Picturing your wedding, or attending one soon and wondering what to expect? A lot of time, preparation and planning go into a wedding day routine. After vows and rings have been exchanged, the wedding reception is where the day really starts to feel like a proper celebration. But apart from a white dress and lots of clinking glasses, what does it actually entail?
In this guide, we’ll cover the order of events for a wedding reception in an Australian marriage celebration, giving you all the mental preparation you need before attending the big day.
So, what does the standard wedding day routine at a reception look like?
1. Wedding Couple Entrance
Typically, guests will enter the wedding reception venue first, whilst the couple take photos or share a private moment as newlyweds having just signed their marriage certificate. Canapes and drinks may be provided. Alternatively, there may be a formal seating arrangement with a wedding seating chart directing guests to specific tables and seats.
When everyone is settled, the best man or celebrant will announce the wedding couple with a toast or uptempo music. It is traditional for the couple to be met with rapturous applause at their entrance into the venue – stepping in front of friends and family as married partners for the first time. This is also a good time to formally Acknowledge Country by paying respect to the Indigenous guardians of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands.
2. Dinner or Lunch Service
Generally, the longest part of the wedding reception, providing guests with a high-quality lunch or dinner service, is one of the classic Australian wedding customs. There are many ways to serve food, whether a seated three-course meal, a buffet spread, or a food truck arrangement. Guests, if in allocated seats, will be expected to spend this time with their table, while the bridal party makes their way around the room greeting guests and receiving congratulations. Other receptions favour a more relaxed approach, with guests moving freely around the venue.
Most often, menus and meals are pre-arranged. Depending on the venue arrangement and the couple’s wishes, there may be a bar available to purchase drinks from, or table service. Some couples may enforce specific catering styles or dietary preferences, such as an alcohol or meat-free service, so respect their choices and make sure you communicate any allergens or intolerances well in advance of the wedding day.
3. Speeches & Toasts
With guests sitting comfortably, stomachs full of good wine and good food, now is the perfect opportunity for speeches to take place. Some couples disregard the speeches altogether as they can disrupt the flow of the day, although traditionally, this is the moment for the bridal party to express their gratitude and celebrate the happy couple.
Typically, the father of a bride will speak about the bride and thank the guests. A groom will talk about a bride and toast the bridesmaids, and a best man will talk about a groom and toast the newlyweds. A maid of honour speech is becoming more common, to talk about a bride and toast the couple, as well as speeches from bride and a parent of the groom. Speeches are normally a mixture of heartfelt and comedic anecdotes about the couple, their relationship and their loved ones, and last no more than around 5 minutes each.
4. Cake Cutting
Cake cutting is a fun moment in the day that makes for a great photo opportunity. It symbolises the couple’s first task together and marks the end of the formalities – and the beginning of the party! The couple will stand and slice their wedding cake together, sometimes with a family heirloom, and potentially feed each other the first bite.
The best man or another member of the bridal party will likely toast the couple before the cake is shared among guests. In keeping with strict tradition (borrowed from the English), the wedding cake will be a tiered fruitcake, with the first tier kept by the couple for their first anniversary. However, modern Australians tend to favour serving their guests with the classic lamington instead of a larger tiered cake.
5. First Dance
Now the festivities begin! The first dance is exactly what it sounds like, performed by the couple alone on the dancefloor as guests gather round to watch. During the song or perhaps immediately after it, the couple’s parents are invited to dance with their children, before the bridal party and the rest of the guests are welcomed onto the dance floor.
Song choices for a first dance vary greatly. Many opt for a slow love song, while others prefer a more upbeat style, sometimes with pre-rehearsed choreography. In general, the song chosen normally has a special meaning or emotional connection for the couple.
6. Live Music Or Entertainment
Whether the couple opt for a DJ or live band for their wedding entertainment, this is the part of the evening when celebrations start to look more like an elevated party. At this point in the evening, the bridal party are feeling more relaxed, all the ‘jobs’ have been completed, and guests are invited to let loose, have fun and celebrate!
Some couples will arrange special entertainment like live music, a dance performance, a magic act, a family tradition or something completely out of the box. This part of the reception can last for a couple of hours and is often one of the most expensive parts of a wedding. Couples might arrange for late-night sweet treats or snacks to be brought out to fuel the celebrations.
7. Bouquet & Garter Toss
Many brides choose to engage in a light-hearted bouquet toss. Their flowers are thrown up to a group of women attending the wedding, and whoever catches it is said to be the next person to marry. However, a new ritual of brides giving their bouquet to their mother as a token of acknowledgement and gratitude is growing, since traditionally there is no ‘role’ played by a mother at the wedding.
A cheekier tradition is the garter toss. Worn just above the knee by a bride, their spouse will remove it with their hands (or teeth!) and throw it to be caught by one of the single men in attendance, holding the same symbolism as the bouquet toss. This tradition is becoming more outdated, but it can be a playful moment if carried out by a tight-knit group of guests.
8. Carriages
After a big old disco, the night must draw to a close. Typically, the married couple will retire earlier in the evening, often enthusiastically cheered on and waved off by their guests. Some mark this moment with sparklers, a classic car, or a stream of confetti.
It is traditional for wedding celebrations to continue after the couple have left, however, some invitations will clearly state what time marks the end of the event, whether for licensing restrictions, equipment hire or venue rental agreements. Wait for an announcement from the best man or wedding venue staff to signify that the night is ending. Of course – if you’re the ones getting married and don’t want to miss a thing, stay til the clock strikes twelve!
Australian Wedding Customs For A Traditional Reception
We’ve covered the typical order of events for a wedding reception, so you have some idea of what to expect if you’re attending an Australian wedding for the first time, or inspiration on how to structure your big day – if you want to follow a traditional wedding day routine.
But remember, your wedding day is your wedding day. Don’t feel restricted by Australian wedding customs, nor family expectations or cultural traditions. It’s completely ok to scrap every single one and make it up as you go along, or to meticulously arrange a celebration that looks totally different to the order of events we’ve listed.
If you’re looking for a venue to help you do your wedding your way, you’re looking in the right place. Check out our space here at Canvas House, the perfect ‘blank canvas’ to turn into your dream wedding reception.
Reach out to the team on 0478 056 390, or send us a direct inquiry today.
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