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     Everyone knows that a successful wedding depends on good planning. There is the wedding dress to pick out, the flowers to select, the photographer to choose, the reception hall, the church, the invitations, the tuxedos… the list seems endless. The ceremony is even planned to the extent that it is rehearsed the evening before. This is to insure that everyone concerned knows what is going to happen, and what they are expected to do to make it happen, successfully.

     It is only at the reception that planning seems to fall apart and success becomes uncertain. The ingredients are there – people, a band, good food, a beautiful cake; they are just not always mixed in a successful way.

     We at Gold Craft Photography have drawn upon our coverage of over 600 weddings to complete the following recommendations. We hope that you will be able to use this list as a guide in planning your wedding reception.

Wedding Coordinator

     You should choose a friend or relative to serve as your wedding coordinator for your day. Sit down with that person, tell them what you want to do, make a list and timetable and give them the responsibility for overseeing your day. Let them worry about people being dressed, about flowers being distributed, candles lit, family staying after the ceremony for photographs, the meal being served on time, etc.. Let everyone know that this person is in charge and let him or her run for you! Pick someone who is naturally organized. They will make your day much more relaxed.

"MC" – The Master of Ceremonies

     It is very important to have someone act as your MC at your reception. This may be an uncle, friend, the DJ, or a member of the band. The MC acts as a liaison between you and your guests. He lets the guests what is happening and who is involved. He keeps events moving smoothly throughout the reception.

Introductions

      It is a good idea to introduce the members of your wedding party to your guests at the opening of the reception. The MC should be given a list of names of the following people: Members of the wedding party, ring bearer & flower girl, best man and maid of honor, and the parents of the bride and groom. The MC should announce the names in the preceding order. This can be done immediately upon the arrival of the wedding party to the reception. Everyone on the list can line up outside the reception room, enter as they are announced, and go directly to their seats at the head table. (The band could play a stepped – up version of "Here comes the bride" as the bride and groom make their entrance.)

     Another approach to the introductions is to wait until the wedding party has mingled for a while, then the MC can ask everyone to be seated (just before the meal is ready to be served). Each couple can then stand as they are introduced. In either case, the MC should ask the guests to be seated during the introductions. He may ask everyone to stand when he introduces the bride and groom, i.e., "would you all please stand and give a warm welcome to the new Mr. and Mrs. _____."

Food

     If you are planning on having food at your reception, it should be served as soon as possible following the arrival of the members of the wedding party. Remember that while you have been busy having photographs made in the hour following your ceremony, your guests have been sitting at the reception hall smelling food and getting hungry, and maybe a little restless too. If the food is being served buffet style, be sure that the serving tables are set up so that lines can run on both sides. People are not fond of standing in line, and will appreciate the added speed of two.

The Toast

     Once the introductions have been made and the meal is ready to be served, the MC should announce that the best man is going to make a toast to the bride and groom and he should ask the guests to stand (only the bride and groom should remain seated during the toast). If a member of the clergy is present to ask the blessing, the MC should announce this and ask that everyone remain standing after the toast.

Cutting The Cake

     You may consider cutting the cake right after the toast. This allows the cake prepares time to serve the cake after dinner. This way the cake will be eaten before all of your guests leave their seats to dance. If you choose to go the traditional route, the cake should be cut a short time after the last person has been served his/her meal. The longer the wait after the main courses, the less cake will be eaten, since appetites curb rapidly after a meal. Cutting the cake early will also give the aids plenty of time to cut the individual portions and see that they are distributed. You might consider having the bridesmaids carry the cake to the guest tables. The guests will appreciate not having to stand in line and this will insure that everyone will receive a piece. The MC should also announce that the bride and groom are going to cut the cake so that those guests with cameras can record this event. Your photographer will guide you through the cake cutting sequence. Pay careful attention to the placement of the bridal party tables and the cake table. Look at what will be behind them in your photographs. DO NOT put the cake table against a wall. Leave room to stand behind it for your photographs of the event.

The Bridal Party Dance

     Sometime before the reception gets into full swing, the MC, DJ, or the band, should announce a special dance for the bride and groom and their wedding party. The bride and groom begin the dance and the MC should call for the couples in the following order:

1. Bride and groom – introduced by the MC as the new Mr. & Mrs. ____ dancing together as husband and wife. The MC allows them to dance alone for a few moments before introducing the next couple.
2. Best man and maid of honor – introduced by names.
3. Parents of the bride – introduced by names.
4. Parents of the groom – introduced by names.
5. The remainder of the wedding party as a whole. If they were not introduced at the beginning of the reception, then the MC should introduce them at this time.

     After the entire bridal party has danced for a reasonable length of time the MC can ask them to form a circle and join hands. The bride and her father can then dance together within the circle. The groom and his mother may join them. (The band could play "Daddies Little Girl" or "Sunrise, Sunset".) After a few moments the MC can ask the guests to join in the dancing.

Throwing the Bouquet & Garter

     Near the end of the reception, or near the time the bride and groom are ready to leave, the MC should announce that the bride is ready to throw her bouquet. If you plan on opening your gifts at the reception, then the bouquet and garter should be done before this, since many of your guests will eave after the gifts are opened. The sequence for the bouquet and garter toss is as follows:

1. Bride throws the bouquet.
2. Groom removes garter from bride’s leg (a drum roll from the band is in order at this time).
3. Groom throws the garter.
4. The man who catches the garter puts it on the leg of the girl who has caught the bouquet (drum roll).

     The MC, of course, announces each of these events, and collects the bashful bachelors or single ladies who are reluctant to take a chance at catching the bouquet or garter.

     We have described only the most traditional events in the reception. There are numerous other ethnic customs, which could be added, and you may wish to make modifications or deletions to our suggestions. Whatever you decide to do, do something. Make up a plan, write it down, and talk it over with your MC to carry it out. You will be free to relax and have a good time.