Your wedding reception is supposed to be a lot of things: a celebration of love for your partner, a time for your friends and family to express their joy for you, a tasty dinner, a raucous party. But above all, a wedding reception should be organized. If you don?t have things planned out in advance, you?ll never get everything done!
Not sure how you should plan out your big party" We?ve got a sample timeline that will help you move easily from one activity to the next. Take a look below to get a feel for the typical ?flow? of a wedding reception. Note: for our purposes, we?ve set our schedule to start at 5 p.m., but feel free to adjust this timeline to suit your own wedding plans.
The Cocktail Hour (5:00)

Cocktail hour should begin just after you say ?I do.? Whether you and your new spouse are scurrying off to take your photos or sticking around to mingle with your guests, the hour immediately following your ceremony should be reserved for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and conversation among your guests. This time allows your vendors to finish setting up the reception space, and it also helps your guests transition from the reverent vibe of the ceremony to the relaxed vibe of the reception. The Grand Entrance and First Dance (6:00)
After everyone has had a chance to mingle, wet their whistles, and find their seat in the reception hall, it?s time for the bridal party?s grand entrance. Usually, the DJ or band will initiate this moment, asking guests to look toward t...