Ceremony & reception details

Hi Knotties – hoping someone can shed some light!

I am having a cocktail reception and am finding it difficult to find an example run sheet for a cocktail reception. Canapes will be served for the first few hours of the evening – so from 5pm to approx. 8pm. But where should I fit in the band, speeches, etc… as there is no formal dinner?

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Hi mine is cocktail too, our guests get food at 6pm out in another area straight after the ceremony, and are then welcomed into the reception at 7pm, we are introduced at 715pm, food runs for two hours, the speeches and cake cutting at 9pm and dessert (the cake) is being served on platters at 930pm, final farewells at 1145pm, we are then heading out into the rest of the venue till 1am and we are stying therer the night Hope that helps :0)

oh and we have a dj that is playing from the start, getting louder as the night progresses

Cocktail receptions are a great blank canvas for you to do whatever you want.  Perhaps plan your first dance for immediately before you want your band to start – its a great way to get people on the dance floor.  If you are having a band, then one of their set breaks might be a good time to do speeches and cake.

Also, you necessarily don’t have to restrict your canapes to one single block of time – you could have half served early, have a break in service for dancing, then half served later in the night when people have had a few drinks and could do with some food to slow them down.  Check what your venue/caterer suggests for this

Biggest suggestion I have (and this comes from working at quite a few) – make sure that your MC knows your timings for the night and is responsible enough to stick to them – because there isn’t a specific seat that the MC will be sitting in for most of the night, the staff can end up having to chase around after him/her to get things moving and make the whole night run late, or worse, interrupt your time with other family and friends to have to organise that person   Good luck, hope this helps!