Pittsburgh DJ – Your Reception Timeline

The first thing that I explain to couples that work with my Pittsburgh DJ service, Entertainment Tonite, is that it’s YOUR DAY, so it’s YOUR TIMELINE! There is no right or wrong way to go about scheduling the events at your reception.

For the next few weeks I’m going to break away from my recent series on ways to save thousands on your wedding, to address concerns that brides are frequently expressing to me.

This week I’m going to discuss your reception timeline. For a more in-depth discussion, please feel free to personally contact me.

So for those of you that would like an idea of a reception timeline, here’s an outline of a popular timeline that I use for a lot of my receptions.

1. Cocktail Hour
2. Bridal Party Introductions
3. First Dance
4. Cake Cutting
5. Toasts
6. Blessing
7. Dinner Hour
8. Parent Dances
9. Open Dancing
10. Anniversary Dance (optional)
11. Bouquet / Garter Toss (optional)
12. Bridal Dance (money dance – optional)
13. More Open Dancing
14. End of the Evening

This is a good outline for most receptions. Of course there could be exceptions and/or changes.

The biggest key to having a smooth flow to your reception is to hire someone to manage the reception timeline for you. The caterer will make sure that the food is served and the plates are cleared, but most couples need someone else to manage their timeline. That’s an area where an experienced DJ shines.

Be sure to go over your timeline ideas with your DJ well in advance of your reception. I like to meet with my couples at least six weeks prior to their event. That way we still have time to tweak the timeline if needed.

I hope this article has given you some help and ideas about setting up your timeline. Please feel free to connect with me for answers to your specific timeline questions.

Pittsburgh DJ Contact Information

For more information on my Pittsburgh DJ service or any of the wedding services offered by Entertainment Tonite, contact me today!