Reception Timeline

Hello, Ana, and welcome! You'll love everyone here...they always have great ideas.

I like to plan ahead, and tweak things as I go, so I've recently started on my timeline. Do you have a DJ? Our DJ helps us out with this. They sent us (what I think is) an awesome itinerary that we can fill out. I've already tweaked it a few times. They also make suggestions if we want them to.

One thing I know is that you don't want to do everything all at once. Our DJ suggests not doing this because that gives the guests the impression that everything is over, and it's time to go home (so to speak). You want to spread things out. One thing I have heard is that you don't want to go from the grand entrance straight to the first dances. I know a lot of people do though.

I don't know if you have seen, but we've had a lot of problems with spam lately. It would be a good idea to change your avatar so that we know who you are (the spammers use the defalt rings, salt and pepper shakers, etc).

Here is a rough idea of our timeline so far:

Reception hours are5:00-11:00

4:45-Doors open

5:00-Guests arrive

5:15-Photobooth opens

5:30-Wedding party arrives, and gets ready for entrance

5:45-Grand Entrance

5:55-Welcome and Prayer

6:00-Dinner

6:30-Toasts

6:45-First dances

7:00-Dancing begins

7:30-Cut the Cake

8:00-Anniversary Dance

8:45-Bouquet and garter toss

10:45-Last call and last dance

Thank you @Future Mrs. C, super helpful!!

Yes, thank you so much!

I actually like the 1st dance before dinner.

Your dress is not wrinkled from sitting. You don't have to worry about spilling something on your dress. You know for a fact there is no food in your teeth. The red wine isn't staining your teeth.

I agree, if you have a DJ, ask them for a timeline. Also, talk to your venue on when they like to cut the cake.

AND - talk to your photographer. I'm not sure if you have a 5 hr package or a 10 hr package. (or how much time you can use before the ceremony for pictures - or what the drive time is from one place to the next) You will need to speak to your photographer about what your vision is for photos. What you hope to achieve in the time you have.

Get some more details from your vendor and come back, and we can help tweak it.

~ congrats

~ Morning of Timeline ~

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/please-share-your-day-of-schedule/fe527567358a1a05.html

~ Reception timelines ~

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/wedding-time-schedule/160e7b6b50c89909.html

timeline examples

http://www.nuptialnet.com/timeline.htm

My timeline is super simple for my vow renewal

6:00-6:10 Prayer and Vows

6:10-6:45 Games

6:45-7:45 Dinner and Drinks

7:45-7:55 Open Mic

7:55-8:00 Thanks (from H and I)

8:00 PARTAY!

Photo booth will be open all night!

I think that's a nice flow without going into too much detail.