When it comes to planning a wedding, one of the most important aspects is the event timeline. This is necessary to keep everybody on schedule and make sure nothing gets lost in the shuffle. Here at DJ Cutt Entertainment, we understand the importance of preparation. That’s why we have our own online planning form for you to use with the specific times that we need to know. On your wedding day we will try our hardest to hit these specific events at the specific times. However, we approach the entire day with a commitment to flexibility, because we know many things can run late (or early) during the actual event. Often times, you won’t know what time the day should start but you have a hard out when the event must end. Our approach is to plan the timeline in reverse so that way you know exactly what time to start your event versus just trying to guess. Many venues have a hard cut off time that you have to be out by and a time that the vendors have to be out by as well. What time do weddings typically end? After DJing weddings the past 15 years in Oregon and Portland, the average end time is somewhere between 9:30 and 10. We have had weddings go till at least 3 in the morning but 90 to 95% of weddings and at this time.
An efficient wedding timeline balances ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, speeches, special dances, games, and open dancing within a typical 5–6 hour window. Plan 1–2.5 hours for dancing, 10–20 minutes for special dances, and 15–60 minutes for speeches. Include buffer time for transitions and coordinate with your DJ for music, microphones, and effects to keep the day flowing smoothly and memorable for guests.
A standard wedding is going to last about 5 to 6 hours. Some run longer, and a few are on the shorter side, with the difference usually depending on the number of people at your wedding. The more guests, the harder it can be to get them through all the events, such as dinner, toasts, cocktail hour, and more.
For most couples I tell them to plan for somewhere between 1 to 2.5 hours of open dancing. On the actual day of the wedding, this can greatly fluctuate depending on how all the other events line up. A great dance music playlist will keep your guests energized and on the floor the entire time.
I tell my couples to usually plan for about 10 to 20 minutes for the special dances. This will include the first dance, the father-daughter dance, the mother-son dance, and the first song to kick off the dance party. We often do a game called the rabbit dance to get everybody up on the dance floor.
At some of our weddings, our clients like to play wedding games. The two most popular are the shoe game, along with a game called the anniversary dance. These are fun interactive games to get all your guests engaged and usually take about 10 minutes to complete.
While wedding cakes have long been a tradition, modern weddings may instead have cupcakes or a dessert bar. This means the cutting of the cake is mostly for the pictures now. This will usually take about five minutes but it can take up to 15 minutes depending on how fast you guys do the cutting and the time that it takes to get you to the dance floor. Many people add more time because they need to actually cut the cake in order to serve all the guests. At our company, as soon as the cutting of the cake is done, we bring you on the dance floor and the catering company can finish dishing out your desserts and we’ll make an announcement on the microphone that they can grab some cake once all the special dances are done.
Wedding speeches and toasts can take anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour. It just depends on how many people will give toasts and speeches and how long each person will speak. Make sure your wireless microphone setup is solid so every word is heard clearly - this is one detail worth reviewing with your DJ ahead of time.
Dinner should be scheduled for about 45 minutes to an hour and a half. The start time for dinner will be highly dependent on if the catering company is ready on time. Pairing dinner with the right reception dinner music sets the perfect mood and keeps guests comfortable during the wait.
When it comes to the grand entrance, this can take anywhere between 5 to 10 minutes depending on how many people are incorporated. For an even more dramatic moment, consider adding our dancing on clouds or cold spark machines to make your entrance truly unforgettable.
Essentially the cocktail hour is a buffer time from the end of the ceremony to the grand entrance. This can be anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour and a half long. Strong DJ and vendor communication is key to making sure this transition flows smoothly for you and your guests.
I tell my clients to plan at least an hour for the ceremony. In our planning forms you will get to pick a song for the family walking down the aisle, the wedding party, the bride's entrance song, and the exit song.
Contact us to go over your full wedding timeline and make sure everything is accounted for.
All in one service
Ready to talk details? Click one of the buttons below. Dates fill quickly, so don't wait to secure premier wedding entertainment!
Click "Book With Us" to check availability for a specific date
Get a customized price quote for your event.
Portland's most experienced wedding entertainment team
DJ Cutt Entertainment has been voted Best Wedding DJ by WeddingWire and The Knot. With over 20 years of experience creating incredible wedding moments, we serve Portland, Hood River, Oregon Coast, and throughout the Pacific Northwest.
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
%20(1).webp)
.webp)
.webp)