timelines

I"d love too see the timeline for your weddings

After viewing many playlists, I see a huge variation of when the cake is cut, when the last dance is played I would like to see you give yours and describe where your from

I have seen a few here that list their timelines along with their playlist and would love to see that expanded to include the entire playlist along with the timelines showing the b/g first dance, m/s and f/d so on......

if this could be a sticky that would be great

1. Grand Entry
2. Dinner
3. Toasts
4. 1st Dance
5. Cake
6. Garter/buoquet toss
7. Other dances
8. Dollar Dance
9. Anniversary dance
10 open dancing

1. Grand Entrance
2. Greeting From Bride and Groom (sometimes)
2. Dinner
3. Toasts
4. Cake
5. First Dance
6. Father Daughter
7. Mother Son
8. Bridal Party/Immediate Family
9. Any other "special" dances as called for
10. Garter/bouquet toss
11. Anniversary Dance
12. Dollar Dance
13. Special Kids' Dances (hand out Glow necklaces or bracelets)
14. Open Dancing...
15. Last Dance


Now, this is how it goes "most of the time" but we will change anything that the Bride and Groom want us to do...it's their day. The only thing we impress upon them is that they need to do the formalities early while all their guests are still in attendance.

I like to do the Anniversary Dance before the Dollar Dance (if they are doing both), as I still have all the married couples at the edge of the dance floor (I don't let them leave!) and if the B&G have a special presentation for the longest married couple they do that while everyone is there.

I then present (out of my own pocket) two crisp two-dollar bills to each one and have them step up to be the first to dance with the newlyweds in the Dollar Dance to get things started.

I also have all those other couples right there on the side of the dance floor, so I don't have that long wait getting people up from their seats to the dance floor. It truly helps us doing it this way.

Once we get started, it's pretty much as seamless as possible...in other words, no long gaps between scheduled events. Everyone is contacted (about 10 minutes beforehand) and warned that they are to be ready to go...Coreen runs a tight ship! :)


Like everything, it's subject to change.. :D

We're located in Central Illinois....

Kirby's right. The itinerary can change on a moment's notice. If you've ever read the intros from last-moment scribblings on a cocktail napkin, you'll know. :)

Every bride has her own thoughts about how she'd like her reception protocol to proceed. Recently, we went into the first dance as soon as the grand entrance was announced. The wedding party was escorted to the head table afterwards. The buffet was opened and the rest of the dances were done, starting with the cake.

Just some thoughts.

Kirby's right. The itinerary can change on a moment's notice. If you've ever read the intros from last-moment scribblings on a cocktail napkin, you'll know. :)

Oh yeah, that just happened a couple of weeks ago. Usually involves the ring bearer or flower girl not wanting to walk in by themselves and attach themselves to one of the Bridal party or just not get introduced at all.

Every bride has her own thoughts about how she'd like her reception protocol to proceed. Recently, we went into the first dance as soon as the grand entrance was announced. The wedding party was escorted to the head table afterwards. The buffet was opened and the rest of the dances were done, starting with the cake.

Last year we had a Bride that wanted their first dance right after their introductions....The venue had already put out the buffet on the covered dance floor...boy did they have to move things quick! :sqrolleyes:
Just some thoughts.


We are finding more and more Brides that just don't have a clue and of course it's our job to "guide" them in the right direction... :D

This is a topic that never has a happy ending, (arguing, debating, Etc.)
Because every wedding is different & every market area is different. What they do in NYC does NOT work in my area, Etc.
Example: Most weddings in my area...dancing starts AFTER dinner. I know in NYC it is much different.

If you need assistance, Ask your local fellow DJs.

But..it really matters what the bride & groom want & if it works with the banquet manager, becuase a flow needs to be established.

DJ-Tapout:

I'm in Maryland but do lots of weddings in DC, Virginia, and Southeastern PA. Here's my recommended timeline:


Bridal Party Entrance
Grand Entrance
First Dance
Blessing
Toast(s)
Greeting From Bride and Groom
Dinner
Father Daughter
Mother Son
Bridal Party/Immediate Family
Any other "special" dances as called for
Open Dance
Garter/bouquet toss
Garter Place
Anniversary Dance
Dollar Dance
Cake
Open Dance
Farewell DanceNotes:

I recommend the first dance after the grand entrance to take advantage of the energy that has been built up during the grand entrance. Also, if the couple is shy or not into dancing, I recommend that they let others that wish to join in come up after the photographer has gotten some good shots.

In some areas the toast goes before the meal and in others it is after. Verify the typical way it is done in your area. If they are going to have a blessing, it should be before the meal or toast.

As Kirby indicated, the greeting is optional. Heck, a lot of it is optional.

I recommend that the parent dances be done after dinner to start building energy again and also to not overload the time before the meal with formalities. Also, if you have a lot of father/daughter couples and mother/son couples in attendance then you can recommend that they be invited to join in the mother/son and father/daughter.

I usually schedule the cake 45 minutes after the completion of the meal. Different areas have different ways of handling this. The cake is always one of the last formalities just in case the B&G decide to smash cake.

I recommend that the garter toss happen before the bouquet toss. This is done this way to increas the participation of the single guys because, if they know the lady that may be putting the garter on is, ummm, let's say, not aesthetically pleasing, they will tend to not participate. But, if your area does not do a garter place then this is not a problem.

If there are not enough single folks to make it worthwhile, I recommend replacing the garter/bouquet toss with the anniversary dance. The garter and bouquet can then be used as a presentation to the winners of the anniversary dance.

Lastly, I call the last dance the farewell dance because, hopefully, this will not be there last dance together.

Enough information? :sqlaugh:

Intros
cocktail if still time before dinner
Seating
Blessing
Dinner
Toasts
slide show if applicable
Activity or game if wanted (Scavenger hunt, newlywed game, etc.)
First dance
F/D
M/S
Anniversary Dance
Wedding party
open dancing
Dollar dance
open dancing
Bouquet and Garter
open dancing

I agree, nothing set in stone. Around here, we do not do all the activities at the same time. They are throughout the evening.

I have never had a first dance before dinner.

Cake cutting is not a big deal here either. It is usually right after the B and G arrive or if they don't need the "Cake" for dinner, sometimes after.

I have never had a first dance before dinner.

Karl:

I realize that some areas set up finger food stations on the dance floor for cocktails but, if that isn't true of your area, try recommending the first dance after the grand entrance. You might be surprised at how well it works.

Tom,

I would have to say 75% + of the venues I work at have the dance area for eating. So tables have to be cleared before anything can be done on the floor. I have a venue where I worked once where people had to wait for others to get done eating and get up so they would have a place to sit. I have another wedding there in September this year.

I honestly would not like that. We go into the other family and formal dances after the first dance. That would throw off everything. Again, what works one place, doesn't in another.

This is a topic that never has a happy ending, (arguing, debating, Etc.)
Because every wedding is different & every market area is different. What they do in NYC does NOT work in my area, Etc.
Example: Most weddings in my area...dancing starts AFTER dinner. I know in NYC it is much different.

If you need assistance, Ask your local fellow DJs.

But..it really matters what the bride & groom want & if it works with the banquet manager, becuase a flow needs to be established.


DITTO -- timeline varies by region, by venue, and by the individual couple.

In my area, the typical reception goes:

1) Grand entrance (80% just B/G only, 20% want entire WP announced)
2) Announce food/buffet or "please be seated"
3) Eat
4) toasting & speeches
5) cut cake
6) throw bouquet
7) garter removal and toss (40% seem to be opting out of garter)
8) 1st dance of B/G
9) F/D dance
10) Mother-groom dance (about 50/50 split on who does this)
11) Anniversary Dance or Wedding Party Dance (about 50/50 on this one)
12) open dancing
13) last dance of B/G