Reception timeline/order

[ChargerGrrl]

I should really be working instead of wedding planning, but I just can''t help myself!

I''m putting together a timeline for the reception, and am stuck on where the cake cutting should be. Should it be right after dinner? I''m leaning towards doing it a bit after the dancing begins

My rough timeline
-Bride & Groom''s grand entrance, first dance & toasts
-Dinner
-Bride & Father dance
-Dancing begins
-Cake cutting
-Bride & Groom exit
-Reception ends

Advice, ideas, comments??

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 9/12/2006 6:09:38 PM
Author:ChargerGrrl

I should really be working instead of wedding planning, but I just can''t help myself!

I''m putting together a timeline for the reception, and am stuck on where the cake cutting should be. Should it be right after dinner? I''m leaning towards doing it a bit after the dancing begins

My rough timeline
-Bride & Groom''s grand entrance, first dance & toasts
-Dinner
-Bride & Father dance
-Dancing begins
-Cake cutting
-Bride & Groom exit
-Reception ends

Advice, ideas, comments??

Oh...Hmmm...haven''t even though about this myself. Maybe after dinner so people can have their cake, then go dancing? Not sure what the norm is on this one though....

 

[ponderer]

Chargergrrl,

After years and years of attending weddings I think that it is best to cut the cake immediately after dinner. I have found that once people have finished eating they may not sit down again for cake, its best to cut the cake right as your guests are finishing and then have it delivered to the tables. You tend to end up with a lot less left over cake this way. People will be more likely to eat just a little more if the cake is placed infront of them while they are still seated, even if they are full from your delicious meal. If a brake occurs in the eating, or the guests are left to themselves to retrieve their own cake they tend to be less likely to eat it. Wedding cake has gotten a notoriously bad rap for not being very good, so many folks will pass on it unless it is set infront of them.

 

[njc]

Our caterer suggested and wanted a little time between dinner and cutting the cake. It allowed them to be able to clear the tables and get set up for serving the cake.

Dont know that it makes a difference, but we had our toasts before we cut the cake.

ETA in response to ponderer: Besides our top, which we wanted to save, we had maybe 20 peices of cake left? Split up easily amongst my family and I have to say, Im glad there was some left over. I never ate a piece except for the little one DH shoved in my mouth and it was SOOOOOOO good... even a year later!

 

[ponderer]

njc,

You caterer did it right. I''m not saying that that you have to shove it down their throats before they are done eating, but I have just been to one too many weddings where the cake cutting was done 2 or more hours after dinner ended, everyone had left their respective tables and people were more into a dancing and drinking mood.

Toasts would be an excellent idea to give them time to clear the tables and prepare for the cutting. Your guests would all still be seated (easier to pass the champagne) and everyone has a good view. Then cut and serve before you transition from dinner to !!!!PARTY!!!!

 

[ponderer]

njc,

How did you keep your cake so fresh???? Ours was excellent on day 1, but horrible on day 366.

I went to 8 weddings last summer and I was sitting around with 5 of the brides last weekend and this subject came up. We all tried varying methods of preservation but they were all inedible.

Whats your secret???

 

[codex57]

Date: 9/12/2006 7:30:04 PM
Author: ponderer
njc,


You caterer did it right. I''m not saying that that you have to shove it down their throats before they are done eating, but I have just been to one too many weddings where the cake cutting was done 2 or more hours after dinner ended, everyone had left their respective tables and people were more into a dancing and drinking mood.


Toasts would be an excellent idea to give them time to clear the tables and prepare for the cutting. Your guests would all still be seated (easier to pass the champagne) and everyone has a good view. Then cut and serve before you transition from dinner to !!!!PARTY!!!!

I agree. Allow just enough time to clear the tables like with the toasts. You don''t want to have to make an announcement and corral everyone back into their seats. Can ruin the party atmosphere that may have started.

 

[njc]

Date: 9/12/2006 7:36:45 PM
Author: ponderer

Whats your secret???

Um... there was probably 5 layers of plastic wrap, 3 layers on tin foil and then I put it in a plastic freezer bag and stuck it on the freezer door! I was pleasently surprised it tasted so good. Dont know if this was part of it, but it was homemade by a friends mom and had a THICK buttercream icing on it.

 

[labbielove]

hi there,

i like the idea of doing it before the dancing, not during-
for one thing it seems to sort of "kick things off" celebration wise, plus agree that you don''t want to interrupt the party atmosphere once it starts.

i''ve been to weddings where it was done after the dancing started, and in many cases we didn''t even know it was going on- it was like oh- there are the bride and groom cutting the cake. i guess they didn''t want to interrupt the party, but then it was seemed sort of done "on the side" ya know?

good question....

 

[jcrow]

i always have heard and expect the cake cuting as being the last thing of the night. for instance guests may wait for the cake cutting to leave. i would hate if people use to this would accidently leave too early. i know this sounds silly, but that''s what i''ve always heard.

for me, also, i would love a little time between dinner and cake to digest some food.

 

[firebirdgold]

The two weddings I recently went to had dinner, toasts, cake cutting, first dance in that order. And no one left right after the cake.

 

[F.Longstocking]

Etiquette books (do we still use those?) state that guests can feel free to leave a reception once the cake is cut.

I've been to weddings where they spaced out the little "events" like cake-cutting, bouquet toss, etc. and worked well because the emcee would make announcements.

I've also been to weddings where the cake-cutting was missed because no announcement was made, or the guests were not paying attention, or the reception was just too big, or because guests have gone home already.

I think maybe a little bit after dinner would be great, after the first dance and/or parent/couple dances. If you think your guests will be partying hard, maybe after a first set of dance music, they can have a break and you can cut the cake at that time and do the bouquet/garter toss too. If you wait too long, maybe they don't want dancing interrupted or have decided to go home.

I'm having tiers of mini-cakes for my wedding cake. I saw it in Martha Stewart's Weddings magazine. They come in bases that look like boxes. Since we're having a dessert buffet, I'm thinking the guests can take these home to eat the next day. So we're trying to find plastic tops that would make it easier for the trip home. Sorry I don't have a picture, but it's basically rows of mini cakes that make up the tiers and flowers that separate each tier base. It was from a real Irish themed wedding.

Chargergirl, I noticed you wanted to have your first dance upon your entrance. I was wondering when the best time would be for this. I think upon your entrance is great because all eyes are on you, and will set the tone for the evening. I know others have their first dance after dinner, but I feel the guests are all distracted by then. Food coma! hahaha.

Any thoughts?