When planning a wedding reception, keep in mind that every reception has a program it “needs” to follow. Usually the bride and groom are welcomed into the reception hall, toasts and speeches are given, a video of the bride and groom as children then as a couple is shown (some choose to do this), the father-daughter dance takes place, the first dance of the bride and groom takes place, the cake is cut, the bouquet is thrown, games are played, and other such traditions, all of which are dependent on family, culture, religion, and theme are carried out.

      Most wedding planners have a specific flow they follow. These wedding program flows or sequences can be copied off the internet, again dependent on the tradition or theme you are following. You may also choose to make the program unique and completely your own. For example, some couples who both have a talent or love for singing, choose to entertain their guests with a song or performance of some sort.

      The flow of the program is dependent on what you want. However, you have to map out this flow well in advance because you will have to let your caterer, musician, photographer, and master of ceremonies know what order the various activities are and at what time. This way they will be prepared to execute their various tasks according to the flow of your program.

      For example, you want music playing when you enter, you want to eat dinner before the speeches and toasts, you want the photographer to take pictures of certain things, and not of others. Making sure these different sections of the reception have been briefed and are well known to the necessary people will help make your program flow much easier, and your reception as a whole go much smoother.

      Remember, planning the program is part of planning a wedding reception. Don't try to be brief about explaining it to the necessary people. In fact, it is best to brief the persons in charge of the different sections of your reception about two weeks before the actual reception itself. This gives them a chance to ask clarifying questions. It also gives you a chance to troubleshoot any problems that may occur. Also, your coalition of free labor will have ample time to study the program, making sure they can step in and help attend to it in case anything goes wrong.

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