Are 5 hours enough ?

That's how long ours is! Extra hours would be up to you and if you think your guests would take advantage of it or leave early

I'd say it depends on your timeline of events. If you're planning a long ceremony, maybe consider making it longer. If you're doing cake cutting, garter toss, parent dances, etc. The answer to this really depends on what you're all doing on that day.

I'm wondering the same thing! I'm getting married on a Sunday but it's the Sunday before Thanksgiving break. At first I thought everyone would leave early since it's a Sunday but now I'm rethinking it. I went to a wedding recently that lasted til 1am and started at 8. It seemed super long but it started later than mine will.

Mine is 530 pm to approximately 930 pm, and I'm wondering the same thing. I am having a smaller wedding though and didn't want it to last too long. Short and sweet is nice.

5hrs is the average reception time, I think.

Some places do 4hrs, others 6hrs.

Anything between those two ends is good and plenty of time, if you ask me!

I think that would be short if you're hoping to get ready and do pictures at your venue. If neither of those things are happening on site, I think it's plenty of time for a ceremony and reception.

For ceremony and reception that seems like enough time

That's how long ours is!! I think it'll be fine. It was supposed to end at 9 and we extended to 11.

I think 5 is good depending on your time line. Ours is for 5 hours and a Sunday before a holiday. We might book another hour which we can add later.

Ours is 5 hours as well. I considered extra hours but then decided that anyone who wants to continue to party can come out with us afterwards for an after party.

When we asked our venue about adding on extra hours, they gave us the cost but also told us we could decide that night to add on more time which is what they recommend, since you can decide then whether people are starting to pack up and go or they want to stay. Ask your venue if that's an option.

Great advice from EngineerInLove.

Rushing...at a five hour reception? My mind never went there. Does that include the cocktail hour?

Lots of receptions have cocktail hours and four hour receptions, so, if you're hosting a five hour reception, it's a bonus. If you have a guest list that really likes to party into the wee hours of the morning, I'm sure your extended party will be the one they'll want to be at. Something to consider -- you may be absolutely exhausted by 11:00 PM -- the day is long, and the alcohol generally starts flowing -- although it's usually light -- in the bridal suite. So, those two elements could really take effect by the fifth hour of the reception.

Honestly, only pay for the venue and the bar (and honestly, if you have a six or seven hour reception, informal late night snacks would be great -- not necessary, but great) if you're sure that a majority of your guests will be totally invested in an affair that long.

To each there own. The growing trend in my area is only 2 hour shin digs. Mine is 4ish hours. I'm sure 5 hours will be great!

That's how long our reception is but it's not a traditional wedding reception. We're just having a very nice dinner with our family and friends.

Five hours is plenty. Our normal times are 5 1/2 hours on a Saturday. You will have plenty of time for everything.

Five hours is plenty. You only need six if you have an hour for the ceremony, which is standard (1/2 hour for pre cocktail and gathering and 1/2 hour for the ceremony itself.

It's fine. Mine is 5.5.

That's the typically time for a wedding! Mine starts at 6:30 (half hour ceremony) and then goes till 12am

Two hour receptions? Where is this a trend (certainly not in my area)? That's perfect for a cake and punch or lunch/dinner only reception without a DJ/dancing, but for a conventional reception? After the grand entrance, spotlight dances, and dinner, guests will get their coffee and cake to go (if they're not really fast).