How to end Wedding Reception?

You can choose to announce a last dance but usually when the bar stops serving, the music stops, and the lights are turned on, people will know to leave.

I really like the last dance, last call and final thank you speech--so i think we will do some form of that in not that order lol.

Thanks!

Hire a bunch of kids to do this thing. They'll get the hint.

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View Quoted Comment Hahahaha I love that

View Quoted Comment I nearly spit out my drink at this!

People will definitely know to wrap it up when the bar closes and the DJ announces the last song. Also, if more than a few people leave (late hour, kids, etc) others will soon follow suit.

View Quoted Comment Last call, last dance, and thank you. I think that's a good order!

If you have to have the venue cleaned up by 9, you need to have people out of there between 7:30-8.

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Right, the venue said that time frame is including set up/tear down-clean up...so I should check with them to see if that's what time we should start cleaning.

View Quoted Comment I am a caterer, if the venue said that you have it from 2-9 and that includes set up and tear down and you have professionals doing the setup and tear down, then set up would likely be from 2-4 and tear down from 8-9 meaning event time from 4-8.

Most weddings I've been to have had the DJ announce last call about a half hour before the last dance and then a last dance when it is time.

View Quoted Comment 4 hours is not enough time so we would have to reserve it from 2-11 pm most likely. I heard that they will let you set up earlier if the business is not too busy--our weddings going to be at a local restaurant/cafe with business hours from 8-2pm.

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We are not hiring a DJ but will have a friend do all of our announcements for us. But I like that idea so hopefully everything runs smoothly but if not oh well lol.

View Quoted Comment Are you having the ceremony there also or at another location? If elsewhere, 4 could maybe work. If the ceremony will be there too, extending it by a couple hours would definitely be beneficial.

Are you doing the setup and tear down yourself or is the staff at the restaurant responsible for that? Also, while it would be amazing if there is time to do the setup beforehand, don't count on that extra time.

If tear down and clean up needs to be done by 9pm, then at 7:30 have a last call for drinks, and at 7:45 have a last dance. 7:45 to 8 gives time for hugs/goodbyes, then 8 to 9 for clean up.

I’ve seen a couple do a “fake send off,” jump in their car and wait until everyone was gone to come back and do what they needed to do. So many guests left (other than family and BP). We were able to pack everything up and no one ever knew they came back.

View Quoted Comment Hahaha! great idea

Yes we want the ceremony and reception to be there. But both us of want a super quick 30 min ceremony. This is my plan:
2-3 have family set up
3-3:30 ceremony
3:30-4:30 Cocktails and Photos
5 Dinner, speeches
5:45-8 first dance and mingling
7:30 last call, last dance, thanks you speech
8-goodbyes
Clean up by 9pm.