Help! Is 10 PM to early to end our reception?!

You can have it at a nearby bar and perhaps hire a small van/bus to take everyone back to the inn. This way no one would have to worry about drinking and driving.

Another alternative is to have everyone check out of the inn (except maybe you and H) and get a room at the hotel where you'll be having the after party.

Kait, It depends on when you plan to start your reception. We are having a short reception because we have friends and family coming with small children. Our reception will start at 5:30 and end at 8:00 we do have a cocktail hour before our reception so yes we will be cramming in a lot in that short amount of time but at least everyone will be home at a decent hour with their children. We are not a party type of couple so it makes sense for us. For you on the other hand I think its a great idea to have an after party at another location and see if some of your friends that are staying at the bed and breakfast can stay with a few of your other friends in their rooms. Most rooms are set up for 4 or more to sleep if need be. Also if you can afford it maybe pay for another room at that hotel just as a back up or have a cab or two on call for the drive back to the B&B.

Find a bar near by and hire a shuttle to take everyone from the reception when it ends to the bar and back to the hotel and Inn.

We will have 7 hours the day of, so we could start the ceremony at 2 and then go until 10. So that seems like a long enough time for everything, I just know our friends will want to party afterwards. I think we will look into shuttles, or taxis or something like that. Its hard to give up this venue!

Hi date twin! I think looking into an after-party venue is a great idea. Are you using a shuttle or anything earlier in the night? Our shuttle company is letting us split time between before the ceremony and after the reception (ends at midnight). If you just need it for a short time, taxis might be the best option. You could probably prearrange something. Our wedding is from 530-midnight, so 6.5 hours, although there will likely be an after party just at the hotel where we all stay. Since you start at 2, I think you'll have more than enough time even if you don't plan an after-party.

My reception ends at 5pm but we are having an after party with the wedding party and family in downtown Chicago seeing sites since we have so many people that is coming out of town

I think if you're starting in the afternoon, 10 is plenty of time. Honestly, you might be exhausted by then and be willing to call it a night. If not, I think a shuttle to nearby bars/clubs are a good idea. I'm having a brunch wedding starting at 10:30, reception will probably be done by 3ish (I'm sure many of us will be tired from an early morning), napping, then going back out in my dress later that evening.

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I am having mine end at 8:30 so it's 4-8:30, but that's only because we live in Texas and are driving to Colorado for our honeymoon, leaving that night. (:

Ours ends at 10... but so does the bar.

Our ceremony is at 4 and its all in the same place. Just start your ceremony/reception earlier if your worried you wont have enough time to party.

Ours ended at 10 with a 5pm ceremony start time. I thought it was going to end too early but it seemed to be a good end time. People start to dip out as the night goes on.

I think if you are staring at 2, anything longer than 10 would be too long of a day for you and guests.

Ours is ending at 9:30. Changing out of my dress, Then a couple of us will use limo service to hit the hot spots of Daytona

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When is your reception starting? Ours begins at 6 and ends at 10. It's not too early... wedding days are long days from what I've seen & heard.

I don't think so. Ours starts at 5pm and we have to be out by 9pm. We are leaving super early the next morning for our honeymoon so it works out perfect for us. We figure people will stay until the end if it doesn't end way late anyways.

From the weddings I have been ending at 10 isn't that early. You have to consider how long the reception is for the people invited too. I personally can go until 2 am but the venue said that most brides are kicking people out at 11. We are also having our ceremony and reception at the same venue and starting at 5. If you are having the option of last more than 8 hours that's more than enough time.

Our reception ends at 9, but everyone is meeting at the NCO club for an after party.

It's seems like 7 hours should be plenty of time then....we always have the option of continuing elsewhere. Thanks so much!

We started the reception at 5 and ended at 9 p.m. It actually worked out perfectly. Everyone who was ready to retire did so without half of the party leaving, and everyone who was still up for it went out with us to a sushi bistro/bar in walking distance from the hotel all of our guests were staying, where we closed the place out

If you feel it's too early, then you and whoever wants to join can find a place to take the after party. Problem solved.

Ours ends at 11. Then we have 2 shuttles to take everyone on the strip of Las Vegas to party. We REALLY like to party. I really do think this is going to be a 24 hour wedding

But 10 is a great time, no worries

Do you need any set-up, decoration, picture-taking, dressing time before the ceremony at the location? If so, remember to factor that in, if you only have 7 hours at the venue. Your vendors may want to set-up before your ceremony starts, unless it's all completely separate areas, so your guests aren't distracted by people carrying chaffing dishes down the hall or on the other side of the lawn, or a DJ booth being set-up. Just don't underestimate the time you'll need at the venue before the ceremony starts.

I LOVED a venue that had a similiar issue, we had to be cleaned and out by 11, and music/bar had to be off at 10. We knew that us, our family and our friends would all want to keep celebrating. So we said no to that place and ended up finding a lodge where we could stay and party all night. For us, it was worth not having my #1 venue so that I could have as many hours with friends and family as I wanted.