What is the Format of your Reception??

[JanineA]

Sorry if there is already another thread with this but I searched and couldn't find one. My dj just asked me what is the format of my reception and I have no clue. I was thinking something as follows:

 

Arrival of guests

Intro of Bridal Party

Intro of Newlyweds

Dinner (during dinner have the speeches by MOH and Best Man and toasts)

First Dance

Bride/Father Dance

Groom/Mother Dance

Cake Cutting

Everyone get down and boogy

 

What are you ladies doing? What is your format going to look like? I have been to 6 weddings already for the year and sadly I can't even remember what the format was like. I was just at two on Saturday alone....lol. I'm attending another one this Saturday, perhaps I will pay better attention. Would love to hear your thoughts though.

[JanineA]

*bump*

[MsSmithtobe]

I'm doing the same order..

[lyndsay_h]

I think ours will be in the same order.  Though we don't have a dj so I don't know who really controls the flow of things...

[JanineA]

Lyndsay_h are you using an ipod? Who will be controlling the music for your ipod, another family member or someone from the resort?

[lyndsay_h]

We'll have an ipod.  I'm trying to get all the playlists in the order they need to be played, then I think we'll ask a friend to watch over it, change playlists when they need it.  I'm not sure about playing music for the ceremony though. 

[jenngene2011]

Well in my experience with weddings.  I used to work as a bridal assistant and ran weddings at a Banquet facilities here in NJ.  The following is the basic format:

 

Guest get seated for the reception

Parents get introduced

Bridal party gets introduced and usually lined up in formation for an arc

Bride and Groom get introduced

immediately following First dance first course is either out on table or is being served

right after the father daughter dance

Than the second course comes out

speeches start

than the main course any final speeches or videos to show the guests are done during this while everyone is eating

than it's time to partyyyyyyyyyyyy

than a break for cake(if you are cutting cake)/Garter and Bouquet Toss

Dessert and more PARTY

 

The main reason we did the parent dances in the beginning were for several reasons one was ALCOHOL either for you, your parent or the guests.  Nothing ruins an intimate moment as someone falling in the middle of the dance or shouting cause they are too drunk to think about what they are doing.  Also you want to do all this stuff while everyone is still sober and eating at the tables and not stop the dancing and try to gather everyone to sit at their tables.

 

My plan is very simple and are still working on it:  I am most likely not doing parent intro or bridal party

 

Bride and Groom intro

First dance

(no father daughter dance as I don't have a dad and his passed)

EAT & drink

Speech during dinner or earlier

Cake cutting

than Dancing the night away

 

i am still debating on the garter and bouquet toss.

[Mrs.S2B]

I didn't think I had to plan the order of events....I am hoping the WC will take care of all that. 

[jenngene2011]

The WC should take care of however since it is a destination wedding and from what I hear they are very busy if you want to keep everything organized and prepared instead of wondering when to do what the day of.  It is good to at least have an idea of what you want.  As soon don't want to do traditional wedding reception stuff.

[Cassie]

Our was pretty close to what you posted.  We didn't have a DJ though.  We just used our iPod and I had my cousin run it and introduce what was happening.  It worked out really nicely.

 

Arrival of guests

Intro of Bridal Party

Intro of Newlyweds

Dinner

Cake Cutting

First Dance

Bride/Father Dance

Everyone else join in for dancing