The reception entrance is the moment you are announced into the wedding breakfast as a married couple. For some couples it is a burst of music and cheering; for others it is a quiet walk to the top table. Either way, a little thought beforehand makes the photographs, so it is worth deciding how you want it to feel before the day.
What the reception entrance actually involves
Once the drinks reception winds down, guests are called into the wedding breakfast room and take their seats. You are then announced into the room as a married couple, usually by the venue coordinator, a toastmaster, your DJ or your band leader, often to a song you have chosen. Guests stand, cheer and applaud as you walk to your seats, and the whole thing is over in under a minute. It is sometimes called the grand entrance, and it normally happens just before the meal begins.
Decide how you want to be announced
Start with the announcement itself. Confirm the names you want used and who will say them, whether that is a toastmaster, the venue coordinator or your DJ. Some couples walk in alone, others have parents or the wedding party announced in ahead of them, and some bring the whole room to its feet with a different song for each pairing. There is no correct version, only the one that sounds like you. This list of wedding reception entrance ideas from The Knot shows just how varied it can be. Whatever you choose, keep the introductions short, because a long list of names cools the room before you appear.
Sort the practical details before the day
Tell your photographer the plan in advance: which door you will come through, roughly when, and who is announcing you. Reception rooms are often dimmer than the ceremony space, so mention any lighting plans too, whether that is candles, festoon lights or a DJ rig, because it changes how your photographer prepares. If the entrance follows straight on from the drinks reception, your photographer will already be nearby from photographing the drinks reception, and it helps to leave a little breathing room in your wedding day timeline so guests are seated before you are announced.
What makes the photos work
Walk more slowly than feels natural and look at your guests rather than at the floor. Hold hands, talk to each other, wave at the table that is making the most noise. The cheering aisle is what makes these pictures, so there is no need to stop and pose on the way in. If I know the route, the timing and the song, I can be in position before the doors open, which is all a natural wedding photograph like this needs. It is also worth knowing that once the meal begins, coverage usually settles into what happens during the wedding breakfast, so the entrance is the one big burst of energy before the room relaxes.
Alternatives if a big entrance is not for you
You do not owe anyone a grand entrance. You can skip the announcement and wander in with your guests after the drinks reception, or be seated quietly and let your coordinator simply welcome everyone to the meal. Some couples roll the moment into what comes next and go straight from the doors to the dance floor, which is worth thinking about when you are planning your first dance photos. Whatever you decide, the entrance sets the tone for the rest of the night, and the ideas in our guide to planning photos of your evening party pick up where it leaves off. When you are ready to talk through how it would work at your venue, get in touch.
