What is a good length for a reception?

I'd say average reception runs for 4-5 hours or so. But you definitely can make it shorter depending on if you're opening the dance floor, doing speeches and tosses and whatever else.

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Thanks! We're planning on heading out of town that night and I didn't want to get on the road but so late!

If you aren’t serving a full meal I would end it before dinner time.

Our ceremony starts at 4 and the official reception ends at 9PM because we are allowing children at our wedding and also that way the older guest aren't out so late. We will also be having an after party for the rest of us who want to keep the night going.

Typical reception length is 4-5 hours. We had our DJ for our ceremony and reception (same location, except ceremony was outside & reception was inside). We did a first look, and didn't have a cocktail hour. Instead we waited outside long enough to give our guests time to grab a drink, app, and seat...and give our DJ time to move her gear from ceremony to reception. Then we did our grand entrance and went into dinner. I've been to too many weddings where people got hangry waiting around for dinner to start, so it was important to get that rolling asap. Anyways, our ceremony was at 5:00pm, and we did our grand entrance around 6:00pm. Reception ended around 10:30/11pm.

3-4 hours max since there isn't a formal meal. Should end shortly before dinnertime.

Our ceremony starts at 3pm. Reception cocktail hour is from 6-7pm. I will be taking pictures from 5pm- 6:45pm at the reception venue.

Reception will end at 12am.