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Wedding reception protocol: who says what and when?

A wedding reception can be formal or informal, but you need to make sure you get it right; In other words, you must follow normal wedding reception protocol, as that is what people expect. However, keep in mind that the protocol is not as rigid as you might think and can be considered more of a set of guidelines. But what is the traditional wedding reception protocol?

A formal wedding reception is normally held in a hotel restaurant where facilities and staff are available for a full meal, sometimes still referred to as “wedding breakfast“An informal reception with a buffet menu may be a less expensive option.

When guests arrive at the reception, they will need to be greeted by a reception line. These are typically the mother and father of the bride, the mother and father of the groom, the bride, and finally the groom, in that order. If there are a large number of guests, you may simply want the bride and groom to welcome them.

The guests are then typically presented with a drink, and when everyone has arrived they can start looking for their business cards in the dining room. The bride and groom should have worked out all of this well in advance, and the only point of protocol here is that at a formal wedding reception there is usually a top table for the leading members of the wedding party.

At some point, the cake is normally cut, either last or in the middle. The bride holds the knife in her right hand, with the groom’s right hand on hers, and then the bride’s left hand on top. This is a great photo opportunity and the couple will have to stand in that position with a smile on their face for several minutes! Then the restaurant staff take the cake to cut it and deliver it at the end of the reception when people leave. You may want to salvage the upper level to save for the firstborn christening.

After the cutting of the cake comes the highlight of the reception: the speeches.

The first to speak is the father of the bride. Usually he will say a few words and then propose the main toast: “Health and happiness for the bride and groom” (or something similar).

The groom then responds by thanking the bride’s parents and guests, and ends by proposing a toast to the bridesmaids’ health.

The best man then speaks, answering for the bridesmaids, reading the greeting cards and telegrams. The best man will also tell some stories about the groom (and the bride, if they are also friends).

That’s about it when it comes to tradition, but if they wish, the bride, the mother of the bride, and the maid of honor (the main maid of honor) can give speeches, but it is best to check with the grooms first.

Each and every speech can be serious or funny, but giving a speech is a very stressful activity for many people. You may want to consider using a previously written speech. This is worth considering, and there are several websites that offer such material, and you can edit what they provide to do so. completely adequate and applicable to your wedding reception. Not only is getting someone else to do the work a huge time saver, it also relieves you of a lot of stress, and you can be confident that what they give you will work. These pre-written voice templates can be purchased for next to nothing, and trust me – paying for them is well worth it, as they have been created and perfected by professionals.

If you have to dance, the bride and groom are the first to go down to the dance floor. They are followed by the maid of honor and the best man, and then the members of both families.

At some point, the bride and groom will sneak out to change into “normal” clothes and then return to say goodbye before leaving for their honeymoon. Just before leaving, the bride tosses her bouquet in the air, and tradition says that the woman who catches it is next in line for the marriage. Sometimes the groom will throw the bride’s garter at the men, and the one who grabs it is expected to place it on the leg of the girl who caught the bouquet.

Then the bride and groom get into a car that has been decorated by other guests and head into the sunset for their honeymoon and the rest of their lives together.

Finally, remember that the goal of the wedding is for the benefit of the bride and groom, and that the wedding reception protocol is, after all, just a set of guidelines. It’s what guests will expect, so if you plan to deviate from tradition, it’s probably best to give everyone advance notice to avoid disappointment.

Plan it carefully, then relax and enjoy!

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