Is a five-hour reception enough time?

5 hours is enough for the reception.

That's plenty of time. For starters, your ceremony isn't going to take an hour. Most of our venues would invite at 4:00 for pre cocktail hour, then 4:30-5:00 ceremony. 6-11 is fine. 8 hours is too long a day for most guests.

My reception is 5 hours including cocktail hour. It's plenty of time!

5 hours is the normal length.

I think 5 hours is exactly right.

I think you should do what you want my ceremony starts at 5 and everything is going till midnight just because so much family from both of us is coming in and we want to spend time with them and enjoy our wedding

Plenty. I love 4 hrs so 5 is more than enough for me.

My wedding will probably be 40 minutes.

@Celia Milton: My officiant suggested I invite people at 4pm but walk down the aisle at 4:20/4:30pm because he mentioned people are often times late. Essentially giving about 20-30 minute buffer for people to arrive. I hate the idea of saying one thing and doing another but knowing my friends and family the way I do, they'll most likely arrive late.

@Pia you mean your ceremony will be 40 minutes? Not your ENTIRE wedding, right? hahaha that would be super fast!

Don't forget you'll need time for photos after the ceromony. I think that is plenty of time.

That's my exact timeline. All wrapped up by 11. I feel like anything longer then that is way to long.

5 hours is standard. Any longer and people just leave. Hell sometimes people just leave even when it's shorter.

That's what we are doing. I think it'll be fine. We will just do an after party if people are still wanting to hang out.

Ceremony at 3, over by 3:45, it's about 30 minute drive from church to reception (recent construction added time...started at 15 minute drive). Cocktail starts at 5, dinner at 6:30

We have 4 hrs but im going to extend it to 5 hours.... so it will be over around 11pm.. no later than that....

My reception is going to be 4 hours only

@SoontobeMrs do NOT give the start time earlier than it really is. It's rude. If people don't show up on time, then they miss out. You are completely correct in feeling it is wrong. Simply tell your family that if they aren't there on time, you'll start without them.

Our reception is 5 hours. I think it's plenty of time.

Ours is 6 hours for everything.

Mine will be five hours.

@FutureMrsDCT:

I disagree. Where I'm from, it is common for a half hour grace period to be given. It is recommended by the venue. My wedding invitation will state 5:30pm. The ceremony will begin at 6pm. There will be drinks and light refreshments served during that half hour period. It allots time for traffic, issues with shuttles, and just basic human lateness. The ceremony will begin at 6pm promptly.