Time to Party: A Guide to Planning a Hitch Free Reception

Your wedding reception should be a party to remember & for all the right reasons. You want to throw an event that will have people talking for months to come. But getting all the details right can seem a daunting & overwhelming task. Follow our guide to making sure your party goes with bang & doesn't fizzle out before it's even got started!

The key to a great reception is in the planning. Make sure you draw up a careful thought out timetable for your reception & your evening entertainment. Once you have got it all in place & finalized, give copies to your caterer's, photographer, entertainers & your venue manager. You should also give copies to your chief bridesmaid & the best man so they can help you with making sure everything runs smoothly & your schedule is adhered to. Don't get bogged down with making sure everything is going like clockwork yourself. By handing the responsibility over to your chief attendants, you & your new husband can get on with relaxing & enjoying your special day.

Here is a sample timetable for an evening reception, which you can use to draw up your own schedule.

5pm Arrivals:
The wedding party arrives at the reception venue before the guests if possible. The best man is in charge of wedding party transport arrangements.

5pm-5.30pm Receiving:
The bride and groom and the main wedding party form a traditional receiving line. If you're not having one, this is a good time for photos of the bride and groom alone. Just make sure your guests are welcomed with a glass of champagne.

5.15pm-6.15pm Cocktails:
Welcome drinks are typically held away from the main dining room or ballroom. Plenty of drinks and hors d'oeuvres are essential as this sets the tone for the rest of the evening. Guests can check the table plan and the newlyweds can circulate.

6.15pm-6.30pm Announcements:
Dinner is announced by the Master of Ceremonies (if you are having one) or head waiter. The wedding party & guests enter the dining area & find their tables. If the bride & groom choose to be announced, they make their grand entrance once everyone is seated.

6.30pm Welcome:
Once the bride & groom are seated & the room has calmed down, the father-of-the-bride, or another person chosen by the couple, welcomes the guests. A minister or parent may say a blessing.

6.40pm Dinner:
The first course is served to the wedding party & then to all the guests along with the wine.

7.00pm Courses:
The first course is cleared from the top table first, then from the guests' tables. Other courses follow in good, but not rushed, time.

8.30pm Toasts:
After dessert, guests' flutes are topped up with champagne. The bride's father toasts the health of the bride & groom.

8.35pm Speeches:
The father-of-the-bride makes the first speech & is followed by the groom, who responds for himself & his wife & proposes a toast to the bridesmaids. The best man replies on behalf of the bridesmaids & his speech follows.

9.30pm Cake:
The newlyweds cut the cake, which is then served along with coffee. The top layer may be put aside to celebrate the first anniversary or the christening of the first child.

10.00pm First dance:
The bride & groom take to the floor for their chosen first dance. The next dance is reserved for the bride & her father & the groom & his mother. Then the guests take to the dance floor.

Finally all the single women gather for the bride to toss her bouquet. The couple then slip away to change before the grand exit.

Georgina Clatworthy is a dedicated full time writer who composes informative articles related to wedding favors and weddings. She is connected with 1WeddingSource, today's leading wedding social networking planning site.