How long does a reception last?

Yes that should be enough time , the ceremony should only take about 30 min unless your doing something extravagant , then you have about 3 hours for the reception

From ceremony to end was 5.5 hours for us. If you’re having a cocktail hour and expecting people to dance, I think 4 hours is cutting that pretty close.

View Quoted Comment We aren't planning on having alcohol. I am wanting to have our first dance, father daughter dance, etc.

Typically, it's a 1 hour cocktail and then 4 hour reception. It's really up to you though. It also depends on how long your ceremony lasts.

Our reception was 1 hour for cocktail hour and then 4 hours for dinner and dancing. It was a good amount of time although everyone was enjoying themselves dancing and playing lawn games so i do think another hour would have been nice!

Do you or your party have to do the clean up for the venue before the 8th hour? We are also renting our venue for 8 hours but having the ceremony 2 hours in. It gives us time to set up and an hour to clean up at the end.

That's a pretty short reception, but if you're not having alcohol, it's probably plenty of time.

Our time on site is 7 hours. I have arrival at 2 wedding at 430 dinner at 6 dancing at 645 and last dance at 830 as everyone needs to be off site by 9.

View Quoted Comment Yes we do have to clean up before we leave. So what I might need to do is be there at 2pm. Wedding at 4. Dinner at 5. Dance and clean up after dinner.

View Quoted Comment Are you doing first look pictures or are you taking pictures while people are eating?

View Quoted Comment We will take pictures while people are eating.