Married ladies...Was your 1st dance before or after dinner??

We did it before dinner right after our entrance

Before. It was right after we were introduced.

We are doing ours right after we are introduced.

We didn't do a dance. Just wasn't time.

But all of my siblings (I have 10 of them) did theirs before dinner.

We are doing ours after our entrance, followed by mother/son father/daughter then dinner then cake cutting followed by garter/bouquet toss which both have fast paced songs to keep the party atmospher going...

I like your timeline Mrs. B...I was also wondering when to cut the cake, I guess right after dinner sounds good!!

We did our dinner basically as soon as we got there (had a few minutes to say hello to some guests first), then we did the cake, then we did our dance.

Are you doing a receiving line? or will you be at cocktail hr to greet your guests?

I suggest before. Then when you are done with dinner (and you will be done before your guests are done) you can walk around table to table and greet your guests.

and did I read this correct, No parent dances?

You will need some kind of upbeat song to get everyone out on the dance floor after dinner. Have your wedding party all grab someone and drag them out?

We are doing ours as soon as we enter, I feel it's bett that way so people aren't sitting through all of he dances at once, our speeches will also be a little scattered starting about 10 minutes after the salad is served

Mrs. B to Be -- Ever consider your parent dances After you are done with dinner???

The head table and parents are fed before the rest of the guests. You will be done eating and the other guests will be finishing their food. Then by the time you get your parent dances done, everyone will be done eating.

I only suggest this because that is a LOT for people to sit at their table with nothing to do, eat, drink, while they wait. The guests are asked to sit down. They have no food served yet. There is the intro, the first dance, the parent dances, the prayer, some toasts? and THEN the food comes out. See, it is a lot for them to need to sit still.

Hmm good point Hayley, I'll have to go over it with the planner and DJ

We did it the way Hayley mentioned - just make sure your do go over it with everyone. I did a timeline, and thought everyone was clear, but apparently they were not. We were done eating (at the head table) before everyone else, and just kind of sitting there, waiting, and by the time the DJ finally announced the father/daughter dance (I had one of my bridesmaids go push him along), my Dad was up conversing with one of his friends - at the table in the back of the room the farthest from the dance floor.

It took him a good minute or 2 for him to find his way back through the crowd to the dance floor, where I was kind of just standing there, waiting. I didn't pick a very long song either. We just kind of laughed it off, but it kind of irritated me. As Hayley pointed out, I think that is a pretty common way to do it, so I don't know what exactly went wrong - just make sure everyone understands the timeline (whatever way you choose to do it)

Hayley, I was given a suggestion by my photographer - she said that right after the ceremony during my cocktail hour I should have a receiving line and take pictures with every guest or family to make sure we get pictures with everyone...

how does it sound?? Im still going to every table to greet my guest!!

And yes, no parents dance...

We're doing our dance first thing, largely 'cause FH was worried that he might spill something during dinner and then have to dance with a stain on his tux.

If you are doing a receiving line, and no parent dances.. then maybe do your 1st dance when you (the head table) is done with dinner. Then everyone can be finishing their food. And as soon as you are done, they should be done with their food and can get up and join you.

I guess I'm just trying to say, you will be done eating WAY before everyone else. So, you can do stuff while they are finishing their food. (dance, walk around and greet guests) That way they are eating and being entertained. When there is A LOT before the meal is served, the guests get antsy.

Because once they Are done, they want to get up and Party!!! So, just keep an eye on the room and be sure your DJ gets the party going once people are finishing up.

~ good luck ~

OOOoooooOOOO

Another good point!!! @ Foreve (a) Young

You will look your Freshest if you do your dance Before dinner.

No wrinkles from sitting in dress. No food in your teeth. No spills on your dress or him.

I go back to my original... Dance before dinner.

1st was dinner, 2nd was cake cutting, 3rd was bridesmaids dance/first dance, bouquet toss, last was the garter toss. We also had some fun music playing to keep the fun going.

Foreve (a) young, that is exactly what we say. I am a mess in a dress and I will spill something. I can see 100 people trying to shout wipe me and my mess (dress) to get it clean enough for pictures.

Ok..1st dance will be before dinner!!

for our cocktail hour we have 5 hors d'œuvre and open bar, so they should be ok with waiting just a lil bit!!

BUT what happens after the dance, I go sit down and eat?? then get up for cake cutting right after??

I dont knowwwwwwww

I dont remember last time I being to a wedding!!

At both my wedding to DH and my daughter's wedding, we did our first dance immediately after introductions.

We didn't want to waste a lot of time on special dances. So, the other "special" dances were mere 30 second photo ops solo and then my DJ opened the song to the other guests.