When to leave reception?

Mine is a short reception so no big exit planned. However, the last song of the night will be "Closing Time" and that's supposed to be the signal that the party is over... we'll see how that goes.

We will be staying until the end of the reception. Our resort has a 3 hour time slot for the reception so it will end at 9. Then will will join everyone at the bar or dance club at the resort to continue the party.

We will be the last out!

Our wedding had some interesting logistical challenges due to the venue being on an island and having to deal with the ferry schedule. We were staying at a hotel on the mainland for our wedding night. Our wedding went to 11p, but we left at 9:50p with all the guests who were not staying on the island because the last direct ferry was at 10p. We met up at a bar near our hotel for after party. The people staying on the island were at the venue and partied until 11p. Our DOC cleaned up and packed up all the stuff that we did not take when we left. We did not have a formal "exit."

I couldn't imagine leaving before my guests - to me, staying until the very end is the proper way of hosting!

@thyia - how are you doing a send off in the morning?

We're leaving about half an hour before the official end of the reception.

We were the last ones out. I have only been to one wedding where the couple didn't stay until the end, and everyone--myself included--was very confused about why they just...left.

We're doing a 3-hour cocktail party so we're staying until the end. If I can't host my family and friends for such a brief amount of time, what's the point?

I would say to the very end. You should not leave before your guests. You can hump each other later on.

Our reception is ending at midnight; we plan to stay until the end. And our exit will be with light sticks to our awaiting tandem bike.

I never understood leaving before the reception is over. You're paying for it, why wouldn't you get your money's worth and enjoy it with all the people who traveled to be there with you?

We were the last ones out the door at the end of the night

We are partying the whole night it will be NYE. We are leaving when its over at 1:30am! :-)

I think you need to stay until the end

We are going to leave just before the clean up crew comes in to tear everything down. And head right over to Oktoberfest.

We stayed till the end. Didn't do a grand exit, we just walked out of the ballroom with all the other guests that were still there.

We're most likely going to stay until the end because I like to know that everyone and everything goes as planned, then make sure enough people are staying to clean up (we have to clean up/tear down the night of).

We are leaving at the end no need to leave sooner.

Thanks everyone! I've only ever been to 3 weddings, and they all did it so differently. First one they left 2 hours early, which was kind of weird because then we were left celebrating a couple who wasn't even there... Second they stayed until the end but were stuck standing in the parking lot over an hour later talking to chatty relatives, and they looked exhausted and ready to leave, but trapped. Third had an after party.

FH wants to leave early because he's worried about a repeat of the second one. It's a pretty drawn out weekend with a welcome party Friday and brunch with out-of-towners on Sunday, so it's not like we won't have other chances to visit with everyone. But the good hostess in me wants to stay until the end! I really like the idea of a sparkler exit- if my venue allows it, it seems like a good compromise.

We'll stay until the end and see if we have energy for the after party. We're also hosting a Welcome Party the night before and Farewell Breakfast the day after sooo we'll see