Wedding Please critique my itenerary!

[oobiecoo]

I am meeting with the reception ste coordinator for the final time today and need to give her an itenerary. This is what I was thinking about but please let me know if I am leaving anything out or doing things in a weird order. Thanks!



Reception starts at 12:30pm with soft music playing
12:45- Cheese, Fruit, and wine served
1:15- Prayer and begin serving food
1:30- First dance/dad daughter dance/ open dance floor (is this too early? our families like to dance so we wanted to give them lots of time)
2:30- Cut cake
4:00- Bouquet Toss/ Garter Toss
4:15- "staged going away" (photog requires this and I''m not too happy about it so it will probably be just parents and bridal party and not announced really)
6:00- We leave
6:30- reception officially ends

What do you all think?
Where do toasts go? before cutting the cake?

We will also have croquet on the lawn once the reception starts and will go until the end.

 

[Courtneylub]

The toast comes after the cake cutting usually..I''m pretty sure.

 

[Elmorton]

Toasts should probably go prior to food being served - after everyone has found their seat, then do toasts, then prayer, then food.. although I did go to an appetizer reception where the toasts were given after the first dance, and that worked out well too - the key is really just making sure people are seated. Another appetizer reception had toasts right after the bridal party was introduced, and that worked out very nicely also. But typically, if a meal is to be served, toasts are before the meal.

Your caterer might have some input as to when the cake is cut -- I wanted to cut it after the meal, but our caterer wanted us to do it much earlier so they had plenty of time to cut it and plate it before it was served. Also, if you do your cake cutting earlier (before dancing) more people are likely to actually see it and you don't have to pause the party (or lose dancing momentum!). Your caterer might prefer that you cut your cake before the meal is served - I think a nice place to do it would be after toasts and before the prayer?

Also, depending on the number of guests, 15 minutes may not be enough time for everyone to even have a plate in front of them, let alone be finished eating. You want the majority of your guests to have time to eat or the dance floor will be empty when the music begins. Remember that the first dances only like about 10 minutes (depending on the length of your songs). My reception was in the evening, but we allotted an hour for dinner before dancing began. Ours was a buffet though, so it took awhile for everyone to get through, and we did serve cake right after, but still - I would think even if it were one plated course and cake was served later, you'll still want to give about 30 mins at least for people to get served and eat. Remember, once dancing begins it may be harder to hear conversation, due to the music, and people will probably want to talk at their table and enjoy the meal. Plus - give yourself a little time to eat, also!! Because of mingling, people coming up to talk, talking to my husband, I think I managed to eat 12 bites over the course of an hour...serious bummer!

HTH a little!!

ETA: The croquet sounds really fun! What a nifty idea for an afternoon reception - I bet you'll get some really fabulous photo opportunities there.

 

[oobiecoo]

Thanks guys! I didn''t have time to respond before our meeting but I did read these and made a few changes. I really appreciate the input... I want everything to flow well so our guests have a great time

 

[goldenstar]

Does your meal have a first course like soup or salad? Toasts can go on during the first course.

ETA: oops, looks like i'm a little late