Wedding List

Order of Events

These are the order of events at a typical American wedding reception.

  • The wedding guests arrive at the reception, they are greeted by a wedding reception usher and/or the reception manager.
  • On arrival, the drinks waiter offers the wedding guests a choice alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
  • The guests are either given their table numbers or escorted to their tables. In some cases the guest can look up their own table number and seat themselves.
  • A food waiter walks around offering appetizers to the wedding guests while they are mingling.
  • Colonel C, acting as the Master of Ceremonies, announces that dinner will be served soon and asks your guests to make their way to their seats.
  • The bridal party is announced: Colonel C introduces the bridal party. Firstly the bride’s parents, groom’s parents, the bridesmaids and groomsmen, the maid of honor and best man, then the ring bearer and flower girl and last of all the newly weds.
  • The bride's father makes a short speech and welcomes everyone to the wedding reception and thanks them all for coming.  This may follow with a blessing or other ritual.
  • The best man makes a toast to the newly married couple.
  • First course of dinner is served.
    If the meal is buffet, Colonel C will call one table at a time
  • More wedding speeches and stories can be told during and after dinner, to entertain the guests. -optional-
  • Colonel C announces the first dance for the newly weds.
  • After the first dance, the rest of the bridal party is asked to join the dance floor.
  • Colonel C announces that everyone else can join the dance floor.
  • Colonel C announces the cutting of the wedding cake.
  • The brides throws a bouquet, usually a bridesmaids bouquet. -optional-
  • The groom removes and throws the wedding garter. -optional-
  • Wedding cake and coffee or tea is severed.
  • The newly weds change into their going away outfits and have another dance. -optional-
  • The newly weds thank their wedding guests and say their goodbyes.