Wondering when to do speeches? Whether you should cut the cake before or after your first dance? Or how to make sure there’s actually enough time left for the dance floor?
Your wedding reception timeline is what keeps all those moments flowing behind the scenes. And while there’s no one timeline that works for every wedding, a little planning can make a huge difference.
Here’s a simple guide to help you get started.
5:30pm | Guests arrive
While you’re finishing photos, guests can arrive at the reception, grab a drink and enjoy canapés before finding their seats.
This is also a great time for background music and any interactive elements like a photo booth, audio guest book or champagne tower.
6:00pm | Reception begins
Once everyone is seated, it’s time for your entrance!
Your MC can welcome guests before introducing the wedding party and, of course, the newlyweds.
6:15pm | Dinner begins
Depending on your catering style, your first course can be served shortly after everyone is seated.
For shared or plated dining, speeches can often be spread between courses to keep the evening moving without having one long block of formalities.
7:00pm | Speeches
Speeches can easily run longer than expected, so allow a little breathing room in your wedding timeline.
You might have all your speeches together or break them up throughout dinner. Either way, make sure your MC knows the order and how much time has been allocated.
8:00pm | Cake cutting
Cake cutting is usually a quick moment and can work well towards the end of dinner before moving into the party portion of the night.
If your cake is being served as dessert, you may want to move this earlier so your caterer has enough time to cut and plate it.
8:15pm | First dance
Once dinner and speeches are wrapped up, your first dance is a natural way to transition into the dance floor.
You can also include parent dances here before inviting everyone else to join you.
8:30pm | Dance floor opens
Now for the fun part.
Once the formalities are finished, give yourselves plenty of uninterrupted time to celebrate. Try to avoid scheduling too many extra moments once the dance floor opens, as stopping and starting can quickly change the energy of the night.
10:30pm | Final moments
Depending on your venue’s finish time, you might plan a final song, late-night snack or farewell before wrapping up the celebration.
Your photographer may also finish earlier than your reception, so check that important moments like your cake cutting and first dance happen while they’re still there.
Remember, your timeline should suit your wedding
This is just an example. Your wedding reception timeline might look completely different, and that’s okay.
Cocktail weddings, long-table dinners, cultural traditions, sunset photos and different catering styles can all change how the evening flows.
The goal isn’t to squeeze everything into a strict schedule. It’s to create enough structure that your suppliers know what’s happening while still giving you space to actually enjoy your wedding.
Let Confetti + Co take care of the timeline
A good wedding timeline is about much more than deciding when dinner starts.
At Confetti + Co, we coordinate with your venue and suppliers to create a detailed timeline that brings every part of your day together. Then, when the wedding day arrives, our team is there to keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes.
So instead of checking the time, chasing suppliers or wondering what happens next, you can get on with celebrating.