Here is an example of an itinerary for a four hour reception that begins at
5:00pm:
|
1- 2 Hours Before Reception |
| 3:00 |
Caterer arrives and sets up |
| 3:15 |
Florist arrives to set up table centerpieces and other
floral decorations. |
| 3:30 |
DJ arrives and sets up equipment. |
| 3:40 |
Wedding Coordinator (or designated person) arrives to
set up place cards, favors, toasting flutes, cake knife, guest book with
pen and basket or other holder for the money envelopes. |
| 3:45 |
Wedding cake arrives and is set up. Florist to provide
flowers and greenery to the cake designer, who will arrange flowers on
and around the wedding cake. |
|
First Hour of Reception |
| 5:00 |
Wedding guests arrive. Cocktail hour begins. Waiters
serve trays of champagne and hors d'oeuvres to guests. |
| 5:15 |
Bride & Groom arrive and are escorted outside to take
formal photographs on the lawn. All family members and wedding party
gather outside for photographs.
Make sure all the family members and wedding attendants know where and
when! You don't want to waste any time trying to track down people to be
in pictures. |
| 5:20 |
Bride, Groom and family members take formal photographs. |
|
Second Hour of Reception |
| 6:00 |
Bride and Groom, wedding party and parents of bride and
groom gather in side room to "line up" for announcements.
Line up in order... groom's parents first, then bride's parents, flower
girl and ring bearer, bridesmaids escorted by ushers, maid of honor
escorted by best man and then the bride and groom. |
| 6:05 |
DJ will make formal announcements. (List all names
here...) |
| 6:10 |
Bride and Groom's first dance (name of song here).
Caterer begins serving champagne to the tables for the champagne toast.
|
| 6:20 |
Cocktail hour ends. (Cash bar begins). DJ to announce
that dinner is served and ask that all guests be seated.
DJ introduces Officiant (or other designated person) who will say the
blessing. |
| 6:25 |
DJ introduces the Best Man (name goes here) who will
give the toast to the bride and groom. |
| 6:30 |
Dinner is served. |
|
Third Hour of Reception |
| 7:00 |
Bride & Groom cut the cake. Looking for an alternative
to the traditional cake cutting song? Try "It Had to Be You," by Harry
Connick, Jr |
| 7:15 |
DJ announces Bride to dance with her father (Name of
song goes here) |
| 7:25 |
DJ announces Groom to dance with his mother. (Name of
song goes here) |
| 7:35 |
DJ announces wedding party dance. (i.e. Theme song from
TV show "Friends") |
| 7:40 |
DJ plays song (i.e. Crazy Love, by Aaron Neville). Bride
and Groom and wedding party dances. DJ invites all guests to join in. |
| 7:45 |
Cake and coffee are served to guests. |
|
Fourth Hour of Reception |
| 8:00 |
DJ announces the Bride's bouquet toss.
A nice alternative to the bouquet toss is for the Bride to "dedicated
her bouquet" to someone special - maybe her mother or best friend. The
bride can say a few words and then give (not throw) her bouquet away.
This is a very tasteful and sentimental alternative... and be prepared
for a few tears. |
| 8:15 |
Garter toss |
| 8:45 |
Bride and Groom's last dance |
| 9:00 |
Bride and Groom say goodnight and leave for honeymoon
destination or hotel. |
| 9:15 |
Parents of the Bride (or other designated person) gather
all the gifts, wedding presents and other items (see After the Reception
Checklist for more details). |
Attendant Gifts
