RUBBERSOUL >Useful Articles > Wedding Reception Music

Some Ideas About Wedding Reception Timings and Music

What is a common schedule for an evening wedding reception? This is a question we are asked all the time. Over the years we've learnt that there isn't really a template that you can apply to each wedding - each wedding party is unique, but there are a couple of rules of thumb that may help you.

• Speeches - However much time you think the traditional Father-of-the-Bride, Groom and Best-Man speeches are going to take, add 20 minutes to that figure. We've only been at a handful of weddings where those speeches have run to time! The same goes for the meal in general. If you're fastidious about timekeeping, why not consider hiring a Master-of-Ceremonies to help keep things moving without you having to worry about it?
• Clearing Tables - Try to come up with a room layout that needs the minimum number of tables clearing for the dancing. Unless you are in a really top-flight venue with a highly trained staff, it is quite likely that even just 2 or 3 tables can take 20 minutes to clear and roll out of the way and its a pretty unsightly process.
• Setting up a Band and DJ - If you haven't gone for an early setup option with your band and DJ, then they will have to set up AND sound check immediately after the wedding breakfast. Most bands will need the bare minimum of one hour to do this and it will probably be more like 2 hours. Make sure that your guests have somewhere to go, for example to a bar in another room or into the garden for coffee, weather permitting. Otherwise, make sure you pay for an early setup!
• Letting Food Go Down! - No-one, with the exception of the under-5s, will want to get up straight away and dance after a 3-course meal. Leave at least an hour before the band's first set. Why not meet and greet your....
• ...Evening Guests - This is possibly the single most important piece of advice on this page. Let the evening guests arrive, say hello and have some time to mingle and have a drink BEFORE the band starts up. Its a sure fire way of having an empty dance floor if you put the band on too early. Having a DJ is a great idea for this period as of course they can warm up the room with slower, quieter music.
• The Buffet - It happens nearly every time - Three songs into our first set, we have everyone on the dance floor and the duty manager wanders up: "Can you make an announcement that the buffet is served?" All the evening guests who haven't eaten then go and do so, joined by those that aren't full from the wedding breakfast and we lose our crowd. Try and time the Buffet with the Band's break and don't be swayed by a venue wanting to get the buffet out early in order to send their staff home earlier and pay them less. Make sure YOU tell THEM what's what!
• The Bride and Groom Depart - Very often we find that our clients want to stay until the very end of our sets and this is a great idea as we can announce that you are leaving and help make it an event. A DJ can do the same thing of course. It can also be a good idea to leave a bit of the band's set for your guests once you've gone - remember that some of them will want to carry on partying even though you've gone!

A Flexible Schedule?

Bearing in mind the points above, what about the following as a suggested schedule? You can bend it to the timings of your meal of course, but it attempts to avoid some of the pitfalls above:

Of course, if you don't have a DJ Booked, you will be able to substitute this with a pre-arranged set list played through the band's PA system. See our article on Wedding Band Hire for what you should and shouldn't have to pay for. We've also written an article on How To Hire Wedding DJs which should be read in conjunction with this page.

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