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Danielle
VIP March 2018

3.5 hour reception- enough time?

Danielle, on November 22, 2016 at 12:56 PM Posted in Planning 0 14
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My FH and I are planning getting married on a yacht cruise around the San Francisco Bay. We'll have our ceremony dockside and then set sail for 3.5 hours. (ETA Timing) Is that enough time if we do an hour dinner, roughly a half hour for toasts/ first dance/ mother daughter and father son dances/ garter & bouquet toss and an hour and a half of dancing with 15 minute cake cutting/passing out mixed in? We'll have an open bar for all 4 hours with a champagne boarding.

I don't want people to feel like we're cutting the party too short so we'll be reserving a space for an after party less than a minute from the dock. Is it okay to have people pay for their own alcohol at the after party?

Any advice appreciated as we're looking to book today.

Thanks!

14 Comments

Latest activity by K Dot, on November 22, 2016 at 2:39 PM
  • M
    Savvy October 2017
    Matthew ·
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    Hey im getting married in october and our reception is 5 hours all open bar, and were doing a after party at a hotel but were providing the alcohol

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  • Mrs. TacoCat
    VIP September 2016
    Mrs. TacoCat ·
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    Phew! 30 minutes of toasts?? that is too much!

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  • krclark7
    Super September 2017
    krclark7 ·
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    My sister had her wedding on a boat, and her reception was only 3 or 3.5 hours. We all went to a nearby bar afterwards to keep the party going. It didn't seem like it was too short at all.

    ETA: They didn't do toasts or cake cutting. Just dinner and dancing.

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  • OG Brittany
    Master December 2016
    OG Brittany ·
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    Toasts do not need to be 30 minutes, people will get carried away. Are you doing any special dances, BP introductions, or garter or bouquet tosses during the reception? Because that will cut your time down even more.

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  • O&L
    VIP September 2016
    O&L ·
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    If the after party is optional, you are not expected to host it. Last time we sailed around, it gets really cold so I would probably head home right after. Which sailing company are you using?

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  • Danielle
    VIP March 2018
    Danielle ·
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    @Mrs. TacoCat - edited OP for timing. That 30 minutes should have included first dance, father daughter/ mother son dance, bouquet and garter toss.

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  • Danielle
    VIP March 2018
    Danielle ·
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    @ O&L - Commodore Cruises. We'll be on the Cabernet Sauvignon Yacht.

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  • Beutivant
    Master May 2016
    Beutivant ·
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    IF you invite people to the after party, then you are the host and you should provide alcohol. There is nothing wrong with having an informal after party though. But it should be word of mouth. Don't put it on invites/website or people will assume you're hosting. Especially since the reception is so short. People will just think it's the next part of the day.

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  • MrsA
    Master October 2015
    MrsA ·
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    Ours was about that long and perfect for us.

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  • Celia Milton
    Celia Milton ·
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    I think it's fine. I've done a lot of boat weddings, and generally this is the time frame.

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  • Danielle
    VIP March 2018
    Danielle ·
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    @Celia - Anything you recommend for a boat wedding or recommend not doing since you have experience? I don't know anyone who's been to a boat wedding before. Thanks!

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  • Krystal
    VIP May 2017
    Krystal ·
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    Make sure you have tablets of Dramamine for people who might get seasick and have an awesome time! I think 3.5 hrs sounds just fine.

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  • A
    Dedicated June 2017
    Ashley ·
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    3.5 hours personally seems way too long for me, but I also hate parties. But from what PPs have said, 3.5 hours sounds fine!

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  • K Dot
    Super June 2017
    K Dot ·
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    I think 3.5 hours is enough time. Good idea, @Krystal, on the seasick thing!

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