Planning Your Wedding Timeline
Your Timeline is important!
It determines whether or not the reception will flow with forward momentum, making guests feel engaged and having FUN, OR giving them the feeling they’re watching a slow-movie, waiting for the next scene. Guests who are not involved & having fun might leave early!
As a client, PLEASE don't hesitate to reach out about any timeline questions or concerns. I'm glad to sit down with you and go over the entire days timeline- offer pros & cons to doing things in different order, and help plan a day that unfolds with forward momentum.
If you're considering adding time, or planning a ceremony extra early in the day, consider the last 2-3 weddings you attended. How long did you commit to staying? Most guests are planning for a 4-5 hour commitment. While you may envision the party rocking well into the night, the longer you extend your wedding, the higher the chances it will slowly fizzle, rather than ending with a bang.
A sample wedding reception format/time-line for a 6 hour contract (On-site ceremony with cocktail hour and reception to follow).
IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure you are not planning your timeline beyond your contracted time. It's important to reference your contract. Most DJ contracts account for a 5 hour reception starting with cocktail hour, or 6 hours including the ceremony & prelude while guests arrive and are seated.
4:00 PM - Guests Arrive for On-Site Ceremony
This is when our contracted start time begins, if we're hired for on-site ceremony coverage. During this time we play prelude / seating music to set the tone for your wedding, we coordinate important ceremony timing and details with your venue, day-of planner and your officiant, and we outfit your officiant with a wireless microphone.
4:30 PM - On-Site Ceremony
Most on-site ceremonies are short and sweet. Our contract typically allows for around 30 minutes, but if you had specific needs, yours may differ.
5:00 PM - Cocktail Hour Your guests arrive at your reception. Upon entering, they are greeted by background music. This combination of the entrance, the decorated reception room, and music will set the first, and lasting, impression. They will mingle and await the arrival of the wedding party.
6:00 PM - Introductions All wedding party members are introduced (by couple) in sequence, with the bride and groom entering last. The Bride and Groom’s grand entrance!
6:10 PM - First Dance After introductions is a great time to go right into your First Dance. Your guests are seated with their attention already focused.
6:15 ish - Parent Dances
Father / Daughter, Mother / Son, or other special dances This is a great time for parent dances. Father/Daughter and Mother/Son dances usually take under 10 minutes. The time for cake cutting and parent dances is often interchangeable after dinner, however these days it makes sense ot do them immediately following your first dance for a few reasons-
The lighting for all of your special dance will be the same, which has an affect on your Photographer or Videographer's work.
You already have your guest's attention, no need to clear the dance-floor or interrupt partying.
Getting these out of the way early, helps with forward momentum for the party later.
6:30 PM - Toasts (+ any Blessing/Grace) After introductions, the bridal party and newlyweds take their seats. A toast to the Bride and Groom is offered, usually by the best man and/or Maid/Matron of Honor. This is often followed by a grace or a blessing from a family member or a member of the clergy. The bride or groom (or parents) may also have a few words. If a salad is part of the meal, it’s often served to guests during toasts to keep things flowing.
6:45 ish - Dinner Dinner is served if this is a sit down affair, or the tables are invited in sequence for the buffet. In either scenario, the newlyweds and wedding party are first. *Consideration: In the case of a buffet style dinner, it's best that the catering or wait-staff invite tables to the buffet as needed. It's extremely tacky to have the DJ/MC announce this on the microphone, and it sets the tone more for a fast-food dining than a wedding.
8:00 PM Cake Cutting
Cutting the cake only takes 5-10 minutes, but remember, many guests will then sit and eat cake, so the dance-floor typically has a "buffer" period before things really kick off.
8:10 PM - Open Dancing! I consider this the dance-floor “soft” open... The music is dance-able, more upbeat, and has a bump in volume from dinner music, but rarely do guests run out and dance immediately after eating a meal / cake. This is the time for digesting, coffee, cocktails, mingling, and lighter dancing. Usually, this is when your older guests, parents, aunts & uncles etc. dance more, so we may play to their tastes with a few oldies now. Usually, they'll poop-out fast with a few oldies while your younger guests are getting inebriated. The party is just getting started!
8:30 PM Open Dancing! This is when the party kicks into gear. The reception fun is in full swing, and will continue throughout the night.
During this time period, we'd also work in any other events you wanted to include- throwing your bouquet for instance. It all depends on your preference.
9:55 PM (Depending on the length/hours of your reception)
Last Dance and any "send off" The last dance of the evening is announced. The bride and groom may choose to slip away at this point, or stay to say goodbye to their guests. if there is any special “send off”, it would be announced and coordinated at this time as well.
In Closing... It’s rare that everything happens right on schedule, as there are many varibales (how long will the best-man's toast be?) And frankly, it's a party, so the less "structured" it feels, the more fun it is!
The important thing is, you can relax and enjoy the day as guests of honor, without concern for the time or events. Your staff of professionals should coordinate the details behind the scenes.
As always, don't hesitate to contact me for any reason.
Best Wishes!
-Kirk R. Select Receptions by CNY Select DJs Syracuse Wedding DJ Services
