Reception program! What are the steps?

I'm doing your second option, although I'm saving the cake for later in the evening because a lot of people leave after the cake cutting.

We will probably be doing entrance first dance food speeches dancing (including father daughter) we have the bouquet toss and whatnot cake cutting then exit

Try googling some sample wedding reception timelines. Looking at these can be really helpful. Here's an article to get started: Wedding Timelines

People do both of these options. I wanted to do the dance right after the entrance, but my husband wanted a break so we did entrance, parent welcome, dinner, speeches, first dance/parent dances, cake a little later.

Everyone does it differently! I would suggest doing toasts after everyone has gotten their food while people are eating.

I just went to a wedding and I LOVED their timeline. They did

entrance and first dance
dinner
cake - while they were still standing up near the cake, they did the speeches
then they did the mother son and father daughter dance to open up the dance floor for the rest of the night!

IT WAS PERFECT

Entrance
food
Speeches (this gives time for the couple to manage to eat dinner)
first dance
dad/daughter and mom/son dance

thats all I have worked out so far but I plan to do dessert a little later and we are also doing the shoe game and a special dance to honor all married couples (family tradition)

Were not doing a program but if your tech savy you can make a really nice one on Microsoft word

From what I’ve seen there’s so many ways to do this, it just depends on what flows best for you. Our plan is to do the walk ins, go cut the cake (so everyone gets to see), sit down for dinner, do speeches while people are eating, and then first dances. Our servers will be cutting the cake while everyone is eating, so then people can eat it right after dinner or wait a while.

Thank You all I was able to figure out what i will do !