How To Schedule A Smooth Wedding Reception

Wedding Day scheduling considerations are arguably more crucial for the first half of the day which consists of the ceremony and wedding pictures, so it’s easy to miscalculate the importance of time management when it comes to the Wedding Reception.

The two key issues in determining a feasible and flowing Reception timetable are: (a) Is there a Receiving Line? (b) The number, duration and time of the Speeches.

In the absence of a Receiving Line, you don’t have much to worry about. Note, some couples put the Receiving Line immediately after the Wedding Ceremony (ie) inside the Church. Here, the amount of time set for the photography, including, Family, Wedding Party and Couple Shots could be adversely affected if the Receiving Line takes too long. Then, depending on the remaining time, the Newlywed’s pictures may be compromised in order for them to arrive at the Reception on schedule – and these are the last pictures you want to hurry through.

Back to the Reception. 5:30 is a typical starting time. Guests begin to arrive. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres are consumed. Dinner is frequently served at 7pm.

Let’s say you start the Receiving Line at 5:30. How long will it take? That depends on how many guests you have. An average wedding will have about 150 guests. If you and/or your guests are talkative you might be looking at 7:00. On average, if you estimate half a minute per guest, you’re looking at 75 minutes. If there are 250 guests or more, you might be in trouble (ie) Supper is pushed, which will threaten the quality of the meal.

For the wedding photography, it doesn’t matter whether there is a Receiving Line or not, or how long it takes. The job is to photograph whatever is happening. What is undeniable, though, is that the Receiving Line can be tiring for the Newlyweds – who have been going for many hours already, have experienced the intensity of the ceremony, and have done all their photos. Now, they now must stand and welcome people for a long time, with permanent smiles throughout. Once it’s over, most Couples are drained. At least dinner is right around the corner.

In some cases, the Receiving Line is a must. Certainly, for those in this situation, because it is simply a normal part of the day, having a Receiving Line may not be quite as unfavorable as it is portrayed. However, if there is a choice, you may like foregoing it.

What are the advantages of passing on the Receiving Line? (1) The Couple can take time to chill out and regroup once they arrive at the Reception Hall. After freshening up they can hang out with their guests who are arriving and enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres – instead of having to spend the entire time standing in one spot; (2) Being a part of the Cocktail hour with their guests will allow them to mingle in a more meaningful way than in the Receiving Line (ie) more creative wedding photography; (3) In absence of the Receiving Line, the Newlyweds can also connect with their guests at their tables between dinner courses.

The other part of the Reception which can impact the timetable concerns the Speeches. How many and how long? Invariably, most say there will be few and they will be brief. While that is sometimes the case, once the Wedding Day arrives it is not uncommon for there to be more Speeches than initially counted on, and there is often one Speech that is surprisingly long. Remember too that once Speeches happen, there has already been a good amount of liquor consumption.

So, when is the best time to do the Speeches? Well, if you are having a sit-down dinner that usually takes about 2 hours. Speeches last anywhere from 30-60 minutes. Therefore, if you schedule the Speeches after dessert your guests will be sitting on their butts for up to 3 hours – at least. That can suck the life out of the action before it has even begun. Having the Speeches spaced out throughout dinner works very nicely, culminating with the happy couple speaking when dessert is served. This way, once dessert is finished, you segue straight into the dancing.

If Speeches begin after dinner the guests can get impatient and head to the bathroom or outside for fresh air or cigarettes – which can be disruptive and even disheartening. Furthermore, what about the First Dance? If the Speeches take place throughout dinner then as the guests are eating dessert the Newlyweds can say a few, or a lot of, words and then immediately have their First Dance. In this case, almost everyone will still be seated or in the room. On the other hand, if the Speeches are given after dinner then you might end up with a half-empty room on your hands.

By the way, some Couples decide to do their First Dance just before dinner. Here, everyone is seated and all eyes are on them. One possible disadvantage is if the space is naturally well-lit it is usually still bright at about 7pm which may not be as dramatic as being spot-lit in a darkened room.

Take into consideration that by Reception time the Bride and Groom have been up since early morning. A boatload of energy has been expended. Accordingly, planning a Reception Schedule that flows nicely and isn’t burdensome can help put an exclamation mark on what should be a magnificent day.

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