what comes first cutting the cake of 1st dance? help!

We are going to do the first dance as soon as we come into the room. We will be cutting the cake after we have dinner.

First dance! Don't cut the cake 'til about an hour from the end! Some people wait 'til after dinner to do the first dance, but I say go straight from intros into your first dance. Then start the meal/toasts. (That way people can dance during the meal if they want - otherwise NO ONE will dance until you have done your first dance.)

First dance

I think this is ultimately up to you...I've seen couples get introduced right at the beginning of the reception and immediately do their first dance. And then I've seen people cut their cake and then immediately go into their first dance.

Do you have a DJ or a planner that you could discuss this with? Sometimes it depends on timing of everything else.

We are doing our grand entrance...Then our first dance...cake cutting will be done after dinner, after our faughter/daughter and son/mother dances.

Thank you for your inputs! I have 24 days to figure out all the little details..! I'm planning this alone so I'm starting to feel a little stressed!

We are doing the cake first, then the first dance. I have never been to a wedding that started with the first dance.

It will be Intro-Dinner(get those people fed ASAP)-Cake-Dance.

I always thought the first dance signified the start of the "dance" portion of the night.

It is up to you, it's your day. If you're wanting to keep with the "norm" I can say that in 90% or more of the weddings I have shot, the cake has been near the end (after dinner) and the first dances are quite early on, frequently immediately following the announcement/entrance into the reception by the bridal party.

I've got 22 days left and am still trying to figure out the order. In our area, for some reason couples stage the cake cutting with the photgrapher right away when they get to the reception. We'll be doing the cake cutting after dinner. I've never understood the whole staging thing though. Why go to the trouble of getting a cake when no one actually sees you cut it? I mean, you actually do have a time to cut the cake right, where other people actually watch you do it, I'm not crazy in that thought process am I? People up here look at me like I have two heads when I say there'll be an actual cake cutting moment during the reception. I understand most people get a photographer for a certain amount of time, but I'd rather have a family snap the picture than rush through it just to be on the photographer's schedule.

First dance!!

Sara- I've never seen the staging happen around here. I don't see why you can't cut it after dinner.

Just make sure the DJ/MC announces you are cutting the cake so everyone can see it.

It's your wedding you can do what you want, and how you want. Some brides choose to do their 1st dance after the grand introductions. East coast tradition is to cut the cake after intros so it can be served up right after dinner. Before your DJ announces the cake cut, be sure he informs the coordinator, caterer, photographer, and make sure the cake knife, server, a plate and napkins are on the table first. Also be sure both of you are in the room. Little details like this can make the transitions smooth.

We did intro - dinner - toasts - first dance and then like an hour later cake...

We are not having the grand entrance, we are going to be mingling with our guest (during Cocktail hour after pictures) then do the intro by having the DJ ask all the guests to gather around while the bride and groom cut the cake, then after that we will start off with our first dance. We have 2 sheet cakes in the back that will be used for guests so I'm not worried about the cake (it doesn't come out plated until after dinner).

I only suggest dance before cake because then there is no cake in your hair, and you don't need to touch up your make-up if there was a cake fight.

Timing of events is up to you, the hall, and the dj to discuss on what works best.

Jen, I have worked for 2 major NJ caterers and my wife works at a third (not at my places) and here is how it seems to be done at each place. Let's assume a 5hr 6pm to 11pm reception:

6:00 = Begins the cocktail hour (50% of the bridal party stay in the bridal room for the entire hour and 50% enjoy the cocktail hou with thier guests and are then called out of the cocktail room at 6:50)

7:00 = Guests are asked to take their seats

7:05 to 7:20 = DJ or Maitre De begins the introduction process by announcing the special people to the bride & groom (grandparents & parents)then a pairing of one bridesmade & one groomsman, and so on until done. Then "IF" there were any small children (flower girl and ringbearer) they are next, then the maid of honor alone, the best man alone, and then announcing for the first time in public Mr & Mrs "XXX"

7:20 = Bride & Groom open the dance floor with their first dance

7:24 = DJ invites all the wedding party to dance with Bride & Groom

1st dance

First Dance! But I agree its your day, do it how you want.

7:25 = All sit and Pastor, Priest, or a Special Guest says the Prayer & Blessing

7:27 = Maid of Honor toast followed by Best man toast

7:30 to 8:30 = dinner service begins

8:30 = lights get dimmed low and DJ starts doing his thing to get the first dancing of guests started.

9:30 to about 9:50 = Dance floor is cleared, lights go up and the formalities begin starting with the father/daughter dance. Then the mother/son dance. Following that is "All the Single Ladies" bridal throw, then the groom does the taking off of the garder belt, then the grooms garder toss, the the male catcher of the garder puts the garder on the leg of the single lady who caught the bouquet. And THEN comes the cake cutting & pictures.

9:50 to 11:00 dancing

Keep in mind that a lot of your guests will leave after the cake cutting. You want that to be as late as possible. An hour before the end is standard in the catering world.

I understand what Tom H. is saying about keeping the cake cutting till last but you also run the risk of having a lot of left over cake because some guests won't want to stay late.

I own a bakery, so I love cake and weddings. But I am not into dancing (no dancing skills) so usually once the dancing starts we make our exit. At the same time are the majority of the older guests, people with little kids (either the kids are tired or they want to get home to relieve the sitter) and anyone like us that goes to a wedding to see friends get married and eat a meal with them - then go home.

I hate when cake cutting is left till the end because I am not there for it then.

When friend of ours got married they had the smoothest wedding reception I have ever seen. The cake was set up on the dance floor. When the DJ announced the B&G they walked right up to the cake, cut it, fed each other and then took their seats for dinner.

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