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Reception & entertainment: Reception timeline

Entrance, dinner with toasts, dances, cake, open dancing and a send-off over four to five hours.

The key points

Toasts during dinner
Cut the cake before older guests leave
Open the dance floor after dinner
A clear end time

Read more about reception timeline

A couple's first dance on a glowing floor under a wooden pavilion

Reception, food & musicWedding reception timeline: order of events for 4 and 5 hours

Quick answers

What is the order of events at a wedding reception?

Cocktail hour, grand entrance, first dance (optional), dinner, toasts, parent dances, open dancing, cake cutting and a send-off.

Reception, food & musicAll questions

How long should a wedding reception be?

Usually four to five hours after a one-hour cocktail hour. See the reception timeline for sample schedules.

Reception, food & musicAll questions

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