Your Wedding Day Timeline: From First Toast to Last Dance

The menu gets all the attention, but the timeline is what actually makes a wedding dinner feel effortless. After hosting many weddings at TURQUOISE, here is the rhythm we recommend to our couples.

A Timeline That Works

• Ceremony ends + 30–45 min: Welcome drinks and photos. Keep the drinks visible and the food away for now, you want people mingling, not snacking.
• +60–75 min: Seated dinner begins. A first course served promptly keeps the energy up while speeches are still fresh in everyone's mind.
• During the main course: The best moment for toasts. Glasses are full, plates are warm, nobody is waiting for food.
• After dessert: First dance and open dancing, or a short break while the room is reset for the party.
• Late evening: A light bite for the dancers. A meze table or grilled pita at midnight is remembered long after the flowers wilt.

The Two Rules We See Matter Most

Feed the speeches, not the other way around. Schedule toasts during or right after the main course, when everyone is seated and relaxed. Speeches that drift into dessert time collide with service, and everybody waits.

Protect the kitchen from surprises. Give your venue final numbers and any dietary changes at least 72 hours ahead. On the day itself, the only thing your coordinator should be doing is enjoying the wedding too.

Planning Your Reception?

Our team hosts garden and courtyard receptions in the heart of Prague, from intimate dinners to 150-guest celebrations. Let's build your timeline together: plan your wedding with us.