My Wedding Forum

How long do you suggest a program should last?

normally it would last from 1.5 to 2 hours but it really depends on your program host and of course your program.

meaning, there are some program hosts who are slow or boring. better get a jolly or happy person to be your program host... jolly people are alive and full of fun so mabilis ang phasing ng program.

as for the program, be sure to keep it simple... dont let so many relatives render special numbers, ask your mom not to give a very long thank you speech and as much as you want to tell the world that you did your own avp or picture presentation, dont let it run for more than 10 mins.. 8 minutes is ok, 10 minutes is tolerable but more than that people will go out or do something else.

keep it simple, sweet and fun! ;)

you might want to consider this for your reception program

I. ARRIVAL OF GUESTS

a. PLAY AVP – if applicable

b. SIGNING OF GUEST BOOK

II. SELF INTRODUCTION OF EMCEES

III. INTRODUCTION OF ENTOURAGE

IV. GRAND ENTRANCE

a. MUSIC

b.  BUBBLE MACHINE – if applicable

V. OPENING PRAYER

VI. TOAST BY THE BEST MAN

VII. DINNER

a. PICTURE TAKING WITH THE COUPLE BEFORE PROCEEDING TO BUFFET TABLE

b. PLAY SOFT MUSIC

VIII. CAKE CUTTING

IX. GARTER & BOUQUET TOSS

X. SPEECH FROM THE PARENTS AND PRINCIPAL SPONSORS

XI. SPEECH FROM THE COUPLE

XII. FIRST DANCE

a.      MUSIC -
 
XIII. CLOSING REMARKS

- Guests arrive
- Cocktails and horsdouves served
- Guests seated
- Bride & Groom grand entrance and introduction
- Wine Toasting
- Invocation
- Breakfast Served
- Telegrams read by Best Man
- Bestman's Toasts
- Cutting of the cake
- 1st dance
- Family and friends invited to join
- Coffee served - photographs taken with guests
- Dancing
- Bouquet Toss
- Garter Toss
- Thank Yous
- Closing

I. Entrance of Guests
II. Welcoming of guests
III. Introduction of Entourage
IV. Grand Entrance
V. Cake Cutting
VI. Father-Daughter Dance
VII. First Dance
VIII. Prayer before meals   
IX. Photo Op before going to Buffet Table
X. Lunch
XI. Toasts by the MOH, BM, Ninong/Ninang
XII. AVP
XIII. A Tribute to couples (couples game)
XIV. Message from Parents
XV. Singles' Game
XVI. Thank Yous
XVII. Closing

Cocktails: outside the dining hall
Dinner Program:
Self intro of host
Introduction of the wedding party
Dinner
Photo op
AVP
Honoring of parents
Cake cutting
Wine Toasting
Toast offered to the bride and groom
Thank yous
Closing
First dance
Dancing with guests

Welcoming of guests
Self introduction of the host
Introduction of Principal Sponsors
Introduction of parents of the newlyweds
Parade of the Entourage
Grand entrance of the newlyweds
Torch parade/sword parade
Opening Prayer
Cake, Wine and Dove Ceremony
Table to table pictorials
Dinner proper
Best Man’s Toast
Well wishers
1 Representative from the groom’s friends
1 Representative from the bride’s friends
1 Representative from the ninongs
1 Representative from the ninangs
Groom’s parents (or any member of the groom’s immediate family to
welcome the bride) (1 only)
Bride’s parents (or nay member of the bride’s immediate family to
welcome the groom) (1 only)
Bouquet Ceremony
Traditional tossing
Groom takes the garter off the bride’s leg
Garter ceremony
Putting the garter on the leg of the winner
Pictorial with winners of bouquet and garter
First dance of the newlyweds
Money dance
Closing remarks by the bride and groom
Closing remarks of the host
The host will formally end the reception program and invite the guests to dance…

when we attended a wedding in chicago, after the dj introduced the entourage, the couple's favorite song was played and that was their cue for their grand entrance... and to our surprice they did their 1st dance as they entered the ballroom.

do we need to follow traditions (cake cutting, garter/bouquet toss, etc)?

i guess you can go without the traditions... more on dinner and dancing lang siguro ang mangyayari sa reception nyo

you can do something like this if you want:

Welcoming of guests
Self introduction of the host
Introduction of Principal Sponsors
Introduction of parents of the newlyweds
Grand entrance of the newlyweds
Opening Prayer
Table to table pictorials
Dinner proper
Best Man’s Toast
First dance of the newlyweds
Closing remarks by the bride and groom
Closing remarks of the host
Dancing

just have someone play lively music so that things wont be boring

I got this from another forum... scripted prayer for invocation.

"Heavenly Father, we ask you to bless this food and those who prepared it and those who will serve it. We also ask your blessing on
[bride's name] and [bridegroom's name] who have come to you this day to unite themselves to you in love and sacrament, and upon their
families. In Jesus' love.... Amen."

"Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for the food we share tonight, in celebration of [bride's name] and [bridegroom's name]'s marriage
We thank you for the love, guidance and support of our parents, family and friends
We thank you for making this day so enjoyable, and bless those that have worked hard to
make this day a success for [bride's name] and [bridegroom's name]. Thank you Lord for the freedom we have in our lives and the beautiful
country we enjoy it in. Heavenly Father, we ask this blessing for the newly married couple,

May their love be firm, and may their dream of life together be a river between two shores--
by day bathed in sunlight, and by night illuminated from within.
May the heron carry news of them to the heavens, and the salmon bring the sea's blue grace.
May their twin thoughts spiral upward like leafy vines, like fiddle strings in the wind,
and be as noble as the Douglas fir.
May they never find themselves back to back without love pulling them around into each other's arms. Amen."

hmmm....

tumahimik yata.

hopefully, the group will get more members to sign up.. i found some things here that are useful. the other egroup that im a member with has lots of info too but sometimes i get confused na rin since there are so many as in MANY members talking to you.