That said, there's still a lot of flexibility to customize it. Who you are as a couple, what you value, where you plan to hold your celebration, and the size of your guest list all play a big part in how the evening unfolds. The key here is to customize a schedule that makes sense within those parameters. While there's no single calendar for weddings, we spoke to experts across the country to discuss a basic framework that works for almost any couple.
Some couples choose to include guests after having just a minute or two of their first solo dance. This gives an opportunity to replenish energy between all the guests and the wedding party before everyone sits down to dinner. If you want a shorter reception, there are many parts that can be eliminated from the traditional wedding schedule. Some people eat muffins instead of a wedding cake to reduce cutting and serving time, or eliminate cocktail hour before dinner, special dances, or toasts.
The average wedding reception lasts between four and five hours. Between cocktail hour, dinner, toast and first dances, a three-hour reception may not work for other important events, such as cake cutting and open dancing. While you can shorten some events or reduce the time for each one to save time, you don't want to rush your guests to dinner or put an end to the open dance when the guests start enjoying the music. This may be preceded by the introduction of the members of the bridal party, depending on the bride and groom's choices for their wedding. This is if you haven't set aside another time to meet your guests elsewhere on your wedding reception schedule.
Keep in mind that traditional wedding etiquette dictates that it's acceptable to abandon the wedding once the cake has been cut, so it's best to perform this formality after all the other key moments of the night. In the most atypical weddings, some guests may make toasts, although before dinner you have to do it briefly. For nighttime weddings, Chan recommends that you try to sneak out during cocktail hour and enjoy a quick bite together. At the end of the dinner, the godfather and the bridesmaid can offer their toasts during this time of the wedding.
The wedding party is prepared just outside the reception, and ushers usually enter first, followed by groomsmen and bridesmaids in pairs. If you are planning a wedding with two bride and groom or you are not going to need formal hair and makeup services, you can remove this detail from your calendar. Dividing the entire day into an organized wedding schedule helps keep everything under control from start to finish. The wedding schedule should include the entire day, including everything from preparation to the last song of the night.
During this time, photographers can take pictures of the wedding attire, including the dresses, suits or tuxedos, the rings, the invitation suite, and any other key details. Family-style dinners at weddings are also increasingly popular and provide people with more opportunities to network. The start time of the ceremony that appears on the wedding invitations is actually just for the guests; for everyone else (the couple, the wedding party, and many of the vendors), the big day starts much earlier than indicated on the invitation. For example, let guests enjoy a cocktail for longer while the wedding party takes photos, or let the floor dance for longer. The wedding can be fully equipped with a traditional three-course dinner served to guests at their table, and food options are chosen when the confirmation of attendance is returned to the couple.
