Wedding Day timing considerations are arguably more crucial for the earlier part of the day which consists of the ceremony and wedding photography, so it’s easy to overlook the significance of time management when it comes to the Wedding Reception.
The two central issues in determining an effective and flowing Reception timetable are: (a) Is there a Receiving Line? (b) The timing of the Speeches.
Without a Receiving Line, you don’t have much to worry about. Now, some couples put their Receiving Line right after the Ceremony (ie) outside the Church. Here, the time allocated for the photography, including, Family, Wedding Party and Couple Shots could be adversely affected if the Receiving Line takes too much time. Then, depending on how much time there is, the Newlywed’s pictures may be compromised in order for them to make it to 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 assume you begin the Receiving Line at 5:30. How long will it take? Depends on the quantity of people. Most weddings will have approximately 150 guests. If you and/or your guests are talkative it could easily take until 7:00. On average, if you calculate 30 seconds per guest, you’re looking at 75 minutes. If there are 250 guests or more, there may be issues (ie) Supper starts later, which could threaten the quality of the meal.
For the wedding photographer, it’s basically irrelevant if there is a Receiving Line or not, or how long it takes. Anything and everthing will be photographed. What cannot be denied, though, is that the Receiving Line can be exhausting for the Newlyweds – who have recently had their ceremony, and who, in most cases, have just arrived at the Hall from doing their pictures. After all that, they are expected to stand and receive people for a long time, with permanent smiles throughout. By the end of it, most Couples are toast. At least dinner is usually not far off at this point.
For many cultures, the Receiving Line is a must. No doubt, for these folks, because it is simply a normal part of the day, having a Receiving Line may even be fun. However, if there is a choice, you may be partial to giving it a pass.
What do you get by passing on the Receiving Line? (1) The Couple can relax for a short time, maybe 15 minutes, once they arrive at the Reception Hall. After freshening up they can actually be a part of the Cocktail hour – as opposed to spending the entire time rooted to one spot; (2) Being a part of the Cocktail hour with their friends and family will allow them to connect in a more profound way than in the Receiving Line (ie) more creative wedding photography; (3) In absence of the Receiving Line, the Newlyweds can also visit their guests at their tables between dinner courses.
The other part of the Reception which can impact the flow of the evening concerns the Speeches. How many and how long? Invariably, most say there won’t be many and they won’t be prolonged. While that is sometimes the case, once the Wedding Day arrives there are frequently more Speeches than initially counted on, and there is often one Speech that is surprisingly long. Take into account too that once Speeches begin, there has already been a decent amount of liquor consumption.
So, when should you have 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 set the Speeches after dessert everyone will be stationary for up to 3 hours – at least. That serves to deaden the party before it has even begun. Having the Speeches spaced out throughout dinner works very nicely, culminating with the Bride and Groom speaking as dessert is served. That way, once dessert is finished, you segue straight into the dancing.
If Speeches begin following dinner the crowd can get restless and leave the room – which can be disruptive and even disappointing. Also, most Couples have their First Dance at the conclusion of the Speeches. If the Speeches take place throughout dinner then as the guests are finishing dessert the Newlyweds can speak and then head straight to the dance floor and have their First Dance. In this case, almost non one will have left the room. On the other hand, if the Speeches are done after dinner then by the time they finish and it’s time for the First Dance, you may have low attendance on your hands.
Note that some Couples decide to have their First Dance just before dinner. Here, everyone is seated and everyone is focused on them. One possible drawback is if there are windows in the room it is usually still light at about 7:00 and that may not be as romantic as evening lighting.
Now, 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 contribute immensely to realizing an unforgettable wedding day.
Tags: wedding day schedule, wedding photography, wedding reception, wedding reception schedule