Order of Dances at a Wedding

There are so many beautiful moments to look forward to in a wedding, but receptions have a way of stealing the spotlight. For most, it’s the highlight of the entire celebration, where love, laughter, and joy come alive on the dance floor. It’s the moment where formality gives way to merriment, and guests can finally relax and party with the couple.

Traditionally, the order begins with the newlyweds’ first dance, followed by the parent dances. Then comes the wedding party dance, where bridesmaids and groomsmen join in before opening the floor to all guests. Depending on cultural traditions, some couples include special dances like the anniversary or money dance. The celebration comes to a close with the last dance.

What’s a party without music? LIV Entertainment has various exceptional wedding bands and wedding DJs that can bring your dance floor to life. With electrifying talent and rhythm that moves the room, our entertainers can keep your guests dancing all night long. Contact Liv Entertainment Group today to make your wedding ceremony unforgettable!

In this blog post, we will walk you through the traditional wedding dance order and highlight other key events at a wedding reception. After reading this post, you should be able to plan a celebration that effortlessly keeps your guests entertained.

What Is The Order of Dances at a Wedding?

Let’s break it down—starting with the most anticipated moment of all.

First Dance

The first dance is the couple’s debut as newlyweds, and it is usually the most anticipated moment of the reception. It originated in 17th-century Europe as a formal waltz, but over time, it evolved into something far more personal— a meaningful reflection of the couple’s love story.

Ultimately, it symbolizes the couple’s new beginning and sets the pace for the rest of the evening. Couples who would like to make their first dance extra special should consider taking dance lessons at a dance studio. Song recommendations for the first dance include “At Last” by Etta James and “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran.

Parent Dance

This dance gives new couples a chance to honor their parents on their special day. It typically involves the father-daughter and mother-son dance. While most people tend to have one dance after the other, more couples are beginning to combine both dances. This allows for a more inclusive moment while still honoring the parents.

Popular song choices for these dances include slow songs like “Butterfly Kisses” by Bob Carlisle, “My Girl” by The Temptations, “A Song for Mama” by Boyz ll Men, and “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.

Wedding Party Dance

Here, the entire bridal party and the groomsmen take the stage. Sometimes, the bride and groom might join in as well. This dance transitions the mood of the wedding into a more celebratory one. You’d usually hear songs like “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon and “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge during this time.

Guest Dance

Now that the formal dances are over, we can invite everyone to the dance floor. At this point in the wedding, the DJ or wedding band would invite the guests to join in the celebration, ensuring that all attendees feel included. Songs like Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling” and “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars brings the needed energy to the party.

Garter Toss and Bouquet Toss

The DJ or emcee will invite all single guests onto the dance floor for the bouquet toss. This cherished tradition involves the bride throwing her bouquet over her shoulder into a group of single women. This act symbolizes her passing on her love and good fortune with the belief that whoever catches her bouquet will be the next to marry. During this session, the DJ will play an upbeat song like Beyonce’s “Single Ladies.”

Immediately after follows the garter toss, which follows a similar principle as the bouquet toss but for the groom. Usually, the groom takes off his bride’s garter and tosses it into a crowd of bachelors. It’s believed that the man who catches it is the next to get married. The bouquet and garter catchers often share a fun dance together. Popular song choices for this playful moment include “SexyBack” by Justin Timberlake, “Adorn” by Miguel, and “Pony” by Ginuwine.

Special Dances

Special dances include optional or traditional dances like the money dance or dollar dance, where guests give the couple money while dancing. Traditionally, the money is pinned on the couple’s attire, placed in a designated box, or tucked into a pouch. This is common in Polish, Filipino, and Mexican weddings. The money dance provides a lighthearted way to support the newlyweds financially.

Another variation of this dance is the apron dance. During this dance, a family member or close friend wears an apron and collects money from guests. The dance symbolizes togetherness and is common in culturally rooted gatherings.

Additionally, we also have the anniversary dance, which celebrates the longest-married couples in attendance. This sweet tradition is meant to celebrate enduring love and inspire the couple. These special dances show how different cultures celebrate weddings, as well as how these communities honor love and commitment.

Post-Cake-Cutting Dance

Immediately after the cake is cut, the post-cake-cutting dances come up to transition back to the dance floor. This keeps the energy alive and allows guests to finish their dessert before rejoining the festivities. These dances include a mix of lively dances like the Cha-Cha Slide or the Macarena to get everyone involved.

Last Dance

As the name implies, the last dance is the final one for the evening. It is often shared by the couple alone or with the guests. This sentimental moment brings a close to the celebration and leaves a lasting impression on everyone in attendance. Song recommendations include “Time of My Life” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes or “Don’t Stop Believin” by Journey.

Wedding Reception Order of Events

In a traditional wedding, the minister welcomes everyone in attendance, and the couple exchanges their vows. Then, the couple exchanges their rings and shares a kiss, and finally, the minister announces the newly married couple. A more detailed breakdown is listed below:

• Cocktail Hour

• Arrival of Guests

• Friends and Family Walk Down the Aisle

• First Dance

• Party Time

• The Wedding Dinner

• Speeches and Toasts

• Back To The Party

• Cake Cutting

• The Last Dance

• The Grand Exit

• After-Party

The average wedding lasts about 6 hours, which is enough time for the ceremony, photos, and reception. Many brides follow an old superstition that the big day shouldn’t start when the clock’s minute hand is pointing down. This belief—called marrying on the upswing—has made half-past start times popular for good luck.

Morning receptions start around 10 am, while afternoon celebrations can start as early as 12 noon or as late as 2.30 pm, and evening wedding receptions can start by 4.30 pm but no later than 6 pm.

Using our sample wedding reception timeline as a guide, you can structure your wedding reception to ensure that everything flows well.

1. Cocktail Hour and Hors d’oeuvres

The cocktail hour smoothly transitions the ceremony into the reception, giving guests a chance to relax, socialize, and enjoy light refreshments. On average, this segment lasts for an hour, especially for small and medium weddings.

Larger weddings may require up to two hours, especially if the ceremony and reception venue are at different locations. This timeframe gives your guests ample time to settle in, greet one another, and enjoy the event. Light background music such as jazz, classical, or soft pop creates an elegant atmosphere without overpowering conversations.

 2. Guests Enter The Reception Area and Are Seated

After cocktail hour, your guests will make their way to your reception site. If their seats have been assigned already, give them some extra time to settle down. Depending on your guest count and venue set up, this could take anywhere between 5-30 minutes.

Your goal should be to create an atmosphere that invites guests to their seats. Music that does this is cheerful, warm, and light. The best genres for creating such an ambiance are soft jazz, instrumental covers, and acoustic.

3. Immediate Family And Friends Walk Down The Aisle

Your wedding party members (groomsmen, bridesmaids, ring bearers, flower girls, and immediate family members) will enter the reception in small groups (1-3) after your guests have arrived. The DJ or live band will provide music of your choice during each walk.

The length of this session could span from fifteen minutes to half an hour, depending on the size of your wedding party.

4. Starting The Party – The First Dance

After the couple makes their grand entrance, they begin the evening with a dance. This dance marks the start of the festivities and is often performed to a meaningful song that reflects their life story. Classics like John Legend’s “All of Me” are perfect for the first dance. Following the first dance, the parent dance, which features the father-daughter and mother-son dance, comes next. These dances typically last 2 – 4 minutes and serve as a touching moment for both families.

5. Party Time!

This is the moment everyone has been waiting for. It’s time for your guests to join you on the dance floor as you celebrate your wedding day. This is where your live band or professional DJ will set the tone for the party. Your entertainment should come prepared with your desired music and be able to read the crowd, playing the kind of music that would appeal to them.

6. The Wedding Dinner

Your average wedding dinner should take an hour and a half to two hours. This gives them plenty of time for guests to eat their meals and socialize without feeling rushed. Allowing your guests to eat at this point in the reception ensures that they are energized and ready to go to the dance party that will continue!

The music selected for your wedding dinner should set a relaxed atmosphere and foster conversation among your wedding guests. Each song should be no longer than four minutes. Consider these recommended songs: “When A Man Loves A Woman” by Percy Sledge, “Making Memories of Us” by Keith Urban, “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran, and “A Sunday Kind of Love” by Etta James.

7. Speeches & Toasts

This is the part where you thank your guests for celebrating with you. The couple, their parents, or even a member of the wedding party can give a speech/toast. Your wedding planner can help organize this part of the wedding. Ideally, you should keep these 2- to 3-minute long so your guests don’t get bored.

This is the best time to roll out wedding reception activities like games, such as the shoe game. Pair your speeches with soft background music so you don’t overshadow the speaker. Instrumental jazz songs like Autumn Leaves by Bell Evans or soft pop instrumentals like Your Song by Elton John are recommended examples of genre/song choices for a wedding toast.

8. Back to the Party!

Once the dinner and speeches are over, your emcee can invite everyone back to the dance floor for another round of dancing, drinking, and enjoying the event. This is typically the best part of the night—everyone’s taken a nice break, had a few drinks at this point, and is ready to rock for a few more hours.

After speeches, your aim is to transition back into party mode. The songs played should energize the atmosphere and get people in the mood to dance, so upbeat songs are the way to go. Your ideal song length should be three to four minutes.

9. Wedding Cake Cutting

The wedding cake-cutting ceremony signals to your friends and family that the wedding reception is about to end. It is often done roughly an hour before you make your grand exit or the wedding reception ends.

Ask your DJ to offer slow or mid-tempo music as everyone enjoys their dessert together. This is also a good time to do the wedding bouquet toss and ask your wedding photographer to capture some photos of you with your guests.

10. The Last Dance

On the wedding reception timeline, this final dance set signals the end of the party. Allow the DJ to mention when the last song is being played so that your guests know that this is the last chance to get onto the dance floor before the wedding party ends.

Song recommendations across various styles include Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen and I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston. The ideal song for the last dance will evoke feelings of unity and joy, making it perfect for the send-off of your wedding guests.

11. Grand Exit

After the last song has played, it’s time for you to leave. You can ask your DJ or emcee to invite everyone outside to send you and your partner off. For this moment, you should choose a song that’s celebratory. Popular choices include “You Make My Dreams” by Hall & Oates and “Marry You” by Bruno Mars.

To make your exit an unforgettable one, consider fun ideas like a sparkler send-off, confetti shower, or petal toss. If you want something more dramatic, you could set up a fireworks display to leave your guests in awe.

12. After-Party

If you want to keep the party going, an after-party is the perfect way to end the night on a high note. With your parents gone, these parties tend to be louder and wilder. After-parties are a great way to let your hair down and let loose. For music, think dance-floor anthems like “Levitating” by Dua Lipa to keep the energy alive.

Need a DJ or Live Band for Your Wedding Reception?

Music is the heartbeat of any event because the right soundtrack can change a moment into a memory that lasts a lifetime. Music is more than a mood setter; the right music elevates the atmosphere and brings your event to life.

From the first dance to the cake cutting and toasts, a DJ or live band will set the tone and ensure that everything flows smoothly. Whether you prefer the professional services of a DJ or the thrill of a live band, LIV Entertainment Group has just what you need.

To find out more or request a free quotation, contact us today!