Is first dance before or after dinner?

Typically, most couples save the first dance until after the sit-down dinner has finished, however some prefer to head straight to the dance floor at the start of the reception, which is quite often referred to as the grand entrance.
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When should you have your first dance?

Generally, the first dance takes place at the very beginning of a wedding reception, immediately following the bride and groom's entrance.
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What is the order of dances at a wedding reception?

First Dance Etiquette
  • The bride and groom share the first dance.
  • The father of the bride then dances with the bride. The groom may also dance with the mother of the bride.
  • Next, the bride's mother and father dance together. ...
  • The dance floor then opens up to the bridesmaids and groomsmen. ...
  • After that, it's a free-for-all.
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Why is the first dance before dinner?

So, most couples save the first dance until after the meal has been completed. This way, the evening's dining portion has a more leisurely, relaxed pace; then, once everyone is done eating, you hit the dance floor for your first dance, which instantly shifts the mood into a higher gear.
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Does the first dance come before cake?

Traditionally, the bride and groom serve wedding cake in between dinner and dancing, often following the couple's first dance. This is mainly because cake cutting serves as a silent clue that guests can start heading home, especially if they aren't planning to stay for the after-party.
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Do you cut the cake before or after dinner?

Though it usually happens much earlier today, cutting your cake still serves that same purpose (especially for older guests). These days, the cake is usually cut toward the end of dinner, just before dancing begins, and is the last 'official' event of the evening.
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What is the order of wedding speeches?

You can do whatever works for you with your wedding speeches, but the traditional order of wedding speeches is as follows: father of the bride, groom, best man and then other toasts. It's becoming increasingly popular for brides and maids of honour to make speeches too!
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What time is the first dance at a wedding?

Regardless of the time of year 8:15 to 8:30pm seems to be the most popular time to do the first dance. The first dance is the first dance the couple do together as husband and wife, NOT the first dance of the evening as people will always be wanting to dance prior to this.
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What comes first father-daughter dance or bride and groom?

Most brides have the father-daughter dance right after their first dance with their spouse. If you don't want to have it after the first dance, other good times to squeeze it in are following the toasts and before the cake cutting.
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How long should a father-daughter dance be?

The father-daughter dance or mother-son dance should be around 2 minutes long. Again, the key is to keep it short and sweet. Especially since the focal point of the reception should be the newlyweds, it is recommended that the parent dances to be shorter than the first dance of the bride and groom.
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How do you announce the first dance at a wedding?

Talk personally (not over the microphone) to the remainder of the bridal party to get them up. Have the Bride's and Groom's parents on the dance floor after a minute or so. At the end of the first Bridal Waltz, announce: “Ladies and Gentlemen, (Bride and Groom) invite you all to join in the dancing.”
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How long should a first dance last?

Keep your first dance short and sweet. Your first dance should be between 2.5 to 3 minutes long. Unless you are a professional dancer, dancing in front of people for more than 3 minutes could feel like forever! Plus, you don't want to bore your guests with the limited dance moves you have.
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How does a first dance work?

Immediately after the couple has had their first dance, it's time for the parents to join them. The bride will typically dance with her father and the groom typically dances with his mother. If the parent is not present, then a substitute from the family will replace the parent.
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Does the bride and groom dance before dinner?

Traditionally, the first dance kicks off the dancing portion of the reception. So, most couples save the first dance until after the meal has been completed.
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How long does dinner last at a wedding?

Eating – Plan for 45 minutes to 1 hour for a seated meal. For a buffet, in order for everyone to get their plates, sit down and eat, you are looking at approximately an hour for around 100 guests. 150 people would take about 1 hour 15 minutes.
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What does the first dance at a wedding symbolize?

The first dance was considered as the official opening of dancing by the newly married couple who were the guests of honor. The first dance between the bride and groom is the most awaited moment for the newly wed as well as the guests. It shows the love and unity between the new couple.
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Who picks the father-daughter dance at a wedding?

1 Who Selects the Song for the Father Daughter Dance? Who selects the song for the dance between a father and his daughter? Generally it is the bride who picks the song for the father-daughter dance to be performed during the wedding reception.
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Is first dance before father daughter?

When should the dances happen? Typically, the Father-Daughter Dance occurs right after the First Dance, with the Mother-Son Dance following that. However, if you do not want it happening right after the first dance, you can also do it after the toasts.
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When should the parent dances at wedding?

Parent Dances

Sometimes, parent dances occur immediately after the first dance. Other times, these dances will take place toward the end of dinner, after the toasts, or after the cake cutting. For heterosexual couples, bride dances with her dad, and then the groom dances with his mom.
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Do evening guests arrive before first dance?

Many wedding planners will advise cutting the cake fairly early on in the evening, so shortly after evening guests arrive is usually the perfect time followed immediately by the first dance.
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Can you dance at a wedding before the first dance?

If either of you are feeling at all nervous about your first dance, you should both practice dancing to the song before your wedding. If the bride is wearing a long wedding dress or it has a train, she should ensure that a bustle is fitted to avoid tripping over it and also wear shoes that are comfortable for dancing.
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Who speaks first at weddings?

The bride and groom are followed by their parents. If the bride's parents are hosting the wedding, they speak first, toasting the newlyweds and the groom's parents, and welcoming the guests.
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How long should the father of the bride speech be?

Keep it short. Though you've been waiting for this day to come for many years, try to keep your toast short and sweet. The ideal length is about five or six minutes with the three-minute mark being your lowest threshold for a proper speech.
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Who speaks at the rehearsal dinner?

Who Gives a Rehearsal Dinner Toast? The host of the rehearsal dinner (traditionally the father of the groom in a heterosexual couple) gives the first speech. This person is followed by members of the wedding party that won't be speaking at the reception (typically anyone other than the maid of honor and the best man).
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How long should dancing last at a wedding?

Dancing should last anywhere between one-and-a-half and two-and-a-half hours. There will be a natural ebb and flow to the dance floor for the remainder of the evening, but believe us when we tell you that an hour is way too short and anything past two hours starts to get a little tiresome.
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