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We have a long weekend here in Canada so I have a plan to knock out a lot of wedding related tasks over the three day weekend. We have less than 60 days left to go, so there is no time for fooling around!
My big task last night was tackling our wedding day timeline. I started with the Wedding Day Planner in Google Docs which was a great template. I took out the things that didn’t pertain to us and put in my own times for when flowers are to arrive or when vendors have access to our site. I also tried to think about the photos we wanted to have done, how long did I think they would take, and when in the day we should schedule them.
The biggest glitch I had was figuring out how the reception should be structured. We go straight from the ceremony to cocktail hour and then straight inside the Brock House for the reception. Do we have a few toasts before dinner or do we get started on eating right away?
Who toasts? The Best Man, our Maid of Honour…do our fathers toast? And since Mr. Gazelle’s parents are divorced Father-in-Law Gazelle can’t really speak for Mr. Gazelle’s mom so then what?
So then we are done with dinner and toasts…when do we cut the cake and do our first dance? FYI, dancing is in the same room as the buffet so I don’t think we can do our dance before dinner which I know is popular right now. And do you know that if you Google “when to cut the wedding cake” the majority of your results will be “how to cut the wedding cake”? No worries, I’m sure Mr. Gazelle and I can figure out how to cut the cake!
Do you have any tips on toasts, particularly with divorced parents? Or suggestions on when we should cut the cake in relation to our first dance? How did you come up with a wedding day timeline?
I think the reception timeline is soooo important! I went to a wedding this past Friday and somehow missing the cake cutting AND the first dance. And I didn’t get any cake. I went to a wedding last November where the first thing the bride and groom did when they entered the reception room was cut the cake. Cake was then served immediately after dinner while guests were still seated. It worked out amazingly and I think I am going to copy! Good luck to you!!
One of the things our DOC takes care of is this wedding day timeline. I am so glad b/c I have absolutely no idea on Earth how all of this is supposed to run.
I have absolutely nothing useful to say about timelines, parents, or cake, but OH WOW you just totally blew my mind with that Google for Weddings page. Blew. my. mind. I am such a GoogleDocs junkie that I’ve been doing my wedding spreadsheets that way, but this? This is amazing.
Cutting the cake might be one of those things that’s out of fashion, but no one can eat it until it’s cut…
I went to a wedding with mini cupcakes and there was never a “cutting of the cake”. At some point I saw some people eating them so I got one tiny cupcake; there didn’t seem to be enough to have more than one on the very small tower/ pedestal. I later found out that the caterers were supposed to be replenishing it. The bride and groom ended up having a ton of leftover cupcakes that went bad while they were away on their honeymoon.
I’ve been working on my wedding timeline on&off for the past three months. It’s finally coming together. The reception part of it was tough because it’s a narrow window to fit a lot into.
Toasts: We’re having my father give a welcome toast before first course, Best Man between first and second course, and Maid of Honor between second course and entree.
Cake: Our dinner ends at 8:50pm then we’re doing our parent dances, open dancing, then cake cutting and dessert table at 9:50pm. I’ve also been to wedding where to couple cuts the cake right at the beginning when they enter the room because they’re final menu course is dessert (cake). It’s entirely up to you! It’s your wedding, do it however you want!
For us–the ceremony & reception are all on the same property. Ceremony & cocktails outside, dinner inside. This is what we came up with. I got this by talking to our caterer and DJ–who are kind of like our day of coordinators.
5:00 music starts (guest start to arrive)
5:30 parents and wedding party walk down aisle, ceremony starts
5:50 ish Wedding party and parents walk back up the aisle and is handed a glass of champagne (photo op!), cocktail hour begins
6:55 DJ request that the guests be seated for the introduction of the bride and groom (wedding party stays outside) (Missy, Paige & Chloe help guest locate their table)
7:10 Wedding party is announced
7:15 Grace is given by Paige, then she will invite everyone to start on their salad and let them know the DJ will announce tables to come to the buffet
7:20 Speeches (Best Man then Maid of Honor)
7:35 first table is called to the buffet by the DJ (head table first)
8:25 wedding party is done with dinner and Bride & Groom cut the cake (the wedding party table is inconspicuously taken out the front door. Do NOT break it down inside)
8:50 DJ requests that we move to the dance floor for the first dance. ½ way through siblings and wedding party are asked to join the couple on the floor (by the DJ)
8:55 dance floor is open to all guests (wedding party and siblings expected to continue dancing to get the ball rolling)
9:?? After dancing has started and slow songs come on, Groom will dance with his mom and then Brides mom. (Groom does not want everyone staring during mother dances)
10:55 last song is announced
11:00 bride and groom leave
11:05 clean up begins
12:00 lock the doors on your way out
The day-of timeline is tough for a number of reasons, but mostly because it can really go any which way you like!
We’re doing our dances when we enter the reception. We’ll be introduced as Mr. & Mrs. and do our first dance just then followed by mine with my father then the Mr. with his mom.
We’re having a served dinner, so while the wait staff is serving the first course, my MOH is welcoming everyone (ladies first!) and doing the toast, then the Best Man will put his 2 cents in. The MOH will get back up and do the blessing followed by the groom thanking everyone for coming and noting those that can’t be there with us that day.
Traditionally, the person(s) hosting the wedding will do a speech which is by my Mr. is talking, but traditionally that is why the father gives a speech.
Remember that you don’t *have* to have your parents give a speech. And especially in blended family situations, it may be best to avoid that alltogether by having Mr. Gazelle say a few words. (You, as the bride, are considered the ‘guest of honor’ on your wedding day, and therefore, don’t have to give a speech!)
p.s. I love Google Docs for wedding planning - a total life-saver!
Gazelle. If you want to contact me privately i went to a wedding a Brock House and can give you suggestions about their timeline. I also have one that I use/give to my clients that may be helpful.
We are still working on our timeline but I have seen at a few weddings that if you come in and cut the wedding cake first after introductions that it will be done and if your venue is cutting the cake for dessert they won’t have to wait for you to go do it and you are less likely to take so much home.
I think it’s nice when dinner is served before the toasts. I’ve been to a few weddings where they do 4-5 toasts before they serve dinner and you’re sitting there with a growling stomach just waiting for it to be over! Also, it’s good to spread out the toasts. Maybe have the fathers toast after everyone is served, the Best Man toast before the cake cutting, the MOH toast to open the dance floor… etc. Not sure exactly how you’d structure it, but this way everyone gets individual attention, instead of having their toast lost in a blur of words.
Our venue pretty much laid out the cake cutting, but we had 2 options. One was to have ti cut right after dinner as the dessert option for our seated dinner. The other, which we went with, was to cut it at 10pm to have it served at our late night sweet table at 10:30pm. We have our venue room until 1:00am, so this works for us. If you’re having a large cake and no seated dessert try having it cut when dinner is done so that your guests can enjoy it before they go.
Our parent dances will immediately follow our first dance. MOH/BM toasts while salad course is being served. Cake cutting followed by our thank you speech (while the cake is being cut in the back).
I have no flippin clue how we’re going to map out our timeline and have resolved myself to scramble last-minute in my traditional ‘on-the-go’ procrastinating fashion. =) I very much appreciate everyone’s timelines!!
This is honestly the thing I am most worried about even though I have a ways to go…it makes me consider getting a DOC…Good luck!
Toasting order - Usually the best man or emcee facilitates and makes sure everyone follows the order you lay out. Here’s a good resource for the standard order: http://www.ehow.com/about_5101606_wedding-toast-order-events.html Since Mr. Gazelle’s parents are divorced, I would recommend Mr. Gazelle asks his mother in advance whether she’d like to give a toast at the reception.
Timeline - I’m all in favor of letting everyone eat first. Wedding guests get antsy if they’re standing around through the first dance, cake cutting, etc. without food.
I think the timing of the cake cutting depends on the set-up of the cake… if all of the cake is on display, I’d cut it shortly after the grand entrance so the staff has time to cut and plate it during dinner. If you have sheet cakes in the back, I think you have some time and can cut it right before the first dance. Just my two cents 
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Ms. Gazelle, Calgary/Vancouver Age and Occupation: 32, Engineer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Technology Analyst Engagement Date: September 3, 2010 Wedding Date: July 2011 Venue: Brock House Restaurant, Vancouver About Me: I am a marathon runner, cyclist, Ironman triathlete and beautiful shoe fiend who also loves kicking back and watching Glee. I grew up a bit of a nomad as I traveled around the world with my family, living everywhere from Australia to England to South America and Indonesia. I finally settled in Calgary a few years ago and met Mr. Gazelle who loves me even though we cheer for different hockey teams. We are planning a bit of a destination wedding in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia and we can’t wait to share the day with our close family and friends.
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