THE ORDER OF ACTIVITIES 
IN YOUR RECEPTION
SOME EXAMPLES

Example 1
In this reception, we go right into the meal after the Bridal Parties’ Introduction. The Cake Cutting is done after the meal, indicating that it will either not be served for dessert, or that it will be served later. The Parent Dances are reserved for after the official Opening of the Dance Floor:
Wedding Party’s Introduction
Blessing
Toast
Meal
Centerpiece Giveaway
Cake Cutting
First Dance
Wedding Party Dance (as dance floor opener)
Open Dance Floor
Parent Dances
Bouquet & Garter Event
Anniversary Dance
Birthdays and/or Anniversaries
Open Dance Floor
Special Dances
Open Dance Floor
Last Dance

Example 2
Here, the Cake Cutting is done early in preparation for serving it for dessert shortly after the meal is done. The Ceremonial Dances are grouped together after the meal, and the Dance Floor can be opened by asking the guests to join the Wedding Party Dance about half way through their song. The Bouquet and Garter Event comes before the Anniversary Dance. This is fine as long as both are done fairly early in the reception, before the older folks start to leave: 
Wedding Party Introduction
Blessing
Toast
Meal Starts
Cake Cutting (after first course)
Meal Finishes
Centerpiece Giveaway
First Dance
Parent Dances
Wedding Party Dance (as dance floor opener)
Open Dance Floor
Bouquet & Garter Event
Open Dance Floor
Anniversary Dance
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Open Dance Floor
Special Dances
Open Dance Floor
Last Dance 

Example 3
This is an example of a reception where all of the events follow the meal, punctuated only by a short Open Dance Floor time. This might be a good reception for a late dinner (the guests don’t have to wait long to eat). It’s also different because the Parent Dances come late, tucked in between the Bouquet and Garter Event and the Anniversary dance. This might be a strategy for a couple who want to give the Parent Dances a less prominent spot in their reception: 
Wedding Party Introduction
Blessing
Toast
Meal
First Dance
Wedding Party Dance
Centerpiece Giveaway (as dance floor opener)
Open Dance Floor
Cake Cutting
Bouquet & Garter Event 
Parent Dances
Anniversary Dance
Open Dance Floor
Special Dances
Open Dance Floor
Last Dance

Example 4
Here, the Best Man’s Toast comes before the Blessing, and there are additional Toasts (Groom’s Toast, Toasts by friends or relatives) after the meal, followed immediately by the Cake Cutting and Ceremonial Dances: 
Wedding Party’s Introduction
Toast
Blessing
Meal
Additional Toasts
Cake Cutting
First Dance
Parent Dances
Wedding Party Dance
Centerpiece Giveaway (as dance floor opener)
Open Dance Floor
Anniversary Dance
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Bouquet & Garter Event
Special Dances
Open Dance Floor
Last Dance 

Example 5
The First Dance is highlighted by being the only event before the meal. The toast comes late, but is a nice prelude to the cake cutting. The Anniversary Dance is used as the Dance Floor opener, and the Wedding Party Dance is used in place of the Last Dance. This is fine as long as you think you’ll be able to find everyone in the Bridal Party at the end of the reception: 
Wedding Party Introduction
First Dance
Blessing
Meal
Parent Dances
Toast
Cake Cutting
Centerpiece Giveaway
Special Dance
Anniversary Dance (as dance floor opener)
Birthdays and/or Anniversaries
Open Dance Floor
Bouquet & Garter Event
Open Dance Floor
Wedding Party Dance (as last dance)

Example 6
Here again, the First Dance is prominent as the only event before the meal. The Cake is cut early, in preparation to be served shortly after dinner. The Anniversary Dance is used as the Dance Floor Opener: 
Wedding Party Introduction
First Dance
Blessing
Toast
Meal Starts
Cake Cutting (after first course)
Meal Finishes
Centerpiece Giveaway
Parent Dances
Wedding Party Dance
Anniversary Dance (as dance floor opener)
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Open Dance Floor
Bouquet & Garter Event
Special Dances
Open Dance Floor
Last Dance 

Example 7
Here, the Bouquet & Garter Event and the Anniversary Dance come back to back with the Bouquet & Garter Event preceding the Anniversary Dance. So first there is an event for the single folks, and then one for the married couples. This works well because the Anniversary Dance can then be used to reopen the Dance Floor: 
Wedding Party Introduction
First Dance
Blessing
Toast
Meal Starts
Cake Cutting (after salad)
Meal Finishes
Centerpiece Giveaway
Wedding Party Dance
Parent Dances
Special dances (as dance floor opener)
Open Dance Floor
Bouquet & Garter Event
Anniversary Dance
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Open Dance Floor
Last Dance

Example 8
As seen in a previous example, here the Toast comes later as a prelude to the Cake Cutting: 
Wedding Party’s Introduction
First Dance
Blessing
Meal
Parent Dances
Wedding Party Dance
Toast
Cake Cutting
Centerpiece Giveaway
Anniversary Dance (as dance floor opener)
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Open Dance Floor
Bouquet & Garter Event
Special Dances
Open Dance Floor
Last Dance 

Example 9
This is a good example of a reception where the Cake is highlighted by making the Cake Cutting a stand alone event before the meal. If you have an exceptional or unique Cake, you may want to feature it in this way. Note also that it does get cut early, so it can be ready for dessert right after the meal if need be. Also see that the Toast can immediately proceed the Cake Cutting, acting as an introduction for it, and placing even more emphasis on it. The Ceremonial Dances are done after the meal, and the Anniversary Dance and Bouquet & Garter Event are done back to back, featuring first an event for the married folks, and then an event for the single people: 
Wedding Party Introduction
Cake Cutting
Blessing
Toast (can come here, or just before the cake cutting)
Meal
Birthdays & Anniversaries
First Dance
Parent Dances
Wedding Party Dance
Centerpiece Giveaway (as dance floor opener)
Open Dance Floor
Anniversary Dance
Bouquet & Garter Event
Open Dance Floor
Special Dance
Open Dance Floor
Last Dance

Example 10
This is the most commonly chosen order of events: 
Wedding Party Introduction
First Dance
Wedding Party Dance
Blessing
Toast
Meal Starts
Cake Cutting (after 1st course)
Meal Finishes
Parent Dances
Special Dances
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Centerpiece Giveaway (as dance floor opener)
Open Dance Floor
Anniversary Dance
Open Dance Floor
Bouquet & Garter
Open Dance Floor
Last Dance 

Example 11
This reception is unique for a couple of reasons. First, it features a Receiving Line. There is enough time to do The Receiving Line before the meal, indicating that the meal is probably an early one (i.e. a lunch at 12:00pm or before, and a dinner at 6:00pm or before) Second, note that there are events after both the Meal’s 1st and 2nd courses. The Special Dance(s) are used as the dance floor opener:
Wedding Party Introduction
First Dance
Wedding Party Dance
Receiving Line
Blessing
Toast
Meal Starts - 1st course
Cake Cutting (after 1st course)
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Meal - 2nd course
Parent Dances (after 2nd course)
Meal Finishes
Centerpiece Giveaway
Special Dances (as dance floor opener)
Open Dance Floor
Anniversary Dance
Bouquet & Garter Event
Open Dance Floor
Last Dance

Example 12
Here, the Ceremonial Dances are done early, getting the bride and groom out of the spotlight quickly. The guests have to wait through the dances, but this is fine if it is an early meal. The Cake Cutting is done late. This is fine as long as you don’t plan on eating it as a dessert shortly after the meal: 
Wedding Party’s Introduction
First Dance
Parent Dances
Wedding Party Dance
Blessing
Toast
Meal
Centerpiece Giveaway
Anniversary Dance (as dance floor opener)
Birthdays and/or Anniversaries
Open Dance Floor
Cake Cutting
Bouquet & Garter Event
Special Dances
Open Dance Floor
Last Dance 

Example 13
This might be a good order for a buffet meal. It stands out for a couple of reasons. First, you will notice there is a group of events early (the Ceremonial Dances), and a group of events later (Cake Cutting, Garter & Bouquet, etc.) punctuated by the meal and two Open Dance Floor sections. Second, also notice that the Dance Floor is opened right after the toast, and before the meal begins. This order may work well with a buffet, since you want to give the guests who’ll be going through the buffet last a chance to use the dance floor while they wait. The Cake Cutting is done later. Again, this works well with a buffet style dinner where the cake will simply be put out later for guests to take: 
Wedding Party Introduction
First Dance
Parent Dances
Wedding Party Dance
Blessing
Toast
Open Dance Floor
Meal
Centerpiece Giveaway (as dance floor opener)
Open Dance Floor
Cake Cutting
Bouquet & Garter Event
Special Dance
Anniversary Dance
Birthdays and/or Anniversaries
Open Dance Floor
Last Dance

Example 14
This reception is notable for having all of the events done before the Dance Floor Opens. The events are split up around the meal so the guests don’t have to sit through too many special events in a row. The Ceremonial Dances are all done before the meal, the Cake Cutting is done early, right after the 1st course, and is immediately followed by the Bouquet & Garter Event. The rest of the events follow the meal. The Dance Floor is opened only once, and once it is opened it stays open for the rest of the reception. There are no other events until the Last Dance: 
Wedding Party Introduction
First Dance
Wedding Party Dance
Parent Dances
Blessing
Toast
Meal Starts
Cake Cutting (after 1st course)
Bouquet & Garter Event
Meal Finishes
Centerpiece Giveaway
Special Dances
Anniversary Dance (as dance floor opener)
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Open Dance Floor
Last Dance