4pm wedding ? too early to end at 10pm?

It seems kind of early to me. Is reception begining at 4 or is that the ceremony?? If it's the reception, I don't think that'd be so bad. but it should be whatever works for you. Is financially better for you to do it this way???

If 4 is the ceremony time, then it only gives your guests maybe about 1-2 hours to have fun, and dance???? after dinner. Is that okay with you?? unless your not doing pictures afterwards, then you'd have more.

I guess it all really depends on you, and what sort of wedding you are having.

My wedding ceremony is at 11:30am cocktail hour at 12pm and ends at 4pm. You are paying for a block of time so, it's up to you as to how late you want your ceremony and reception to be.

THE CEREMONY WOULD PROB START LIKE 4:15...im stressing because we are renting a private home and really wanted a late wedding party, and i'm nervous that the feel wont be "dance party" but "late lunch" we can always move inside they have a finished basement but i donno....need advise.

Sounds like the reception is really over at 9:30, not 10.

I've been to weddings that ended around 9 because there was honestly nothing to do but dance. They finished all of their reception activities (first dance, toasts, cake cutting) well before closing time. They were also *small* weddings, so that might make a difference.

If you love the venue, I suggest

1. start the ceremony on time, and not a minute later

2. take as many photographs as you can before the ceremony (ie. groom, groom party, bride, bridal party)

3. skip cocktail hour, start appetizers right away for guests, and start dinner service as soon as possible. The earlier dinner is served, the better.

So it is doable. If you're a big party person and so are your guests, I say skip the venue, but if you're not a big club/dancing person, then the venue should be fine.

I don't think so, I'm starting my ceremony at 5, reception will be over at 10

Your last post posted before my reply.

It sounds like you really want to party, so I think you need to skip this venue. You sound too nervous about it, I don't think you'd be comfortable with it.

What day of the week is the wedding? If it's a Sunday or a Friday - the ending time is just fine. Us older peeps will be tired by that time of night (Friday) since we'll have worked all day or will be wanting to go home by then if it's a Sunday so we're not dead dog tired on Monday.

The wedding is a Saturday Night. this is like the 15th place we have been to the wedding is last weekend in June so alot of place s are booked, and my fiance is so over looking so he' all lie "if we dont move forward with this you have to figure it out" which obvs is not fare but i understand why hes over looking.

and the other part is that we have to be out of the rently 11am on Sunday.

Anyone get married in Truro, MA and have an earlier wedding?

or any other venue suggestions?

I think a couple of things for the Saturday shindig ending at 10 - 1st it just sounds early cuz under normal circumstances 10 on a Sat is early but you are gonna be exhausted - emotionally and physically. And if you have to undecorate that evening u really don't want to be doing that at 2 am :-)

Can you back it up even earlier say 2? Clean up quick and go have an after party somewhere?

Is the location or June that sentimental for you? Can you look at neighboring towns?

We love the locatin. but are finding that everywhere on the cape has this noise limit after 10pm.

My aunt lives on the Cape and I know what ya mean. They definitely will enforce the noise ordinance and the fines can be quite hefty. If you are really set on having it there then I think just move it up earlier in the day so you can enjoy every minute of your wedding day without having to stress about kicking everyone out if it runs over.

Dinner would be served on the early side, but otherwise I think you're fine. Whether you go from 4:15 - 10 or 6:15 - midnight wouldn't matter to me. People can only eat, drink, and dance so much. Is there somewhere you can go for an after-party, if some of you want to party later? If not, it sounds like that is just the Cape, and if you're unhappy with the hours, you need to look elsewhere.

I agree with Marie S.

For what it's worth I have been to several places that require weddings to end early like that. It can be common in certain areas of the Outer Banks which is still a popular place to have a wedding.

The house has a great kitchen area and finished basement where we could dance

Our ceremony was at 5:30; we went straight to the first dance, cut the cake, dinner (which was buffet style) and the band started about 6:45. Reception ended at 10 and it was perfect! We were exhausted (mind you, we're a little older - 45- so the crowd was not a young party crowd, except for the kids) and it was the right time to end, people were ready to go on home, and so were we! I had been nervous that it was too early but it was perfect.

My ceremony was at 4 and our reception ended at 11:30. It felt too early for me because the night went so stinking fast!

However, by 10 there were maybe 50 out of 150 left. I would definitely consider some kind of after party with it ending so early.

If you want to keep dancing, why not pick a place to have an after party at? If the music has to stop at 9:30 no matter where you go around there, find a place to move to.

I've never been to that area and have no idea what it's like, but a few brides here have moved to their favorite bar for an after party to keep dancing with their friends after the noise curfew.

I see you mentioning a basement, which I am sure is fine - so long as enough people can fit and you have a different source of music. If the venue wants noise off by 9:30, I don't really know if you can just move to a different location and "start over" with music there. Not really sure exactly what your envisioning. Just a guess.

I would suggest checking with all your other vendors and what their requirements for the timeline is. Especially your photographer and videographer (if you are getting one).

Good luck.

I think your hours are fine if you do exactly as Peony suggested.

I would plan an After Party in the finished basement and set up your bar and DJ/Ipod there. The music in the basement may not be loud enough to invite issues with the local police.

We had a DW and everything was in the same venue. However, we had no sound ordinance issues. In all honesty, our 40 plus crowd danced from 7:00 - 2:00 a.m. as our DJ was also a guest and staying at the inn, like all but 4 of the other 60 guests. Our ceremony started at 4:30 p.m. Cocktail hour was 5:00 - 6:00. Intros and first dance immediately after introductions. Dinner was at 6:00 and cake cutting was at 7:00.

My point being, you know your crowd. If they need to party more, than accomodate that with the basement plan or an after party at a club nearby(without driving of course).

Good luck!