Note: The following was a seminar given at the Downtown Bridal Show on Sunday, January 7, 2007 at the Park Place Hotel, Traverse City. Some attendees asked that the information be posted online. The vendors of “Traverse City Weddings” hope you find this helpful.
It is so important to keep your reception flowing. We've all been to weddings that for one reason or another tend to drag and guests get restless, sometimes so much so that some guests leave before the party even gets started. Suggestions for avoiding having this happen to you include:
Details, Details! Keeping Your Reception Flowing Smoothly
·
After the wedding party has finished eating, it is fine for the bride and groom to go cut the cake while some of their guests are still finishing their meals. People can still watch you cut the cake even if they are still eating. Then your caterers can cut the cake while guests finish eating. This way, cake is served immediately after the meal…or put out on a table for people to serve themselves.
·
Once the cake is cut, the couple may proceed to the dance floor for their first dance, followed by dances with parents and the wedding party. The cake may still be in the process of being cut and served…moving right into the specialty dances helps keep things moving during this time.
·
When the specialty dances are complete the dancing for everyone can begin. You may choose to throw the garter and bouquet right after these dances or save this for a little bit later in the evening…many couples also choose not to throw the garter and bouquet, but rather start the guest dancing with the Anniversary Dance. (The Anniversary Dance is a specialty dance in which all married couples come to the dance floor and are “dismissed” based upon the number of years they are married, starting with the couple that has been married 6 hours or less, then couples that have been married one year or less and proceeding with couples that have been married 5, 10, 15, etc. years or less until the couple that has been married the longest remains on the dance floor. The bride and groom then present them with the toss bouquet and pose with the couple for a memorable photo.) Some couples also want to have a Dollar Dance…this can be done after the Wedding Party Dance or also slightly later in the evening. (If you are having a Dollar Dance have the Best Man and Maid of Honor keep the dance line moving quickly…no more than 20-30 seconds per dance with the bride and groom. Otherwise, the Dollar Dance begins to drag on too long.) Regardless of whether or not you are including any or all of these traditional moments, just remember to keep things flowing. People have been sitting for a long time and are eager to get up, dance and mingle.
·
A good rule of thumb is to make sure that you have approximately 3 hours for dancing. I have found that this is just about right…not too much, not too little. Therefore a good schedule for the night could go like this for a reception lasting until Midnight:
Cocktail Hour - 6:00 p.m.
Wedding Party Arrives at 6:50/Introduced at 7:00 p.m.
Toast and Grace follow introduction (Toasts work great before dinner because you have your guests' undivided attention right after the introduction. Plus, if your Best Man and Maid of Honor are nervous about the toast, they can “get it over with” and enjoy dinner.)
Salads served at 7:20
Dinner is served about 15 minutes later
Cut Cake at 8:30
Specialty Dances begin at 8:40/8:45
Dancing for all guests begins about 9…giving you 3 hours for dancing. And the evening has been flowing smoothly without being rushed. This plan makes very good use of the time. The wedding reception is going to fly by…most couples have the use of the reception hall for a limited amount of time and you've contracted your DJ or musicians for a certain amount of time as well. You want to make the best use possible of the time you are allowed.
