Reception Routine!

Is your dinner multiple courses? My reception is set up to do some of these things in between courses, so the waiters can clear out plates and such.

Wedding party intro

First Dance

Toasts

Salad course

Cake cutting

Entree

Mother/Son Dance

Father/Daughter Dance

Stepmom/Son Dance

Dessert

Wedding Party Intro

Slideshow

Toasts

Dinner

cake

Mother/Son Dance

Father/Daughter Dance

First Dance

PARTAAAAY lol

I would cut the cake after the dancing starts. Cake is traditionally cut about 2/3 of the way into the reception. Guests take it as their cue that it's okay to start leaving. I'm worried that if you cut the cake during dinner, guests (especially older ones) will assume that the reception is over and go home before dancing. You can ask the photographer to let you know when she is about to leave, and do the cake cutting then as the last part of her day.

Also, I would suggest doing the first dance, mother/daughter and mother/son dances during dinner, rather than before. Especially if you're doing all of them in a row. They can get very tedious for guests to stand around and watch, so they'll be happier if you let them sit down and eat something while they watch the dances.

Abby, may I suggest moving your slideshow to during dinner? Generally only immediate family wants to see your baby photos, adorable as they might be. It's better to feed guests and let them talk among themselves a bit during a slideshow, especially if it's longer than a few minutes.

Our dinner is just one course and plated. I think cutting the cake during the dancing would work pretty well! Not many people watch it anyways.. just really close family and friends. Maybe we could do the first dance after the intro then right after dinner do the parents dances because the wedding party, being served first, will get done first....

Since you have no idea how long toasts will take, keep them after the main course.

Is the cake you're cutting really the one they're serving? There isn't also a sheet cake they could start with? If there is, put it later. I love doing the cake cutting, then while it's being served you do the dollar dance.

The dollar dance doesn't get people onto the dance floor - at the end of it, everyone is off the floor because they've danced with you already. It is a great transition, though, and a last chance to visit with everyone, so I also like it at the start of your dance.

I'd break up those special dances, if you're using full length songs for each. 3 songs will last over 12 minutes (depending on what you chose) and that will get... long.

If you are interested in something a bit different, who says that first dance (when you come in) has to be slow? Check out this video at the 8:30 mark, though in my head, after 1 minute, you'd start including other people (grab your mom, your sister, whatever) http://vimeo.com/66370118

Then you'd do your 'slow' first dance later (and maybe open that up to other people after a minute or two)

Here are some more ideas about different reception events and options: http://rnbweddings.com/how-to-schedule-your-wedding-reception/