Light reception questions

Hi Jonelle! I found this timeline for you that could work with your cocktail reception:

7:30 p.m. Guests arrive, hors d’oeuvres are passed; food stations open.

7:45 p.m. The newlyweds are introduced and start greeting guests.

8:15 p.m. While guests are eating, speakers make short toasts.

9:00 p.m. First dance, mother-son, father-daughter, and other pre-determined dances take place; food service pauses.

9:10 p.m. Dance floor opens; food service continues.

10:20 p.m. Cut the cake (or open the dessert bar); newlyweds make a thank-you speech.

11:30 p.m. Last call is announced.

11:55 p.m. Last dance.

You could really modify this as you wish! It really depends at what time your last call and if you're also planning other activities in the meantime. Until what time have you booked your venue?

You are having a private ceremony? It sounds like you are doing very much what I was doing too!

We were planning on only having the one speech from us, but you could certainly add that in before the parent dances!

No prob! Keep us posted! We'd love to hear more about your wedding!

Hi Jonelle! That is a challenge but I think you can make it work! Some couples go straight into their first dance after they are introduced so you could do that. Once you arrive, your DJ could introduce the wedding party and you two and then you could go into your first dance. You could do the mother/son and father/daughter dance right after or just open the dance floor up to everyone. I've been to a wedding where they did speeches and then in between the speeches, they did the other dances. (So FOB did speech and then danced with his daughter. Then FOG did his speech and the groom danced with his mom.)

What is your room set up like? Are you still going to have tables so your guests can rest their feet and eat pizza or are you doing high top tables that they can stand at? Or a lounge area with couches? I would make sure there's still some type of seating for guests that don't want to dance or need a break from dancing. If you are having tables, you could still designate one as a "sweetheart table" so you could sit during the speeches and your guests can gather around. Or you could have them bring over chairs for you onto the dance floor to sit during the speeches.

You could kind of break things up by doing something every hour like this:

7 pm: Bride and Groom arrive- announce couple- first dance

8 pm: Speeches- Father/Daughter dance, Mother/Son dance

9 pm: cut cake- bouquet/garter toss

11 pm: Grand exit

What do you think? What did you have in mind?

Hummm maybe I need more details....but let me give my two cents, and then you can let me know if it would work!

If you leave after the ceremony for pictures, I assume your guests will be in a cocktail hour for that time. If you communicate with your DJ or MC via text you can let them know when you are about the enter, and have them announce you.

From there, you could launch into your first dance....walk in jubilantly and then have the music begin and have the MC annouce the couple will share their first dance....then the father daughter etc...

If you are doing photos before hand, you might jast have to excuse yourselves and "hide" for an entrance.

You could also do a thank you speech to everyone for attending, and then do your dance. That way everyone is already attentive and gathered.

What time is your ceremony and then the reception? What plans do you have in place already? More details like that might help me brainstorm a little more. I totally see your dilemma!