Fear the Crab

Wedding reception programs are a curious thing. I have attended numerous receptions here and they have all followed the same format. It starts with the receiving line where the bridal party greets each guest, then cocktails and pupus (appetizers for some of your, hors d’oeuvres for the rest). The bridal party is introduced and is seated, some speeches are made. Everybody eats food! More speeches. Wedding cake cutting. Maybe a sappy slideshow. Speech given by bride and groom. Banzai toast given by drunk uncles. First dance, then money train.

Every wedding reception I’ve gone to has followed this format. Now that I am planning my own, I discover that this isn’t necessarily the standard. For starters, it seems the first dance is often held first, after the speeches. Someone told me the money train was a Filipino wedding tradition (I’m still going to have it!).

Granted, some of this comes from sources whose knowledge is based on their own experiences, so perhaps the sequences are just what they are used to. Nothing indicates that I HAVE to follow a particular pattern.

However, I do need to remember and make sure that all the primary players know this schedule. It wouldn’t do to have the band play the song for the first dance before dinner.