|
Mon, Jul 24, 06 at 13:25
| We're having a wedding that begins at 5 pm.
How long should the reception be? I've always left wedding receptions long before they were over, so I have no idea what time they usually end. :-) |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
- Posted by sweet_pea10 (My Page) on Mon, Jul 24, 06 at 16:20
| The reception can end at any time once the planned activities, such as cake cutting, first dances, etc. occur. If you are dancing, the time that the DJ or band is contracted for often dictates the end of the reception, usually about 4 hours. If there is no dancing, the reception is usually shorter. The bride and groom can decide when they want to leave and then ask the DJ or band leader to play a last song. When the couple leaves guests will follow. One thing to remember is that the bride and groom will be exhausted at the end of the evening, so they won't want to stay late unless their friends like to party late. |
|
- Posted by western_pa_luann (My Page) on Tue, Jul 25, 06 at 9:36
| I have been to 4 weddings this summer - 2 local, one in another part of the state and one out of state. DH and I commented on how odd we thought it was... that all four receptions (which were all quite different) were all 4 hours long.... |
|
- Posted by sweet_pea10 (My Page) on Tue, Jul 25, 06 at 18:00
| That is probably the amount of time they contracted the music. Maybe they all had the same DJ :) |
|
- Posted by kasey_2006 (My Page) on Tue, Jul 25, 06 at 18:26
| Thank you all SO much for the feedback. I was trying to figure out how long to book the DJ for. I guess I'll go with approx. four hours. |
|
| Kasey I have been lurking here for awhile. I normally "hang out" in the Kitchen Table and Florida gardening forums. I was a DJ specializing in weddings for over 20 years so I may be able to offer some suggestions. How long you book the music for can depend on the type of reception, number of guests and also the "partying level" of your guests The "standard" 4 hour wedding I use to DJ in NJ would generaly break down as follows First hour: cocktails Second hour: bridal party intro first dance toasts dinner That leaves 2 hours for dancing , cutting the cake and throwing the bouquet If you think your family and friends are big dancers you might either consider not having a cocktail hour that will leave another hour for dancing or going with a 5 hour reception. Hope this helps Karla P.S. feel free to email me through mypage here if you need any hints or tips :) |
|
- Posted by sheilajoyce (My Page) on Fri, Jul 28, 06 at 16:44
| Whether or not the wedding includes young children affects how long your guests stay. I think 4 hours is plenty. By 9 or 9:30, people are ready to drive home. |
|
- Posted by sweet_pea10 (My Page) on Fri, Jul 28, 06 at 19:30
| Most DJs allow the option of adding extra time the night of the reception if guests are still partying. If you contract for 4 hours, you can then add more time or bring the reception to an end. If you contract for too much time, however, you may not want to stay till the end. |
|
- Posted by bananarama_1 (My Page) on Mon, Jul 31, 06 at 13:24
| My daughter was married in May. The ceremony started at 4:30, the last song was played at 10pm. Everything was held in one location. I thought it was a perfect length. |
|
| we just atteded a "methodist" wedding (i say this, as i know catholic, with full mass, can be much longer) it started at 4, was over at 4:30. reception started at 6, with dinner at 7. think dd1 (who was bridesmaid )said she and sil were back at the hotel by 11:30. bride did allow for driving time from church to reception, about 15 minutes. we, as not to get there too early, took the scenic route back, which was thru the state (mi) capitol...really a neat evening. she had plenty of goodies to tide us over till dinner. |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Wedding Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.