Appropriate Reception Schedule?

Hi there! It sounds like you've got thing pretty well under control to me. If I had one suggestion, it would be to maybe stretch out the cocktail hour another 15 minutes and end dinner at 7:45. You don't want people to linger with too much time on their hands, they may get bored.

I have a question Christian, what are you (or rather your guests) doing for the hour between the ceremony and your cocktail hour (the 5-6 timeframe)? And are you having dinner twice? (Maybe I'm reading your list wrong

What a good groom! A couple things to just consider in your timeline. You want to make sure that your caterer has enough time to set up the cocktail hour (they consider this "first food," not the dinner!) and dinner during the set-up time and while your ceremony is happening. Also, when are you all doing your wedding portraits? We did our portraits after the ceremony, while the guests were at cocktail hour, and we needed close to an hour. If you're doing it that way, you'll want to check with your photographer to see how much time they need. It may require you to lengthen your cocktail time. Lastly, just make sure you're figuring in things like toasts (which can go on for awhile, but can be done over dinner), first dance, parent dances, cake cutting, bouquet/garter toss. Good luck, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

Christian, I am running into the same problem. There is going to be time in between our ceremony and reception. Is your reception in DC as well? If so, then I think this is fine. I am assuming our guests will just walk around downtown and see the sights before heading over to the reception place. Or if they are staying in hotels in DC then they can just go back to their room for a short while as well. This timeline looks very similar to what I think ours will be.

Question for you, you said your ceremony is at the Jefferson Memorial? This sounds awesome. Can you provide me with some more details? Are you allowed to do this? Are you having to rent chairs for people to sit? I am looking for an unusual place for the ceremony and I can't seem to find anything online about using public parks or the monuments. Any info you could provide would be awesome!

Jena

The groom up above writing again. We went to the National Parks Dept. The fee is $50 for the Jefferson Memorial (west Lawn). Beleive it or not. Great price for an unbeleivable location. There are several restrictions and you have to rent chairs. We got one qoute of $600 for 160 chairs. Not to bad for a ceremony when all is said and done. The tourists, I expect, will not be to much of a hassle and privacy is not a huge concern. Their are som trees and bushes between us and the path around the tidal basin. Also with 150+ guest I wasn't expecting intimacy anyway. The only other location to have it would be the DC WWII memorial next to the reflecting pool. Also a good location and provides its own podium. We weren't to keen on getting married on a war memorial though and the Jefferson has better view. I've heard of unofficial small ceremonies at Meridian Hill (Malcolm X) Park which is nice but no chairs and you have to speak with Steve at the Josephine Butler Parks Center.

I have been at a wedding (didn't plan it) that had over an hour from the ceremony to the reception and it was uncomfortable. The DJ wasn't set up, they had nothing to drink and the appetizers weren't out so it felt unorganized.

A majority of the guests will head right over to the reception immediately after the wedding. I would at least make sure drinks, some appetizers and the DJ are ready for guests at least 10 minutes before any guest arrives. This is how the timeline could look.

4:00 - 5:00 Ceremony

5:00 - 6:00 Bride & Groom Photographs

5:00 - 6:00/6:15 Drinks and Appetizers

6:15 - 7:30 Dinner

7:30 - 11:00 Dance & Mingle

You still need to add the first dance, other traditional dances, toasts, cake cutting, bouquet tosses and garter toss.

It is great to see a groom getting involved. She's very lucky.

Here are some sample timelines. Of course you will need to change the times below, but it gives you a good idea of how much time is needed per activity.... I hope this helps..

Here are some sample reception time schedules--

Sample A

7:00 Guests arrive--pass champagne & hors d'oeuvres, bar open

7:25 Bride and groom arrive--(optional:set up receiving line on dance floor)

8:00 Guests are seated for dinner--blessing

8:45 Toast and first dance

10:00 Cut cake, toss bouquet (and garter)

10:45 Bride and groom leave

11:00 Reception ends

Sample B (ideal for station parties)

7:00 Guests arrive--pass champagne & hors d'oeuvres, bar open

Bride and groom also arrive (pictures taken before ceremony)

8:00 Toast and first dance, (if stations--start dancing and open stations

if sit-down dinner or buffet, guests sit and are served dinner)

10:00 Cut cake, toss bouquet (and garter)

11:00 Reception ends

Well as a wedding planner my suggestion to you is this.. i have seen too many times, the party ending before it has even started! What I usually tell me clients is get all the mumbo jumbo out of the way so you have plenty of time to celebrate and have fun. Do your ceremony, have your reception intro, and go right in to the first dance. While the first dance is in progress the dinner should be served. After you dance eat and go right into the cake. While guest are eating cake get the garter and bouqet toss done, by now all your guest have finished and you have plenty of time left top party and celebrate!

Best Wishes Stacie Blair

www.thepartyplanner.info

******************@*****.***