The order of the wedding day
Arrival of the bridal party.
Guests are greeted along the receiving line
Welcome drinks.
The meal.
Speeches and toasts.
Cutting the cake
First dance.
Party time.
Throw the bouquet
Going away.
SEATING PLAN:
Once the replies start coming in, start planning who will sit where. This is trial and error so best to do it in pencil first. Some will be easy like groups of friends and family. Couples tend to sit at the same table but other people can be sat between them. Make sure there is someone on each table who can start and keep conversations going! Consider grouping people who have similar interests or hobbies maybe even professions and probably best to seat children together if not too young.
TOP TABLE:
Following tradition if you are facing the top table, from the left the seating is:
Chief bridesmaid
Groom’s father
Bride’s mother
Groom
Bride
Bride’s father
Groom’s mother
Best man
If things are a little awkward for instance divorced parents, consider having only yourselves, chief bridesmaid and best man on the top table. Parents could then be seated with their new partners on nearby tables.