The Ultimate Conference Venue

The Receiving Line

The receiving line is both courteous and practical and a great way to ensure you see everyone. Time between the welcome drinks reception and the Wedding Breakfast itself should be allowed for this purpose.

Normally, when the bride's parents have sent out invitations, the parents can be regarded as the Host and Hostess and should be first in line to receive the guests.

Next in line can be the groom's parents, followed by the Groom, Bride, Chief Bridesmaid and Best Man. The receiving line can be arranged to suit the Bridal Party as required, particularly when circumstances dicate otherwise

The Top Table

The Top Table seating arrangement facing your guests should normally read, from left to right:

• Chief Bridesmaid
• Groom's Father
• Bride's Mother
• Groom
• Bride
• Bride's Father
• Groom's Mother
• Best Man

To help you, we've provided this brief guide to the various duties participants have. If you need any more information, please feel free to call.

The Bride

Normally, it is the bride who selects the type of service, as well as choosing her dress and the bridesmaid’s attire.

The Groom

The bridegroom chooses the best man and ushers, if required. It is his job to pay any church fees, buy the ring and also presents for the bridesmaids, best man and ushers. He should also buy flowers for the bride, bride’s mother, his own mother and the bridesmaids, as well as buttonholes for himself and the best man. Nor do his responsibiIities end there! The bridegroom should also organise and pay for a car for himself and the best man before the wedding, and of course, himself and his bride after it.

The Best Man

As the bridegroom’s right hand man, the best man also has several duties. First of all, he’s responsible for making sure the bridegroom arrives on time for the ceremony. He must pay any church fees, keep the ring, check the transport arrangements, and ensure there is transport for every guest to attend the reception. Honeymoon travel arrangements are also his responsibility. At the service, he must read the telegrams.

The Chief Bridesmaid

If the best man is the groom’s right hand man, the chief bridesmaid is the bride’s equivalent. She helps her to dress, holds her bouquet during the ceremony and generally organises the other bridesmaids.

The Bride's Father

The father gives the bride away. He receives guests at the reception, pays for the wedding dress, the bridesmaid's dresses, all cars except the bridegroom's, plus the photographs, flowers at the church and reception, the invitations and any press announcements there may be.

The Bride's Mother

By Tradition, the bride's mother is in charge of the entire proceedings. For example, it is she who chooses the reception venue and, along with the bridegroom's mother, the guest list. She must also handle the catering arrangements, in particular making sure the cake is ready.

Once the ceremony is over she must join her husbandand the groom's mother and father in greeting guests at reception.

Grace

The Toastmaster says Grace after escorting the Bride and Bridegroom to their places at the top table. The Toastmaster will introduce someone selected by the Bride and Groom to say the Grace if required. Sometimes Grace is not said.

Speeches and Toasts

The First Toast
The 1st toast is duty and privilege of the Bride’s Father, but where this cannot be the case a close relative or family friend may give this very special toast to...

The Bride and Bridegroom
The Bridegroom responds to this toast on behalf of himself and his Bride. It is also the Bridegroom’s duty to make the second toast to...

The Bridesmaids
The Best Mon on Behalf of the Bridesmaids, responds to this toast.

It is his duty to read out selected messages of congratulations.

It is not traditional that the Best Man repeats the toasts to the Bride and Groom

Cutting The Cake

At British weddings, the ceremony of cutting the cake by the Bride and Groom together takes place at the end of the meal, prior to coffee.