Sample of Wedding Reception Format

Although booking the vendors and making choices about cakes, menus, and entertainers are critical parts of your reception planning, you can't overlook another vital element: the schedule of events. Even if you're normally a spontaneous person who hates even hearing the word “schedule,” you still need to put one together for a couple of reasons.

First, you need to know how much time to devote to the reception. If you book your site for two hours but end up running into overtime, your bill is going to skyrocket and that's not good for your budget. Second, your master of ceremonies (MC) will need to know the order of events so he or she can make the announcements. Your DJ, band, and photographer also need to know the order so they can play the appropriate songs and capture the right moments. Basically, a reception schedule ensures that everything will go smoothly.

Below you will find an example of a reception schedule. You don't have to follow it perfectly, but it should give you an idea of how long to devote to the different events and how much time you'll need for your reception.

First Half Hour of Your Reception

Usually, the first thirty minutes of your reception will be left open for the guests arrival, cocktails, mingling, finding seats, etc. This also gives you time to complete your post-ceremony photography and to arrive at the reception site without delaying any of the festivities or making your guests impatient.

Second Half Hour of Your Reception

By this time, you should have arrived at the site. Your wedding party will be introduced. You'll make your entrance as the happy couple, and you may want to have a receiving line if you didn't do this at the ceremony location. Basically, you'll be getting comfortable and maybe visiting with some of your guests.

Second Hour of Your Reception

You should plan for at least one hour for dinner, especially if you are having a sit-down meal. More casual meals and buffets can be completed faster, but you don't want your guests to feel rushed. They need time to chat with one another and to enjoy the food.

If your meal is going to be shorter, you might want to include the cake cutting ceremony or some of the wedding speeches during this hour as well. Otherwise, you can schedule them into the third hour of your reception.

Third Hour of Your Reception

You may want to start off this hour with the speeches and/or the cake cutting if you didn't have time during the previous hour. Otherwise, spend this time focused on the dancing and on the rest of the entertainment. Make sure to give your DJ or band the order of special dances (i. e. daughter/father dance) so they can play the right music and make the appropriate announcements.

Fourth Hour of Your Reception

Early during this fourth hour, you should have the garter and bouquet toss if you've chosen to add them to the activities. Otherwise, just keep providing entertainment and dancing. Your guests will begin to dwindle in number as the last part of your party slowly comes to an end.

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