Leaving the reception

Our wedding went until almost 4am, that's the norm for Polish weddings. (H is Polish.)

People left in waves - some older people left after we cut the cake, most older people and anyone with kids was gone around 11pm, a wave of our friends left around 1am, my mom hung up her dancing shoes around 2am with another wave of friends, and then the rest of us closed down the house with the band and the DJ at 3:45 before gathering up our stuff and heading home.

I think people generally feel free to leave after you cut the cake. That's the old-school sign that they are free to go.

The venue usually lets you have 5 hours for the reception. at that point its time to cue the DJ or band to say "Closing time....you dont have to go home but you cant stay here." LOL

We are getting a block of hotel rooms so we will probably have people back to the hotel to continue the festivities there. If you have a night wedding, they usually end around 1130-12...by the time you get to a bar its almost time for last call...booooo

I think most guests will stay as long as they can still party. I don't think there is a need to have a discussion.

At our wedding, those who were tired, just left the party and went to their rooms. We were probably the last to leave.

Cate's wedding ends at 10:30. Many of her guests and all of her bridal party have gotten rooms at her at the inn. So, we are all hitting the bar at the venue. They have every intention of staying until that bar closes.

Krisalicious sounds just about how our night went and my hubby is polish too... we ended the night in our luxury lodge home with about 15 guests and a camp fire. It was awesome. I don't drink around family or our daughter so I started late late I am talking like 11pm before I started to party down... People left as they wanted, some said by some didn't because they knew we were busy.

Our dance is from 8pm till midnight. That's standard for our family. I think it's really up to your venue, so make sure to ask lots of questions.

The venue usually has a set time frame for your reception, but like others have said, people will leave after the cake is cut. I don't think you have to make any announcement of how long they can stay. My daughter and her friends talked during the reception and when her time was up at the venue, they all went partying downtown, they had a blast in their wedding attire and got free drinks from well wishers.

It depends on how late the venue allows you to stay as well as your budget..ours was a 5 hour allotment so it was from 5 to 10..then younger people and closer family stayed and we partied in the bar within the hotel til like 2:30 when it closed.

Since I've always dreamed of having a grand exit, but we also want to party with our friends, the official "reception" ends around 9:30 or 10, depending on the temperature of the crowd. Possibly 9. We will have dried lavender for our guests to throw, and that's when we will escape for a few and I will change in to my after party dress so I can really cut loose.

Ooohhhhh, dried lavender!! So romantic! There's a little lavender farm not far from us, I think I might have to steal that idea!

Feel free to! It always smells so pretty, it dries easily if you're picking fresh, and it's safe for birds and other critters. Mix with dried roses and maybe some rosemary and you have what's going in our flower girl baskets. For an outdoor wedding, it's totally clean up free!

Have your dj make an announcement of some kind so people dont feel they have to stay. I know that in some families people feel like they are rude if they leave before the bride and groom

People never feel like they have to stay the whole night. Most weddings I've done (except for the one that the buses didn't come back to because of mechanical problems), the older folks tend to stay for dinner, some dancing and then leave when the cake is cut. After that, it's wide open and the younger folks stick around, dance and have a great time.

If you want to do the big send off at the end of the night, just realize that most of the people who have bed times early in the evening probably wont be there to send you off.

Our DJ is playing until 2am. Our plan is to stay around until then and I'm sure a lot of our friends will also be still around; they like to party. I've never been to a wedding with a big sendoff for the bride & groom at the end of the reception. They just leave when they want to.

Our reception ends at 11pm but half will probably leave before then since they have kids or are older and like to go to bed early. We will be continuing the festivities at the hotel they have a bar that will stay open late

Our reception is actually only going until 9:30, which will work out perfectly for our older guests/friends with little ones. Everyone will get transported from the reception back to the hotel. From there we will head to a local margarita/karaoke dive bar until whenever

Your best bet would be to have the DJ/MC make an announcement letting your guests know.

I agree with everyone else, people will leave when they want to. We are having an afternoon wedding so our reception is from 4p-8p but we are definitely going out after. We have family and friends coming from all over the country and Canada so we want to spend as much time with them as possible.

I dont think that an announcement is necessary.

You are the bride you can do whatever you want!!! take advantage and party on!!!

that is what we are doing...staying until the last possible minute!!