Wedding reception timings: a sample running order

The short answer

At most UK weddings the DJ is booked for the evening. They arrive while you are at the wedding breakfast, set up in the room where the party will be, start playing once evening guests arrive, play your first dance, keep the dance floor going through the buffet, and finish with your chosen last song at the venue’s curfew.

Every day is different. Venues set the finish time, caterers set the meal timings, and some couples run late. Treat the table below as an example to adapt, not a rule.

Sample wedding day running order

This example assumes a 2pm ceremony, a sit-down wedding breakfast, an evening reception and a midnight finish.

Time	What happens	What the DJ is doing
2:00pm	Ceremony	Not yet on site, unless booked for ceremony music
2:45pm	Drinks reception and photos	Not yet on site, unless booked for drinks music
4:30pm	Guests called to the wedding breakfast	Travelling to the venue
5:00pm	Wedding breakfast begins	Arrives, unloads, starts setting up
6:30pm	Speeches	Setup finished, sound check done quietly
7:00pm	Room turnaround, if the meal and party share a room	Final checks, background music on
7:30pm	Evening guests arrive	Background music, building gently
8:00pm	Cutting the cake	Short announcement and a track to match
8:15pm	First dance	Introduces the couple, plays the first dance
8:20pm	Dance floor opens	Full party set begins
9:30pm	Evening buffet served	Lighter set while guests eat
10:00pm	Dancing continues	Full set, reading the room
11:50pm	Last orders and last song	Announces the last song
12:00am	Music finishes	Lights up, then pack-down
12:45am	Venue closes	Packed and loaded out

Where the DJ fits in

Arrival and setup. In many venues the DJ sets up during the wedding breakfast, either in the same room before guests sit down or in a separate evening room. If the same room is used for the meal and the party, the DJ may set up quietly in a corner during the meal, or wait for the room turnaround. Ask your venue which applies.

Sound check. This is usually done quietly or before guests enter the room. A good DJ will not blast test tones during the speeches.

The first dance. The DJ normally introduces you, plays your song, and then invites everyone onto the floor. If you want an edited version or a fade into a party track, agree it in advance. Our playlist and first dance guide covers the options.

The buffet. Many DJs drop the energy slightly while people eat, then build again afterwards.

The last song. You choose it. Most DJs announce it, and some invite everyone to join in for a final group moment.

Pack-down. The DJ needs time and access to pack down after the music stops. Check that this fits within the venue’s closing time.

Alternative running orders

Evening-only reception

Some couples marry earlier in the day or elsewhere, and invite everyone to an evening party.

Time	What happens
6:00pm	DJ arrives and sets up
7:30pm	Guests arrive, background music
8:00pm	Couple’s entrance, short welcome
8:15pm	First dance, then dance floor opens
9:30pm	Food served
11:45pm	Last song

With no wedding breakfast to set up around, the DJ can arrive earlier and set up without working around diners.

Asian multi-event weddings

Asian weddings in Birmingham often run over several days: mehndi, sangeet, the wedding ceremony and the reception. Each event can have its own timings, venue and music. A DJ may play one event or all of them.

Points to agree with the DJ:

• which events they are playing, with arrival and finish times for each
• whether the reception starts with a grand entrance, and the music for it
• whether dhol players are booked and how they will be cued in with the DJ
• the balance of Bhangra, Bollywood and English music at each event

Receptions with large guest numbers often have a longer entrance and speech section before dancing starts. Our page on Asian wedding DJs explains more.

Winter weddings

Shorter days often move the ceremony earlier, because photos are taken in daylight. That can bring the whole day forward.

Time	What happens
12:30pm	Ceremony
1:15pm	Drinks and photos, while it is light
3:00pm	Wedding breakfast; DJ arrives and sets up
5:00pm	Speeches
6:30pm	Evening guests arrive
7:00pm	First dance
11:00pm	Last song, if the venue has an earlier curfew

An earlier start can make for a long evening. Some couples book an extra hour of DJ time; others are happy to finish earlier.

Tips for keeping to time

• Share one running order with your venue, DJ, photographer and caterer.
• Put the venue’s curfew and any sound limiter on it.
• Agree who calls each moment: the DJ, a toastmaster or the venue coordinator.
• Leave a buffer. Speeches and meals almost always run longer than planned.

Let us find your DJ

Once you know roughly how your day will run, tell us your date, venue and times. We pass your enquiry to one hand-picked independent wedding DJ who can work to your timings, and you book with them directly. Get matched with a DJ.