Over or Under: 4.5 Hour Reception?

View Quoted Comment Cocktail style receptions are actually pretty common in New Orleans. It's a fun way to have the bride and groom really integrated into the party. Our venue was a historic house museum, so lots to look at and an intimate setting. Since we had beer and wine, we also did a signature drink, which was modeled off the French 76 cocktail. It had vodka, lemon juice, lavender syrup, and Champagne and I named it a Summer's Kiss after one of my favorite songs. It was fitting because our wedding this summer was on Bastille day, so subtle French stuff everywhere, and our main flower was fresh French lavender.

Exactly the average!

Our venue includes 1 hour for the ceremony and 5 hours for the reception

Under! Our reception is only 2 hours. We want people to enjoy their time in Vegas

Over - ours will be 5 hours.

We don't have an exact timeline, but probably under 4.5 to be honest. We are not doing most of the traditional activities that take up time (introductions, bouquet toss, first dance, parent dances, toasts). Basically, guests will have cocktail hour, we will arrive and get settled, have dinner, cut cake, have cake, start dancing in between there somewhere, and everyone can trickle out as they please. I'd be surprised if it lasted a whole 4.5 hours.

View Quoted Comment

Oh wow! I had no idea

Okay, I totally love that. I can see how it would be much more integrated.

Your historic setting sounds lovely, too! So perfect and fitting for a cocktail hour style.

Your signature cocktail is perfect, too, and I love how every detail is so cohesive! With the French 76 spin signature cocktail, lavender everywhere, and it being Bastille day! Very creative!

Thank you for sharing and congrats on your marriage!

Under - ours was 4 hours including the cocktail hour it felt way too short!

We get a total of 5 hours at our venue. You can buy extra time but it is pricey.

Over at 5 hours! Cocktail hour beginning at 5:30pm with the reception ending at 10:30pm

That’s how long mine will be

Under. 1 1/2 hours reception

We are doing 4+1 so technically over the average of 4.5!

Ours is cocktail hour plus 4 hour reception .

We're spot on with this one

Reception at 6pm, ending at 1am. 8 hours! We have partying families!

Ours was 5! (1 hour cocktail and 4 hour reception)

UNDER.

11AM-3PM

I’m excited now that it’s getting closer and closer.

Under, only doing a 3 hour reception because my venue has a 10 closing time and noise ordinance.

Hopefully over! I want people to dance all night long ;-) but just a little over - i think 5 hours, including dinner, etc.