Weddings! Beautiful beginnings which are as individual as you are.
This suggested order for your reception is here to help to relieve some of the stress associated with planning such an important event.
You can rearrange the order or omit items to suit your wedding theme and style.
Remember, it is your day and your reception should reflect your personalities and tastes.
Ensure that the Master of Ceremonies has a copy of the reception order.
Arrival of the wedding guests – Cocktail period, usually outside of the main reception room, during which the wedding party photographs can be taken. This is an opportunity for your guests to mingle and meet people as they are served drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
Arrival of the wedding party - Have the Maid-of-Honour retouch your makeup and ensure that you are tidy for the photographs and ready to receive your guests. It may be a good idea for you and your new husband to have a glass of water to refresh yourselves.
The receiving line – This is the formal start to the reception. As the persons in the line will be shaking hands and possibly hugging the guests, ensure that all hands are free of bouquets etc. Also, remember that your guests may not know everyone in the line so the members of the wedding party should introduce themselves, state their position in the Bridal Party and their relationship to the Newlywed couple e.g. “Hi, I’m John, the Best Man and the groom’s brother”.
The Traditional order is:
Mother of the Bride - Father of the Bride - Mother of the Groom - Father of the Groom – Bride - Groom - Maid of Honour - Best Man – Bridesmaid – Groomsman - Bridesmaid -Groomsman.
At a less formal reception the guests may be greeted by just the Bride and Groom. *Listed at the bottom of the page are some variations on this order.
After being greeted the guests can be seated.
Announcing the bridal party - After you have greeted all of your guests and they are seated, the Bridal Party is announced and ushered to their tables, then, with great fanfare, the Newlywed couple is introduced.
Ensure the Master of Ceremonies or the person announcing has a list of everyone’s names and positions in the order of their entry.
A suggested entry order is: - The Bride’s Parents – The Groom’s Parents – Bridesmaids & Groomsmen (in couples) – Maid-of-Honour & Best Man – Flower Girl & Ring Bearer – The Bride & Groom.
Toasts / Speeches – The Best Man makes the first toast followed by the Maid-of-Honour, the Father of the Groom and finally the Father of the Bride.
Blessing of the meal (optional).
Meal service - The head table is served first and once you have finished eating you may walk around and visit the various tables. This would be a great opportunity to spend some time with your guests and take photographs.
The first dance – The Bride and Groom open the dancing. Once you have danced to your special song, then, traditionally, the Bride dances with her father and the Groom with his mother. After this you can choose to exchange partners, for example, the Groom with the Bride’s mother etc. The attendants and guests are then invited to dance.
The cake cutting ceremony – At this point the couple are invited to cut the cake and there may be additional toasts. The Groom traditionally makes a speech which begins “On behalf of my wife and I…”
General dancing – Dancing can continue.
Tossing the bouquet and the garter – The unmarried females gather for the bouquet toss and the unmarried males for the garter toss.
Last dance of the couple and departure for the honeymoon.
Finally, the guests depart.
* Some variations on the order of the receiving line
