Your
first task at the reception is to greet and welcome your guests.
You will join the receiving line, after the bride's parents,
your parents and your wife. You will then lead the bridal
party to the top table occupying the centre right seat between
your wife on your left and your mother-in-law on your right.
For further information about the various options and permutations
of receiving lines and top table seating arrangements, please
refer to our main articles The Receiving
Line and Reception
Seating Arrangements.
Once
the meal is finished it is time to deliver that speech.
First your best man or the master of ceremonies will introduce
your father-in-law who will make his speech and propose
a toast to you both, but now it is your turn to respond
to the toast. Take a few deep breaths and begin! Your speech
concludes with a toast to the bridesmaids. After the toast,
you will present them with a gift each. Your best man will
then deliver the final speech. For further advice about
the content and delivery of your speech, please read our
article.Saying The Right Thing in this
groom's section.
Following
the speeches, you will join your wife in cutting the cake. Placing your hand over hers you will both make the ceremonial
first cut, posing for even more photographs!
Probably
one of your last important duties is to take your new wife
on to the dance floor to commence the evening celebrations.
You should decide with her beforehand what you want played
but check with the band/disco that whatever you choose is
possible. During the first dance it is traditional for you
to break to dance with your new mother-in-law and then your
mother, while your wife dances with her new father-in-law
then her father. Check out our First Dance Classics CD from confetti.co.uk.
Arrange
a suitable time to change into your going away outfit allowing
enough time to say your goodbyes, in particular to both
sets of parents. You are responsible for arranging any transportation
required to get you to your first night venue. If you are
using your own transport, it will most probably be 'decorated'
and have various trailing appendages! Make sure before you
leave that you have reclaimed any travel documents from
your best man. All the pomp and ceremony of your wedding
day is now over. The rest of the night is yours for you
and your wife to enjoy alone in whatever way you have chosen.
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