Time to eat! Whether you're serving your reception meal as a plated dinner, family style, or buffet style, it's best to let guests eat shortly after entering the party. Any blessings or prayers to be said before the reception meal will also be offered at this time. This is a nice opportunity for the newlyweds and/or their parents (the hosts of the event) to briefly thank all of their guests for attending the big day. At Jewish weddings, the hora (a lively circle dance) usually takes place after the first dance and before dinner. At some weddings, couples perform their first dance immediately after entering the reception-at others, they'll wait until after dinner. First DanceĪccording to a recent WeddingWire study, 90 percent of couples performed a first dance during their wedding reception, making it the most popular wedding tradition. The couple may then take their place on the dance floor for the first time as a married couple. Guests are asked to stand up and cheer as the newlyweds are introduced and enter the reception to a celebratory tune. Note that a wedding party entrance is not mandatory-if desired, you can skip it and go straight to the next step. They may either form a line around the dance floor to watch the first dance, or take their seats. The DJ or band will play some upbeat music and introduce the couple's parents and wedding party members as the VIPs dance into the reception. While guests are filing into the reception room, the wedding party (bridesmaids, groomsmen, bridesmen, groomsladies, flower girls, and ring bearers) and immediate family members are lining up to make their grand entrance. Hopefully, your guests will have retrieved their escort cards or looked at a seating chart sign during cocktail hour to make the process quick and seamless.

Guests Enter the ReceptionĪs cocktail hour comes to a close, the doors to the reception space are opened and guests are encouraged to enter the space and find their tables. Many newlyweds opt to take their portraits during cocktail hour, but you can also take photos before the ceremony if you're okay doing your 'first look' then. And, if the ceremony and reception are taking place in the same room, the cocktail hour allows the venue staff time to restage the space. This is particularly important if your ceremony and reception are taking place at different locations, as it allows some time for your guests to travel between venues (you may want to bump your cocktail hour time up to 90 minutes if the two venues are some distance apart). The cocktail hour is a time for guests to enjoy a beverage or two, some hors d'oeuvres, and conversation, but it also serves as a buffer between the wedding ceremony and reception. This tradition may seem a bit outdated to some (particularly during COVID times), but if you're planning on having a receiving line (when guests form a line to greet the newly-married couple one by one), it would take place before the reception, either at the ceremony venue or as guests are entering the reception site. Note that this timeline begins after the ceremony has already taken place. Be sure to discuss the timing of your reception with your venue before creating your wedding reception order of events.

Again, this all depends on your venue contract, as different venues offer different wedding packages that include a certain number of hours, and there may be noise restrictions at your chosen location.

One quick thing before we move into the timeline-how long should a wedding reception last? Including cocktail hour, a wedding reception typically lasts between four and seven hours. Here's a suggested wedding reception order of events to help you get started: How long is a wedding reception? Your wedding planner or venue coordinator will likely help you draft a reception timeline-make sure you share it with all of your vendors (particularly your caterer and DJ or bandleader), and your VIPs (wedding party and close family members). Keeping to a wedding reception timeline will ensure that your guests have time to eat, drink, dance, and mingle, as well as enjoy special dances and traditions that people expect at a celebration. And while yes, you should absolutely relax and enjoy yourself, there's also a wedding reception order of events that you'll want to follow. Yes, your wedding reception is supposed to be a time to let loose and celebrate with your family and friends.

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