Many brides may not know this, but you need to have an agenda or schedule for your wedding reception. Usually your wedding planner or contact person for your reception venue will go over this with you. However some venues may not and if this happens you need to be prepared.
When I meet with my brides to finalize their wedding reception (which is usually at least 2 months before), the agenda or schedule is the first thing we go over. I will ask the following questions:
- What time and where is your ceremony?
- What time do you want the doors unlocked for your guests to arrive?
- What time will the wedding party arrive? (Many times couples will take pictures or go for an hour limo ride after the ceremony)
- When the wedding party arrives, what do you want to do next? Slideshow? Cake Cutting? Food? Toasts?
- If you will be eating dinner as soon as you arrive, when would you like to cut your cake or play your slideshow?
- Are you doing a prayer before dinner?
- Are you doing speeches? If so, when?
- What time do you want your dance to begin?
- What time do you plan to end your evening?
These are all very important things for your planner and reception venue coordinator to know in order to help your reception go as smooth as possible. This is just a general guideline for the planner to follow. You may arrive that evening and want to change things around a bit, and that’s ok! It’s your day!
– Tarah Sackman, Ivy Room, Sioux Falls, SD