Choosing your events
Nothing on this list is required. Keep, skip, or maybe, in the order of the night; the faint number is what each one usually costs the dance floor.
Wedding 101
the worksheet
EventKeep, skip, maybeMinWhat it needs, who is involved
Grand entrance10KeepSkipMaybe
First dance5KeepSkipMaybe
Welcome or blessing5KeepSkipMaybe
Toasts10KeepSkipMaybe
The meal60KeepSkipMaybe
Cake cutting5KeepSkipMaybe
Parent dances10KeepSkipMaybe
Anniversary dance5KeepSkipMaybe
Bouquet toss10KeepSkipMaybe
Garter5KeepSkipMaybe
Money dancepeople x 0.6KeepSkipMaybe
Centerpiece giveaway5KeepSkipMaybe
Slideshow or montageits lengthKeepSkipMaybe
The shoe game10KeepSkipMaybe
Special or sorority songs5KeepSkipMaybe
A surprise performanceits lengthKeepSkipMaybe
Last dance5KeepSkipMaybe
Send-off10KeepSkipMaybe
KeepSkipMaybe
KeepSkipMaybe
KeepSkipMaybe

Kept minutes, not counting the meal:   Every one of these is a reason to sit down. Pick the best, not all of the good; more than thirty minutes of moments inside the dancing is where the floor starts to suffer.

Send-off supplies: one per guest plus ten percent. Line everyone up ten minutes before the last song ends. Sparklers are fireworks under Massachusetts law (M.G.L. c.148 s.39): no private sale, possession, or use without the state license and permits, and that covers ones bought out of state. Bubbles, petals, glow sticks, light-up wands, ribbon wands, the human tunnel, and the paparazzi exit all work at night and need no permit. Ask the venue either way.

Wedding 101 by Ensemble Events ยท ensemble-events.com/wedding101The picker keeps your answers and feeds the run of show: ensemble-events.com/wedding101/tools/events/