This is a thread that was started in our old BlissWeddings.com forums by Sereniti71 on 04/17/2005.
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posted by Sereniti71
Hi Everyone,
What is the usual order of events at the reception? I haven't been able to find any of this info. We were thinking of intro of wedding party and bride and groom, then first dance. Do we eat next and then have the other dances, and which dance comes first... mother/groom or father/bride? When do all of the other events happen (i.e. cake cutting, garter and bouquet toss etc)? I am not sure if there is a standard order of if it is left up to us. Thanks for your advice.
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posted by HeatherR
Hi Serenity - I think the order of events is pretty much up to you, to be worked out with the DJ and event coordinator at the location. The best I can give you is my order, but keep in mind we did not do a bouquet/garter toss, or have a wedding cake.
1. Guests were ushered to their tables after the cocktail/h'ordeurve recpetion
2. Bridal party introduction - they lined up on the dance floor
3. Bride & Groom introduction
4. We went directly to the dance floor for our first dance
5. All sat down at their tables
6. MOH and Best Men made their speeches before first course was served
7. After dessert - Husband and his Mom danced, I danced with my big brother
8. Anniversary dance with married couples - longest married couple received their own bouquet of silk flowers
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What I've usually seen is the bouquet/garter toss done shortly after dinner, followed by the cake cutting. From my experience, the cake cutting is usually the last "event" before guests begin to leave.
I'm sure some others on here will be able to provide more information if they've done these traditions. Keep in mind however, you can pretty much do whatever you would like. My friends were grateful there was no bouquet toss - and many others were much happier with the warm chocolate souflette' than a slice of cake.
It's truly a matter of your own preference.
Heather
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posted by syringa
In my area the wedding party is not introduced, only the bride and groom. They then proceed to the head table or they open the buffet. After they have eaten and the last person is either through the buffet line or has been served, then the bride and groom cut the cake, do the toasts from the cake table (so there are no photos of dirty dishes), then they do the first dances. There is a period of dancing before the bouquet and/or garter toss, then more dancing until the band or DJ leaves.
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posted by labeadel
After cocktail hour, the wedding party will be introduced, then the bride and groom will be introduced. We will then go right into toasts. Dinner will then be served. After that will be our first dance, followed by Bride/Father dance, etc. After 1/2 hour or so of dancing (including anniversary dance), we will then have bouquet and garter toss, followed by cutting of the cake.
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posted by NovemberGal
Neither my FH nor I are big dancers, and while we're going to take some lessons, we want to get it over with. So we're going to have the intro of the wedding party, intro of bride and groom; we'll go straight to the dance floor and have our first dance. Then we'll be seated, do toasts, serve dinner (which is served family-style: big platters passed at each table). After dinner we'll cut the cake, then do the father/daughter & mother/son dance to open the dance floor. We're not tossing garters or bouquets; I don't know yet if I'll do something like an anniversary dance.
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posted by feb-bride
We did:
Guests seated
Wedding party introduced
Bride/groom and wedding party opened buffet line
Eating
Bride/groom greeting tables while guests were eating
Toasting
Cake
First dances
Open dancing
Bouquet/garter toss
More dancing
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posted by TheaterDiva1
I don't know what's considered "standard," but this is what we had:
1. Introduction of parents/BP, B&G
2. First dance
3. Dancing for everyone
4. Food served
5. Speeches
6. More dancing
7. My dance w/ dad
8. DH's dance w. his mom
9. More dancing
10. Cake cutting
11. Bouquet/garter tosses
12. Yet more dancing
-Maggie
order of events
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