Protocol for ceremonies and events

A reception allows time for all the guests to arrive and provides them with an opportunity to be introduced to each other prior to dinner. A reception should last for a specific length of time which has been communicated to the guests. A reception of approximately 30 minutes is customary. 

It may be appropriate to provide refreshments during the reception. These should be light fare and complement the dinner menu. 

Once all the guests have arrived, the reception may be concluded. Guests would then be invited to proceed to the dining room.

1. Entry of head table guests 
2. National Anthem 
3. Grace 
4. Introduction of head table guests 
5. Pre-dinner remarks (if any) 
6. Dinner 
7. Loyal Toast 
8. Dessert 
9. Introduction of guest speaker(s) 
10. Address or remarks by guest speaker(s) 
11. Thank you to guest speaker(s) and presentation of gifts (if appropriate) 

Guests may be seated according to a seating plan you have prepared in advance, and for formal dinners this is recommended. Name cards may be set at each place at the table to assist your guests. 

The emcee asks the guests to stand for entrance of the head table guests. 

Note: Head table guests should proceed to their table in the order in which they are to be seated at the table.  

Optional: Having a piper play bagpipes for the entrance of the head table guests at formal dinners is quite common in New Brunswick and in Canada.  Your head table guests can be piped in if you so wish. If you do pipe in your head table guests, a round of applause is appropriate to show appreciation for the piper. 

Guests may be asked to join in the singing of the National Anthem. This is most appropriate if you have musical accompaniment. The National Anthem should not be applauded.

Once everyone is in their assigned place the emcee invites the designated person to say grace. Such a request should be made in advance so that person may be properly prepared. If there is a member of the clergy present, the privilege of saying the grace should be given to him/her. After grace is said, the emcee invites guests to be seated. 

If desirable, this would be an appropriate time for the emcee to introduce the head table guests. The salutation order (or introduction of guests) would start with the official of most importance, hierarchically speaking, working your way in descending order. The salutation order may be determined using the provincial order of precedence. 

If there are to be pre-dinner remarks, they should be made now, before dinner is served. These remarks may, in certain situations, take the form of welcoming statements, with the appropriate response given by the guest of honor.  

The emcee will invite each speaker to share their remarks and thank the speakers for their remarks. If a gift is to be presented to the guest speaker(s) it should be done now. Following the remarks (and presentation if any) the emcee should invite everyone to enjoy the dinner. 

In some circumstances a guest speaker will bring his/her remarks after dinner (see below). 

If there are to be toasts, they can be given after dinner, or at an appropriate place in the program. However, toasts should not precede dinner. The "Loyal Toast" should always be the first toast of the evening. The emcee asks the designated person to give the Loyal Toast; that person invites all to rise; once everyone is silent the toast "The King, Le Roi" is made, with no preliminary or following remarks.  

Note: Guests do not clink glasses. After the toast everyone is seated. 

The speaking order for an event hosted by or including provincial officials can be determined using the provincial order of precedence.

Normally speeches are given in ascending order, with the most important dignitary being the last to speak. The ribbon cutting, unveiling of a plaque, or opening of a building normally comes at the end of the speeches. 

If the program for the ceremony or activity places the important moment at the very beginning, the speeches would then be given in descending order, with the most important dignitary being the first to speak. 

For an event hosted by or including federal or international officials, speaking order may be determined by another order of precedence. 

If there are after dinner remarks, each guest speaker is introduced by the designated person prior to the speaker's remarks. 

If a gift is presented to the guest speaker(s) or their spouse or personal guest, it should be done at the end of the speaker's remarks. If there is more than one speaker, gifts may be presented once all speakers have concluded their remarks.