Weddings – Suggested order of events
Photo taken by Wayne Seagreen Photography
Winter wedding generally starts at 14h00 since it gets darker sooner in winter and summer weddings generally starts at 15h00.
Indoor or outdoor wedding ceremony – normally 30 to 45 minutes
Prelude music (30 minutes) before the ceremony starts
Bride party entrance song
Hymns if applicable
Sand/Candle burning song
Signing of wedding register/song
Bridal party exit – recessional song
Pre-drinks – normally 1 to 2 hours
This is normally where the Bride and Groom and bridal party goes for their creative photo shoot with the photographer and the guests remains for mimosa and canapes, games, photobooth etc. The DJ will be playing upbeat music during the pre-drinks session.
Make sure your eMCee is well groomed, organized and a confidant speaker and know what is expected of them viz. Welcoming guests, logistics e.g. Bar (Cash or non-cash bar, location of the toilets, cellphones during speeches, signing of the placement of canapes and mimosas etc., wedding register and wedding favours, wedding games, photobooth, order of events viz, speeches, announcements, blessings, dinner, dessert, dance and other special ceremonies, cake cutting, sparkler lighting event, last dance, last round, constant liaison with wedding vendors etc.
Reception
Guests enter the reception normally 15 minutes and are seated before the Bride and Groom arrives back from their photoshoot
Arrival and announcement of Bride and Groom and DJ plays entrance song
Housekeeping – eMCee – 5 to 10 minutes see comments above.
Starters are served – 20 to 30 minutes
Speeches – 20 to 25 minutes
Father of the Bride speech
Groom speech
Best man speech
Maid of honour speech
Blessings if applicable
Dinner/Dessert – 40 to 60 minutes depending if platted or buffet and the number of guests and the number of serving/dishing stations
Cake cutting – 5 to 10 minutes – DJ plays cake cutting song
Special Ceremonies – 10 to 15 minutes – DJ plays your song selection for each session
Garter removal
Garter toss song
Bouquet toss song
Special dances – 10 to 15 minutes – DJ plays selected songs
Father and Bride dance
Bride and Groom dance
Groom and Mother dance
Dance floor opened before 21h00 and after all the formalities
DJ – Announce last round at 23h30 and starts winding down the music playlist
DJ plays last song of the night before 24h00.
NOTE: If overtime after 24h00 has been booked and paid for the timelines will be different.