When planning your wedding reception there are many things to consider beginning with the venue and including the food to be served, who should make the toasts, what to play for the first dance and when to serve the wedding cake. The plan for the reception is often not much different from a choreographed dance as each step flows into the next to ensure the event runs smoothly. Most receptions are held in a different venue than the ceremony. When the bride and groom arrive they set up a receiving line. This gives their guests the opportunity to congratulate them before they move on to a little refreshment. By the time the receiving line is completed the guests have had a drink and been served some small appetizers by the wait staff.
Now it is time for the bride and groom and those who joined them in the receiving line to sit down. The guests will sit when they see the newlyweds do the same. At this point you can choose to have the first speech or the first dance. The first dance is between the bride and groom. The next dance is usually the bride with her father. When you are ready for the speeches to begin you want to be certain that the wedding reception keeps up the pace. That means if you have more than one speech you may want to spread them out a little so they do not become boring. The groom and/or bride will also make a speech during the wedding reception. During their speeches it is important that they remember to thank their guests for coming to join them on their special day. It is common for the best man to make the first speech and this usually occurs before the meal begins. But, it is still your choice in what order you want things to happen.
Once dinner is over this may be the time to have the first dance if you opted to wait. This is the time your guests will be dancing. Give them some time to enjoy themselves on the dance floor before cutting and serving the cake. This brings them back to the tables and slows down your wedding reception for the last time. Once the cake cutting is done and dessert is served your guests are free to enjoy the rest of the evening milling around, talking to other guests, drinking and dancing. Whether your photographer stays all night be certain he gets some good guest shots.
At some point around eleven it will be getting close to the time you will be leaving. This is the time the bride will be throwing the bouquet. Depending on the way she feels the bouquet thrown could be the one she carried down the aisle or it might be a smaller one that looks similar that was made to throw. Many brides now want to take home the bouquet they got married with. After the bouquet has been caught the groom will remove the garter, if she is wearing one, and toss that. Again, sometimes the groom tosses a second one as she wants to keep the one from their special day. At this point the couple usually goes and changes into their street clothes so that they can leave. You might choose to have one more dance before leaving your wedding reception but either way it is your time to go. The reception will continue on for a short while without you. As you leave you will be able to look back into the room and see that it went smoothly and everyone enjoyed themselves.
