What is the typical order of service for a wedding reception?

Short answer

A wedding reception order of service is a simple card or sign showing the running order of the day, from drinks and photos through to the meal, speeches, cake and dancing. It is not a legal document, just a friendly guide so guests know what happens when.

This is the timeline for the rest of your day, usually printed on a card at each place setting or shown on a welcome board. It keeps guests relaxed because they know when to sit down, when to expect food and when the speeches begin.

A typical running order looks like this:

Drinks reception and group photos
Guests seated for the meal
Welcome and starter
Speeches, often after the main course or after dessert
Main course and dessert
Cake cutting
First dance and evening dancing
Evening food and carriages

You can shape it to suit your day. If you are having a buffet, a hog roast or food trucks, note the times so nobody misses out. Add any traditions that matter to your families, such as a receiving line, a cultural ceremony or a quiet room for children.

Keep the wording short and kind, and remember timings can slip. A printed card is easy to update, but a sign or a page on your wedding website can be changed right up to the day.