A Sample Wedding Reception Timeline

A good timeline keeps the night moving without feeling rushed. Here's a sample for a 6-hour reception starting at 5:00 PM. Every wedding is different, so we'll build yours together at our planning meeting.

• 5:00 PM – Cocktail hour: background music while guests arrive

• 6:00 PM – Guests seated; grand entrance of the wedding party and couple

• 6:10 PM – Welcome, blessing or prayer (optional)

• 6:15 PM – Dinner served, with dinner music

• 7:15 PM – Toasts from the best man and maid of honor

• 7:30 PM – First dance, then parent dances

• 7:45 PM – Open dancing begins

• 8:30 PM – Bouquet and garter toss (optional)

• 10:45 PM – Last dance

• 11:00 PM – Send-off

A few tips for your timeline:

• Do toasts while guests are still seated, right after dinner. Attention is highest then.

• Move straight from the first dance into open dancing so the energy carries over.

• Keep cake cutting short, and have the DJ start a big song right after.

• Share the final timeline with your DJ, photographer, venue and planner one to two weeks before the wedding.