Skip to main content

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

Martika
Expert September 2019

Is 4 o'clock too late?

Martika, on June 9, 2018 at 3:12 PM Posted in Planning 0 30

Hello Everyone,

I am planning my big day. I just booked my venue. We decided to have the ceremony and reception at the same place. We have to be out of the venue by midnight. How many of you have had your reception last until midnight. Did you like it or do you wish you would have ended it early. I was thinking of starting the ceremony at 4:00, usually it'll late 30 minutes. Have cocktail hour after that, while we go take pictures and give time for the venue to flip for the reception. Have the reception start at about 5:00-5:30 and end at 10-11ish.

30 Comments

Latest activity by Cheryl&rock, on June 11, 2018 at 8:32 AM
  • Kimberly
    Expert May 2018
    Kimberly ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Mine ended at 1030, and I was worried about it dying down early but honestly it was still going strong. I probably could have done until 11.
    • Reply
  • C
    Dedicated July 2018
    Courtney ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Our ceremony start time is 4pm as well and we’re having the reception in the same building and ending everything at 10pm. We aren’t huge partiers and I know we’ll be exhausted by then anyways, so completely good with it. We have to have everything cleaned and out by 11pm. I think it’ll be plenty of time!
    • Reply
  • A
    Dedicated September 2018
    A ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    I am interested in what others have to say here. My ceremony strarts at 3pm, cocktail hour starts at 4:15. I have to be out of the venue completely by 12am so my reception will wrap up at 11-11:30p. Which is plenty late for me. I feel it may wrap up closer to 10 (just knowing my crowd). I feel like this is plenty long as it will be a really long day. My mom however thinks that 11pm is too early and she wants to (and thinks others will to) continue the party. I told her I would find a place for people to go and meet up after, but I told her I am not promising me and my FH will go. As I think I'll be tired by then.
    • Reply
  • Eva
    Dedicated July 2018
    Eva ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Our ceremony starts at 5pm, cocktail hour from 6-7 and reception from 7-12am. May do something afterwards or go home to sleep 😊
    • Reply
  • Kimberly
    Expert May 2018
    Kimberly ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    I was a bridesmaid in a wedding that had an afterparty hotel bar and Denny’s trip! It was super fun experience and really added to my memories. However on my wedding day I was exhausted! After we loaded up what we were taking and got to the hotel, we started to read cards and we both fell asleep after two of them.

    if you have to be out by midnight I wouldn’t end later than 11. We ended at 1030 but everyone lingered chatting with us or each other. And then there was clean up and packing up so we were gone around 1130.
    • Reply
  • Kimberly
    Expert May 2018
    Kimberly ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Oh and when I say clean up I really mean retrieving personal items as the venue was doing the actual cleaning up. So my timeframe doesn’t include any actually cleaning.
    • Reply
  • Martika
    Expert September 2019
    Martika ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    See I wanted to start at 5:00 but my mom said that's too late. lol

    • Reply
  • Martika
    Expert September 2019
    Martika ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    My FH and the groomsmen are super parties, so we will probably need up going to the bars near the venue after. I think 11:00 is a good end time. It can give time for our parents to do minor cleaning and collect any decor, so they don't have to be rushed.

    • Reply
  • Martika
    Expert September 2019
    Martika ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    Yeah I was think 11:00 so our parents can get the decor and gifts and not be/feel rushed. Thank you for your input.

    • Reply
  • FutureMrsKC
    Master January 2019
    FutureMrsKC ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I'm getting married at 4:30 and my reception ends at 11pm. I think this is plenty of time.

    We are able to go in the next morning to grab our decor and finish cleaning up, though. Maybe you can ask to do that so your party can last longer?

    • Reply
  • Martika
    Expert September 2019
    Martika ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    Are you having a cocktail hour? Clean up is included. So all we have to do is get decor, and gifts which our parents will get.

    • Reply
  • B
    Just Said Yes November 2018
    Betty ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Wedding receptions around my area usually end about midnight and they have an after party somewhere else. That should be plenty of time for everyone to have a great time.
    • Reply
  • FutureMrsKC
    Master January 2019
    FutureMrsKC ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    Yes, ceremony 4:30-5, cocktail hour 5-6, guests are seated at 6, bridal party entrance and first dance 6:15, dinner and toasts 6:15-7:15, cake at 7:15, father daughter/mother son dance at 7:20, then dancing until 11.

    As a guest, I personally hate when weddings start really early (like 1-2pm) because then I'm basically spending the whole day with you, which can also feel really long to a guest. Unless you're close family or I'm traveling and I'm already in town, I prefer later weddings.

    • Reply
  • Emilie
    Super April 2019
    Emilie ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    We are also doing ceremony and reception in the same location. Ceremony starts at 5, (it will only be 30min) then cocktail hour for pictures and reception to start at 630ish. And we have to be out by midnight, so wrap up about 11. But knowing our family, everyone will probably head back to our house for a longer night! Not too sure how excited I feel about that. Lol
    • Reply
  • Danielle
    Expert August 2018
    Danielle ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Mines is starting at 4:30 reception ending at 11:30 .4 is a good time
    • Reply
  • A
    Expert September 2019
    Anna ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    This is a good question and is helpful to read through all the comments. Our ceremony starts at 3, reception at 5. We are doing 5 hours open bar (maybe 6 as it’s open through dinner and begins at 3:30 for cocktail hour) so ours should end at around 9:30
    • Reply
  • firstoneat56
    Master August 2017
    firstoneat56 ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Generally, when the ceremony is at the same venue as the reception, plan for 6 hours total.
    • Reply
  • Btbride
    Super August 2019
    Btbride ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    We're planning to start our ceremony at 4 and the whole shebang will end at 9. It's a 5 hour block, which we think is perfectly fine for our Sunday date.

    • Reply
  • Mrsp
    Devoted July 2018
    Mrsp ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    We're having our ceremony and reception at the same venue on a Friday evening (in our hometown but most of our guests will be working that day). Our ceremony is set to start at 6 pm and we have to be out by 12 also. I was worried it wasn't enough time but wanted to be respectful of our guests who have to work so we're just going to make it work. I think you'll have plenty of time.
    • Reply
  • Ingrid
    Super September 2018
    Ingrid ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    My ceremony is 6 and reception is ending at 9:30. That’s three hours of food and dancing and I honestly think that’s all I need. However, we aren’t drinking — maybe people like to stay later when there is an open bar.
    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×


WeddingWire celebrates love ...and so does everyone on our site! Learn more

Rockstars

  • D
    Getting married in 07/03/2025

Groups

WeddingWire article topics