The Reception

Once all the formalities of the ceremony are over your wedding reception is your time to relax with your guests, let your hair down and party! You want it to be enjoyable for your guests while saying something about you.

It’s the biggest party of your life, so start planning now!

Timing and Venue

You might choose an afternoon reception, held after a 2.30pm or 3pm service. Usually this is followed by an evening party/disco held a few hours later to give everybody time to change in-between if they want to.

Sometimes, the evening party is an opportunity to invite people you couldn't accommodate at the more formal reception.

Order of Events

Your guide to the traditional wedding reception order of events.

Traditionally, there is a set timetable of events at wedding receptions. Of course, it's your wedding and you can do all or none of these to your personalities. Just use this list as your guide to plan what you want to include.

The wedding reception line-up

A formal receiving line is where the bride and groom line up with both sets of parents and greet each guest as they come into the reception.

If there are a lot of guests, this can cause quite a queue, so you decide on a less formal walk around and chat with guests on each table during the reception.

Speech!

Most wedding receptions include speeches and toasts.

Normally they come at the end of the meal, but before the meal begins is also becoming quite common.

Usually, the father of the bride speaks and then toasts the bride and groom.

Next comes the groom -- and the bride if she wants to make a speech. They thank their guests for coming and traditionally, the groom proposes a toast to the bridesmaids.

The final speech is by the best man, who officially ‘replies’ on behalf of the bridesmaids.

Cake cutting

When the bride and groom cut the cake together, it’s symbolic of their shared future.

After the cake cutting ceremony (usually at the very end of the meal and after the speeches), often the cake is then cut into portions by the caterer and given to the guests.

Time to Dance

The evening is the time for everyone to relax and usually have a good old knee's up

Traditionally, the bride and groom start the dancing with a first dance, usually to a song or tune of their choice typically with some personal meaning.

It is also traditional for the bride and groom to have a short dance with each of their parents in law and parents.

Then it's on with the party and a time to circulate and have a good time.