Reception Dragging On Forever/timeline

[LisaAnthonyPoppy]

Recently we were invited to a wedding. Scott's friend had gotten engaged the same time we had but his wedding came a lot sooner than ours! I was so excited to go bc after all I could over analyze every last detail and use this info for my own planning. How many of us have done this right??

 

And it helped but not how I thought!

Holy crap how could such a short and sweet ceremony at 6:30 turn into such a Looong drug out reception? And I mean dance music did not start until 10pm!!! That's 3 hours after ceremony ended!

 

So here's what their timeline was.

Ceremony over at 6:45.

Passed canapés. Undrinkable cocktails due to the fact the catering company maybe thought they were being generous, but ended up that a ton of people could not drink them! Way strong! , and opting for beer (beer is good).

Then about an hour later we sat at our tables. It was then that I began to notice the low energy. I felt that all too familiar child within me feeling lost similar to attending a Catholic Mass to satisfy your distant relatives desire to take you to church on Easter but having no clue what was going on. 30 minutes later and have already eaten the dinner roll, I searched the room waiting to see if there would be a server, maybe something green on a tray, or a cup of something to swallow.

 

I heard a muddling sound, a noise but couldn't really understand. It was the announcement of the wedding party. Then the first dance. Then mother son dance then father daughter dance.

I wanted to be happy and I didn't want to show any grimacing facial expressions. So I just smiled. How selfish was I?! I was really happy for them. Truly. But I could not stop wanting to take not of how I felt, and how others felt.

 

It was nearly an hour after we were lead into the dining area that the first course was served . Ok a cup of wedding soup, small but pretty darn good. I compared this to the cup of lobster bisque we intend to serve at our wedding and at this I was satisfied. Was eager to get the night started on a better note! Second course a 3- 4 oz boneless chicken breast, overtop whipped potatoes and a few asparagus. Looked pretty and couldn't wait to eat. It was so dry. My fiancé couldn't eat his. I compared this to what I'm serving bc the dishes were similar in portion. When I found out that it was only two courses, and that was it- I panicked! That's what we are doing!! And at $150 a head I couldn't imagine our guests being dissatisfied with the drinks and left starving.

 

I had never thought about doing a food tasting but I'm sure it is a necessity now. Who would have ever thought to tell the bartenders to ease up, now I'll have to make sure the WC is aware of portion sizes, and tastes. Never thought about it before. What size protein are we serving? Is the lobster bisque a bowl or cup?

 

Alright so about an hour after "dinner" was plated, the cake cutting took place. All this time there was no background music. Just a lot of waiting, waiting for after dinner toasts and stories and knowing that we were not excused from our table until we were given affirmation-the cake cutting. I love speeches and watching siblings and parents get emotional. Love it love it.

I don't however like waiting so long for things to progress and then feel that the speeches are lost in transgression because folks just want to get up and move, stretch something! Waiting long after dinner is served to give speech won't be on my list.

 

I had never seen a cake cut immediately after dinner. Like dinner, speeches, cake. But man was it a bummer. It felt rushed (completely opposite of the night dragging on), like it was a necessary task to do. There was no real cake for guests. They had a cake big enough for 2 people and then these mini cupcakes. I get the new twist on wedding cakes is cupcakes, but seriously I feel that a wedding cake should not be swapped for a more modern flair. The pictures, the flavors, the CAKE! All gone

 

It was soon after the music began. You know the typically wedding reception songs that aim to please the general crowd but don't show the couples personality. That wasn't so bad actually.

But not many people danced. I was looking for coffee and some food. And hating myself for being such a critical brat. I just kept making notes. Crazy I know and I'm ok with that. But you bet every party I plan is a good one. But a wedding? Whhhat?

 

We congratulated and hung out with the newlyweds for a bit and dipped.

 

Bless them and their new life together. No- weddings are not about the food, not about the drinks, the music. When your getting married I'm sure you don't even care about everything I've mentioned. Bc your getting married and that in and of itself is amazing! Exchanging vowels looking into each other's eyes, taking that plunge!

 

... But my wedding is going to be a party!

 

I know my timeline is a little less conventional, but it's gonna flow and keep my guests entertained or so I hope. Here it goes;

 

7:00-7:20 ceremony beach

 

7:20-8:15 cocktail "hour" around pool

Signature cocktail prickly pear marg

 

8:15-8:30 find table, order drinks,

socialize. Have waiters take orders.

 

8:30 first course (bisque won't take long to eat)

 

8:35ish Scott and I come out together (we aren't having first course with everyone) and have first dance. Dining tables centered around LED dance floor so people can continue to have first course and watch first dance... Like dinner and a show

Also gives servers a chance to set up second course more seamlessly.

 

8:45 dinner served. (2nd course)

 

We are not scheduling a time for speeches we only have maybe 30 guests my dad is pretty keen on things, my Fil also, and would know when to raise a glass and say a few impromptu words. We are pretty casual ppl.

 

9:15 or when Scott and I finish our meal the music will start up. No food comatose lol Dance baby dance!

Can't wait to see kids on LED dance floor!

 

10:00 cake cutting and bouquet toss!

 

10:20ish - 12:00 am dance!

 

My goal is to make people have a great time for making such a huge commitment and I don't want to have them feel any way like I did a few months at the other wedding.

 

What's your wedding timeline?

[calgarybride2015]

I think our timeline was perfect.

 

there was a blip at cocktail hour when they didn't set up our tables/chairs on the beach so people stood or made their own seats on rocks, but that didn't ruin anyone's time. haha I was probably the only one who noticed they weren't there. Since my dad got hurt at the resort earlier in the week I questioned the table/chairs and she ran to get my dad a seat and refunded our money,.

 

Nonetheless, this was our timeline:  (somewhat, the day is a blur)

 

3:00pm-3;15pm ish ceremony (wow it was short and sweet)

3:15pm-3:30pm everyone said their congrats and the MC gave a quick toast

3:30pm-4:00pm group photos (if my MC hadn't have taken the reins and got people organized it couldn't have happened that fast!!) *I recommend having someone in charge of this and give them a list of photos you want to have done*

4:00pm-5:00pm - guests had the mariachi band and open bar with appies on the beach, we did some bridal party photos, then our solo photos as bride/groom

5:00pm people entered the palapa and were seated, then the MC did our entrances.

5:10pm ish  we did our speeches and they did a funny toast to the bride/groom (actual toast (bread) pictures if you saw our wedding photos)

5:30pm ish we ate dinner

6:15pm ish???  Everyone introduced themselves and said something sweet, may have turned into an AA meeting haha was hilarious. Then Shawn and I said thank you to everyone.

6:30pm  first dance, then parent dances (we did these together)

THEN PARTY!!!  the DJ was awesome, the dance floor was always full.

8:00pm we did a quick cake cutting/photo opp, then the photographer took photos with anyone who wanted them taken with us before she left at 830pm. (got some great shots! super glad my MC announced this)

8:30pm-11:00pm PARTY!!!   

 

Our timeline worked well and was amazing.

The only battle was the sun, but it's the price we pay for beautiful weather my brother in law says!

 

Our MC was a fill in as our regular MC lost his voice. I gave him a general timeline but all that took place was because of him. He made the night what it was and I am forever indebted to him!

 

EDIT: Thankfully our servers and bartenders were top notch. I think my sister told me in that 1 hour open bar on the beach she was served 5 drinks LOL!!!  Noone had time to go to the bar at the reception because the waitstaff had one ready for you the second you were done the first.  They were unreal!

Edited February 1, 2015 by calgarybride2015

[LisaAnthonyPoppy]

Sounds amazing! I like hearing your timeline. Bc it brings up little but import thing that I hadn't thought of.

 

1. Giving photo info to MC

 

2. When to thank everyone for coming.

 

We are a small group and I keep things informal but you helped me see that we need to say a few words of gratitude. So thanks for sharing!

[calgarybride2015]

Sounds amazing! I like hearing your timeline. Bc it brings up little but import thing that I hadn't thought of.

 

1. Giving photo info to MC

 

2. When to thank everyone for coming.

 

We are a small group and I keep things informal but you helped me see that we need to say a few words of gratitude. So thanks for sharing!

 

 

Well thankfully Shawn said the most of it. I would have cried.  So I introduced myself like everyone else did, said a few funny bits of highlights during the week (memories we had already made), then thanked them and said 'Shawn said it well'  

 

Giving the MC the photos was the smartest decision I made.  I did it at like 11pm the night before on my photographers advice.  You are literally in your own world being pulled all over and you would never on your own remember to get all the photos you want done.

[TinkerSofi]

@@LisaAnthonyPoppy @@calgarybride2015 both of your timelines look similar to what we want to do. I also don't like dinners that drag on forever filled with 100 speeches while people wait to get the party started. 

 

Ours is not as settled yet, but this is kind of what I have so far: 

 

5:00-5:30 ceremony (I don't think this will take half an hour, but if it doesn't it just means more time for group pictures

5:30-7:00 pictures (both group and couple), people go have a drink or freshen up. 

7:00- people are seated

7:10 we come in and do our first dance right away. I want to get this over and done with before I have any drinks because I'm a very cheap drunk, we're doing a salsa dance and when I drink all my spinning abilities go out the window hahaha. I like the idea of people having the first course while we do this

7:15-8:15 dinner and speeches. Our dinner is a buffet so I'm not sure if all the food will be presented at once. We're leaving a window of time while people eat so anyone who wants to make a speech can . 

8:15-:8:30ish - parents dance

8:30-11:00 PARTY!! and cake cutting somewhere in there. 

[calgarybride2015]

@@LisaAnthonyPoppy @@calgarybride2015 both of your timelines look similar to what we want to do. I also don't like dinners that drag on forever filled with 100 speeches while people wait to get the party started.

 

Ours is not as settled yet, but this is kind of what I have so far:

 

5:00-5:30 ceremony (I don't think this will take half an hour, but if it doesn't it just means more time for group pictures

5:30-7:00 pictures (both group and couple), people go have a drink or freshen up.

7:00- people are seated

7:10 we come in and do our first dance right away. I want to get this over and done with before I have any drinks because I'm a very cheap drunk, we're doing a salsa dance and when I drink all my spinning abilities go out the window hahaha. I like the idea of people having the first course while we do this

7:15-8:15 dinner and speeches. Our dinner is a buffet so I'm not sure if all the food will be presented at once. We're leaving a window of time while people eat so anyone who wants to make a speech can .

8:15-:8:30ish - parents dance

8:30-11:00 PARTY!! and cake cutting somewhere in there.

We had a buffet and it was all served at once. They re filled it as needed. Was delicious. I skipped the corn lmao

 

 

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[LisaAnthonyPoppy]

Good point, I didn't think about ceremony running over. I have the whole ceremony written out. I should practice it.

 

Hmmm. I know everyone is scheduling for more time for photos than me. I wonder if I will have regrets.

 

We are doing a ttd session 2 days after.

 

But bc our ceremony will be right at sunset I'm not sure what to do.

 

I've already got $600 for 2 hours total wedding photos and $700 for ttd photos.

 

I just remember with my first child I was photo crazy. Wondering if I'm making right choice with not doing a lot of photos.

[TinkerSofi]

@@calgarybride2015 good! that's what we wanted! 

[LisaAnthonyPoppy]

Buffets are gooood.

We didn't have 50 guests so couldn't get buffet,

[calgarybride2015]

I have favorite photos from every part of the day. We had 1.5 hours from end of ceremony to dinner. That included group and family shots. It was a perfect amount of time. Depends what you want. Do I need all 285? No but I don't regret them. If you have time to get some shots of just the two of you after I think you'll be good. Are you doing pics from 720-815?

 

 

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