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Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Philadelphia | Leah Miessler
Your parents, immediate family, and closest friends are excited to witness you say, “I do.” But most of your wedding guests are probably looking forward to your wedding reception even more!
That means you’ll want to do some thoughtful planning and make it a moment everyone can enjoy.
You can have any type of reception — from ultra-casual and low-key to formal and upscale. Plus, you can structure it any way you want!
However, most couples will follow the traditional wedding reception order of events.
Here’s the typical order of events for a wedding reception! We’ve also included tips on what to wear to your reception and what happens after you dance the last dance!
What Happens at a Wedding Reception?
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Oakbrook | Ashtyn Brooke
Your wedding reception is a celebration of many things:
It’s a night for dining and dancing, speeches and toasts, and important moments like cutting the cake. Some couples also choose to include traditions like the bouquet toss and garter toss or religious and cultural elements.
The wedding reception is the culmination of all the great work you’ve put into wedding planning. It’s also where you’ll have your first meal and first dance as a married couple!
The wedding party members and guests are there to eat, drink, dance, and enjoy themselves.
However, the brides and grooms also have to make time to thank guests for attending and being a part of their big day. That may involve thanking every individual guest, one by one, at a small wedding. At a larger reception, it usually means going table to table to say your thank yous in small groups.
Order of Events for a Traditional Reception
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Birmingham | Heather Durham
It’s your wedding day, and you can plan it however you choose. However, even at an unconventional reception, couples typically follow the traditional wedding reception timeline.
Most couples stick to this order of events:
Cocktail Hour
The cocktail hour, which typically lasts exactly an hour, is a chance for wedding guests to get a cocktail, enjoy tasty hors d’oeuvres, and mingle.
Sometimes, the couple and the wedding party take photos at this time. So, if you don’t want to miss out on your own cocktail hour, consider doing a first look earlier in the day and taking photos before your wedding ceremony.
At the end of the cocktail hour, you’ll invite guests to sit down for dinner. They’ll locate their place cards and take their seats.
Wedding Party Entrance & Couples’ Grand Entrance
Once the wedding guests are seated at their tables, the wedding party is announced. Groomsmen and bridesmaids typically walk in (or dance in) in pairs, followed by the newlyweds!
The First Dance
Upon entering the reception space, the newly married couple does the first dance. The first dance is one of the most important moments of the reception. It’s a chance to hold each other close and display your love and affection.
Related: 13 Best First Dance Wedding Songs
Welcome Speech & First Toast
The couple takes their seats at a head table when the first dance is complete. The parents of the bride or groom greet the guests with a brief welcome speech to thank the guests for coming.
Depending on the couple’s faith, the speech may conclude with a blessing or a prayer to kick off the dinner service.
First Course of Dinner Is Served
If you’re having a sit-down dinner, the first course is served right after the welcome speech. If you’re having a buffet reception or cocktail reception with stations, this is the time to invite people to line up and help themselves.
Best Man & Maid of Honor Toasts
With a sit-down dinner reception, the best man and maid of honor usually deliver their speeches and toast the couple between the first and second course of dinner.
With a buffet or cocktail reception, you can schedule time for speeches before the guests eat or at the end of the meal.
Depending on how long your ceremony was and what types of appetizers you served at your cocktail hour, your guests may be quite hungry by this point. For buffet and cocktail receptions, couples often like the guests to eat first and schedule their wedding party speeches at the end of the meal.
Father-Daughter & Mother-Son Dances
After dinner comes the father-daughter dance and the mother-son dance. Some brides and grooms do extra dances with other family members, such as grandparents, step-parents, or their own children.
Dance Floor Opens
After the parent dances and any other special dances you choose to do, the dance floor opens, and the band or DJ encourages all of the guests to get up and dance!
By this point, the dinner service has concluded, plates are cleared from the table, and the bar is open.
While guests are dancing, the couple makes their rounds and greets every guest table by table. Then, the couple hits the dance floor and parties with everyone already on their feet!
Optional Bouquet Toss & Garter Toss
The traditions of tossing the bouquet and garter have tapered off quite a bit in recent years. If you plan to keep these traditions, there’s no specific time frame for doing them.
Some couples do them right after the parent dances, some do them mid-way through the reception, and some skip them altogether.
Wedding Cake Cutting & Dessert Service
Some couples serve cake at the end of dinner service. Others do the cake-cutting about one hour before the reception ends. The latter gives guests a chance to dance for a bit, then sit and relax with coffee and cake!
In addition to serving cake, invite your guests to your sweet table or dessert bar for additional treats.
The Last Dance
The last dance is exactly what it sounds like — one last opportunity to get all of your loved ones on the dance floor! It’s a special moment that can be bittersweet because it means your amazing reception is nearly over.
Grand Exit
The grand exit is the moment to say your goodbyes and have your friends and loved ones give you the send-off of a lifetime! You may want guests to pop champagne bottles of confetti, send off lanterns, or light sparklers.
Check with your wedding venue to know what’s allowed and what’s not.
What Should the Bride Wear to Her Wedding Reception?
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Indianapolis | Shelly Ruth
Most brides wear their wedding dress to the ceremony and reception, but some do an outfit change into a completely different look. If you want two major fashion moments on the big day, an outfit change is the way to do it!
The decision to change into a second dress often depends upon a few things, like:
Another option is to change at the very end of the reception to enjoy a different look for your getaway or after-party.
Check out our reception wedding dress collection of little white dresses to find dozens of chic looks for your big day!
What Happens After a Wedding Reception?
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Freehold | Nicole Klym
Some couples depart from the reception venue and head straight home or to their hotel to consummate the marriage.
Others throw an amazing after-party!
An after-party is most common if the wedding reception ends by 10 PM. If your reception lasts until midnight or beyond, an after-party might not be necessary.
An after-party can also be a spur-of-the-moment decision. It can be as informal and spontaneous as inviting anyone who wants to continue the celebration to join you at a nearby bar or lounge.
Your wedding reception will be one of the most memorable occasions of your life, so no matter the order of events, make every moment count! The traditional timeline works well for most couples, but it’s totally up to you to decide what to do and when.
