Common Format Of A Wedding Reception women women articles women information about women what is women Information for Women Search Now: Common Format Of A Wedding Reception plus articles and information on women
Article: 5571

Common Format Of A Wedding Reception


This information brought to you by Todays Sponsor! (womens travel clothing)
Discount Women's Clothing
Websites, Phone Numbers, Maps & Directions to Local Clothing Stores.
areaconnect.com
 Sweep the Leg
Watch the Karate Kid Free Online. Exclusively on Crackle.
crackle.com
 

Matt Campbell

The following article can be copied but you must keep about the author section.

Common format of a wedding reception:

  • Arrival of guests at hall
  • Introduction of wedding party
  • Introduction of bride and groom
  • Blessing
  • Meal
  • Cake Cutting
  • Toasts
  • Bride & Grooms First Dance
  • Father & Daughters Dance
  • Mother & Grooms Dance
  • Special Dances
  • Bouquet and Garter Toss
  • Dancing and Fun

Arrival of guests at reception site

Typically, a wedding lasts about 15 minutes. However, some guests do arrive early to the reception. Therefore, be sure all reception to-dos are complete by the start time of the wedding. Also, all wedding vendors should be wearing proper attire for early arriving and late staying guests. All tables should be set-up including cake table, entertainments table, sign-in table, food tables, and tables with chairs for all guests. If you have a seating arrangement, all seating lists should be at the reception with everyones name with where they are sitting.

Introduction of wedding party

This step is not mandatory, but it is nice for everyone to know who the wedding party is as many have not met before your wedding. Create a Reception Planning Guide and give this to your master of ceremonies prior to your wedding. This details, among other things, the order of entrance into the reception site with their names and titles. The order of entrance is as follows: parents of the bride, parents of the groom, ushers with bridesmaids, flower girl and ring bearer, special guests, best man, maid/matron of honor, bride and groom. In addition, review the pronunciations of the wedding partys names with the master of ceremonies.

Introduction of bride and groom

This is always the last of the introductions. Everyone should stand before the bride and groom enter. In addition, a special song can be arranged with the music entertainment and a special announcement made to punctuate a true grand entrance. Also, inform the master of ceremonies how you would like to be introduced: Mr. and Mrs. Smith or John and Jane Doe.

Blessing

This is another step that is not mandatory, but for the religious couples makes a nice setting. If you invite the person who performed the marriage ceremony to the reception, I would recommend having them conduct the blessing. If they are not able to attend, a parent or family friend is a good idea. Lastly, the master of ceremonies could give the meal blessing. Be sure to communicate with whomever is giving the blessing in advance so they are prepared to give a personal touch.

Meal

Its time to eat! Bride and Groom, be sure to stop and take a moment to eat. This may be your only chance in the day. In addition, it is customary for the bride and groom to start the food line. Most guests know to wait until the bride and groom start the food line. So dont be late!

Cake Cutting

This is the traditional bride and groom making the first cut on their wedding cake. Then, the bride feeds half of the piece of cake to the groom and the groom feeds the remaining half to the bride. The cutting of the cake is a ceremony intended to symbolize the caring and sharing for one another. Forks may be used as they make the image very attractive for the photographer. Forks may also minimize the possibility of someone being hurt with the more playful squashing that sometimes happens.

Toasts

The toast is when the bride and groom toast each other then interlock arms and drink. Immediately following, the best man and maid/matron of honor make toasts to the bridal couple. Be prepared for other family and friends to follow with their toasts too.

Bride & Grooms First Dance

The Bride & Grooms Dance is the first dance between a bride and groom as a married couple. The dance is also commonly known as the "First Dance". The timing of the bride groom dance can vary in the evening based on your preferences. The first dance can be done immediately following the grand entrance with the wedding party circling the dance.

Father & Daughters Dance

The Father & Daughters Dance or the Father Bride Dance is the dance between the fathers of the bride and the bride. Brides, if you have more than one father in your life, one can tap the other on the shoulder in the middle of the dance so you can dance with both of them. If you do not have a father, a common substitute is a father figure or even your brother would make a very nice gesture.

Mother & Grooms Dance

The Mother & Grooms dance is the dance between the mothers of the groom and the groom. Grooms, if you have more than one mother in your life, one can tap the other on the shoulder in the middle of the dance so you can dance with both of them. If you do not have a mother, a common substitute is a mother figure or even your sister would make a very nice gesture.

Special Dances

There may be songs in your life that mean dear to your heart. You can ask the music entertainment to play these songs during the night or immediately following the formal dances. An example would be: If someone dear to you passed recently, you may ask the music entertainment to play Angels Among Us by Alabama.

Bouquet and Garter Toss

The traditional tossing of the bouquet is when the bride tosses the bridal bouquet to all single women in attendance. Immediately following the bouquet tossing, a chair is set in the middle of the dance floor. The chair is for the bride to sit and the groom to remove the brides garter from her leg. The traditional tossing of the garter is when the groom tosses the brides garter to all the single men in attendance. The people whom catch the garter and bouquet are said to be the next one to marry.

Dancing and Fun

This is what you pay the music entertainment to do...get people to dance and have a good time. Give the music entertainment music examples and limitations of what type of music you want but dont give them a list of 100 songs they need to play.




Recommended Reading:

Discount Women's Clothing 
  • Websites, Phone Numbers, Maps & Directions to Local Clothing Stores.

  • >> View Site
     
    Sweep the Leg 
  • Watch the Karate Kid Free Online. Exclusively on Crackle.

  • >> View Site
     

    RELATED ARTICLES >>
    e-Book on Russian Women Part 4 - Women
     
    The Mother – Harnessing An Onslaught - Women
     
    Feng Shui Guidlines for Storage Spaces - Women
     
    Cant You See Im Working - Women
     
    Romance - Can It Last - Women
     
    The Rape Complex - Women
     
    Corsets - To Cinch Or Not To Cinch - Women
     
    e-Book on Russian Women Part 6 - Women
     
    8 Spray Tanning Tips - Women
     
    Celebrate V-day - Women
     
    Narcissists And Women - Women
     
    Wise Women Money Quiz: How Money-Wise Are You - Women
     
    Lindsay Lohan to Star in “Herbie the Love Bug” Remake - Women
     
    Feng Shui Monsters Under Your Bed - Women
     
    Last Updated: 2008-12-04     Need More? Check out Article-Max :: UltimateSearch Table of Contents :: docuMAX Network