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Lyn
Just Said Yes August 2021

Reception Timeline Questions

Lyn, on June 22, 2021 at 3:53 PM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 5
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Can someone take a look at my day-of timeline and see what you would think of it as a guest?

My FH and I can't seem to agree on a couple things like how many speeches to have and when to cut the cake.

So far we're looking at:
4pm Ceremony
4:45-6pm Cocktail Hour/Mingling
6pm - Grand Entrance
6:10-6:25- Parent speeches, our welcome toast, blessing
6:30- Food line opens
7:15- sneak off for sunset pics
7:30 - toasts from Maids of Honor (2) and Best Men (2)
7:50 - Cake cutting
7:55- First Dance
8pm-Parent Dances
8:10- Dance Floor Opens. Dessert is served
8:30- Garter and bouquet tosses
10:50- last dance
11pm - sparkler send off

Any suggestions or thoughts? And is it rude to put a time limit on each speech? I want to tell everyone to keep it under 4 minutes and my fiance thinks that's rude and that people will keep them short on their own.

5 Comments

Latest activity by Stacey, on June 22, 2021 at 7:06 PM
  • Michelle
    Rockstar December 2022
    Michelle ·
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    Can you combine all the toasts during dinner so they don’t cut into the rest of the time? Definitely have a time limit. They should be very short 1-2 minute maximum toasts and people will ramble for 10+ minutes without a limit. Plus a common theme on the forum is that they are not enjoyable as a guest and not everyone is comfortable with doing the public speaking.


    8pm is super late to start dancing for guests, especially with an 11pm curfew. Can cake be cut and served earlier?
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  • L
    Lady ·
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    2 hours of making people sit at the dinner table is WAAAAAY too long. 45 minutes tops.

    Cut your cake as part of the grand entrance.

    Cut down all your spotlight (first dance, parent dances) to lik 2 minutes max (it's crazy how long it feels when its just 2 of you dancing)

    There should be no speeches - only toasts, which are like MAX 1 minute. Absolutely no one wants to hear 7-8 speeches, let a lone 7-8 speeches that are 4+ minutes long.

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  • Michelle
    Master April 2021
    Michelle ·
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    I agree with the 2 hours- that’s too long & I’d be soo bored! I’d definitely reach out to your DJ to set up your timeframe.
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  • B
    Devoted August 2022
    Bride2Be ·
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    I don’t think it’s rude at all! 4 min is a long time to speak anyways so it should be plenty of time!
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  • Stacey
    Super May 2021
    Stacey ·
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    As a guest, that's a lot of speeches. I would definitely position them to everyone as "toasts," not speeches, and absolutely gently give them a time limit or they will prattle on too long. If you are able to cut the cake before the MOH/BM speeches, then at least people could be eating dessert while they listen.

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