it usually takes people to eat a course and how much time is too much or too little time to dance in between, but with all the weddings I've been to, I am somehow drawing a blank. Any comments or suggestions?

[lucy106]

I know I just saw on one of those wedding shows on WE TV that they reccommend waiting until after the meal is over to start dancing. They said that dancing in between meals interrupts the meal and makes it less fluid. But if you dont care about that then I would give 15-20 minutes for each course to be eaten. IMO anything over 10 minutes in between courses may seem like too long.

[JODEY]

Yes I agree with Lucy, I know over here in the UK we eat first and dance after, I personally prefer it this way then people have time to let their food settle before hitting the dance floor, If I did this I don't think I would enjoy my food, but don't let that put you off x

[LisaW]

I'm a HUGE fan of dancing in between courses. I've only been to one wedding where there was eating first (all three courses in a row) and then dancing. By the time the meal was done everyone was too tired and full (food coma!) to dance.

[LisaW]

Sorry, forgot to answer the timing question! At my sister's wedding the band played 2 sets in between each course. Hope that is helpful!

[neen]

this is a great question and i love receptions where there is dancing between courses. the last one i went to had about 20 minutes for each course, followed by 15-20 minutes of dancing.

 

anyone ever been to a wedding where there is music and dancing throughout the whole evening and guest serve themselves from the buffet whenever they're hungry?

[nylalany]

LSWiener - how long is a band set? Thanks!

[LisaW]

Hi! Depending on the set, i'd say about 10 - 15 minutes.

[lyrebard]

Hrm. I'm thinking it would be nice to do something *similar* but slightly different. We're looking into doing a salsa lesson for our guests, and seems as if doing that between courses might work. Maybe. What would you think of a schedule like this, post-cocktails?

 

Soup course

Salad course

 

- salsa lesson-

 

dinner

 

- one band set -

 

dessert

 

- second band set -

 

?

[nylalany]

Lyrebard - Rre you having a cocktail hour too? you can do it btwn cocktail hour and soup course! Who is your band? Otherwise, that seems like it would work.

 

This is what I'm thinking for me:

Cocktail Hour - 1 hour obviously

Hora with band - 15 minutes

Guests to seats, get settled 15

Appetizer (they call it entree in Mexico) - 20 minutes, band in bkgd

1st Dance + 15 minute with band - 20 minutes

Main Course - ?? 35 minutes? - band in bkgd

DJ dancing - hour

Dessert + toasts - 20 minutes

DJ dancing - hour

cake cutting