How long is the "party portion" of your reception?

Literally exact same timeline as @WinnipegWriter. That's how we do it in Canada. Weddings go very late.

I could never end my reception after 2 hours! That's when the party really starts lol

Our dancing portion is 9pm - 2am. Our guests like to party! People will come and go during that time.

@lisa I knew you were Canadian right away by your response. I have *never* heard of a reception that ends before midnight. I guess we really look our booze up here?

Jenn, everyone always plans to meet at the hotel bar and it always closes early! I hate that. We are within walking distance of a Dave and Busters (arcade with a bar for those that don't know) so FH wants to go there. Skee-ball in a ball gown - can't wait!

Maybe I should add that the coordinator said first dance is usually done first at the dinner time, so I'll have to plan a schedule with him. Kinda related - I'm meeting with a DOC tonight! So I'm saving the long email to send the venue DOC until after I meet with planner DOC.

Never thought about this til now. The reception is 4-9. Dinner will be ready at 5 (buffet), so from 4-5 is "getting the party started" time, then whenever most are done eating, it will just continue to be party time! We estimate about 140-150 will show, so dinner will take quite a while. Guessing 6:30 is when the majority will be done eating. We're not doing a cake cutting, bouquet/garter toss or anything. Toasts and dances should take roughly 15-20 minutes, so I'm thinking overall party time is gonna be close to 3 hours.

Our ceremony is at 3:30 1/2 ceremony, 4-5 cocktail hour, 5-6 dinner?

so 6-9:30 is the dessert and party/ dancing

Our cocktail hour/reception will start at 5PM. We are going until 11 so at least 3-4 hours of dancing/partying

Our ceremony is at 4PM for about a half hour. Then we plan to take pics at the church & then with family & such at the church as well. Which will probably bring us to about 5:30. Our reception starts at 6 PM (introduction & first dance done by 6:15, I hope.), dinner served at 6:30, dancing by 7:30-8:00 (we have about 120 guests) until midnight. I can't wait to dance all night long.

Ceremony 4-4:30

Cocktail hour 4:30-5:30

Reception 5:30-9 (venue is in town limits and this is their curfew)

@ C & S yes I am also used to receptions that go until at least midnight and often 1am but the hall offered the extra hour for $40 and I took it as my family is always up for a great party and the bar always does very well!

Hahaha Valarie thanks for making me feel better about wanting to act like a kid on the day I make a major adult decision!

I think we will have around 2 1/2 hours for dancing

2:00- ceremony

2:30-3:30- cocktail hour

3:30-9:30- dinner, dessert, dancing

4:00 - 4:30pm was our ceremomy

4:30pm - 6:00pm was cocktail and hors d'ouevres (while we took photos)

6:00pm we entered and our MCs welcomed everyone

6:30pm dinner service began with speeches throughout dinner

9:00pm dance floor openned

1:00am venue shut down

3:00-3:30 ceremony

3:30-5:00 cocktail hour (and a half)

5:00-6:00 dinner (buffet also)

6:00-1am reception

We are having our wedding at a friends place... after the ceremony the rest of it is basically a big party. I put 1am, with the knowledge that some will party all night long.

1:00-2:00- Ceremony

2:00-3:00- Family Pictures

2:00-5:00- Cocktail Hour/Fun at a Bar hosted by Parents while wedding party will take more pictures and then come hang out

5:00-6:00- Migrate over to Reception, Find Seats, Grab Drinks etc.,

6:00-7:00- Dinner, speeches

7:00- Slideshow, clear tables off dance floor

7:30-12 Dances, Photobooth, Party Fun

12-? Pool Party!

Our church ceremony is at 230-330 then pics. Hopefully we make it on time for reception that starts at 5. Dinner at 530 til 7 or 730, with cake cutting right after, hopefully this is done before 730. Then speeches, then the garter toss and dollar dance. Maybe be done by 830 or 9 grrr.. Reception ends at 1 am.

I'm on the canadian train - reception goes until 1 when they shut off the music. I have never been to a wedding that ended before midnight, and my friends wedding went til 3:30 am!

From whenever dinner gets over (about 7:30) until 1 (or whenever the mass majority of people leave).

Geeeez with some of these long receptions.. Now I understand why people get another dress to change into lol.