Weddingbee boards

Hi everybody,

I"m new here, and I decided to join because I desperately need people to sound things off of that get what I'm talking about! I hope in turn I can be a helpful friend to others!

My issue at the moment is the order of events/timing of things at the beginning part of the reception. My venue/caterer disagrees with my dj/coordinator as to how things should be done.

Venue says: we should do a recieving line right after the ceremony, and then once the reception starts  the salads are set right before we enter, introductions, toasts, entree's served, cake cutting, cake served sometime during dancing (they'll have to take it back to cut it up)

DJ says: no recieving line and once the reception starts the salads will still be set right before we enter (we don't have a choice in this), introductions, first dance, toasts, cake cutting, entree's served, while people eat (we will finish first because we will be served first) go greet each table (small wedding only 60 people or so to greet), cake will be served either while we are still greeting or at the beginning of the rest of the formal dances, which will start as soon as we are done greeting and the folks are done with entree's.

So who do I listen to? I'm leaning towards the DJ, as he has 18 years of experience and has excellent reviews, seems to know his stuff etc. My concern with his timeline is this - is there too much of a lag time between when people get their salad and when they get their entrees? The salads would be on the table for introductions so the guests would have them for that, the first dance, the toasts, and the cake cutting (approx 20 mins) before getting more food. They will have been fed appetizers during the cocktail hour so they shouldn't exactly be starving, and 20 minutes isn't really that long especially since they won't be eating that whole time, they'll be watching the events of the reception, I am just really unsure about the cake being cut before dinner is over, but the DJ seems to think it will work out very well. Thoughts?? Help!!!!!

Jenny ~ the crazy bride