is 3 hours enough for the danceing at our reception?

Slider_852000

A friend of mine has me kind of nervous. I have my timeline done and realized that we will have dancing from 9-12 (reception has to end at midnight). Now I am wondering though if that will be enough time I love to dance but am worried that everyone will leave by than. here is a short version of our timeline though to give you the idea

5:30-6 ceremony 

6-6:30 drive to ceremony (its a 15 minute drive but with the get away n everything that's what i figured)

6:30- 7:15 cocktail hour and than guests seated for dinner and bridal party entrance.

7:30-8:30 dinner and toasts

8:30-9 cake and sideshow 

9-midnight dance, bouquet toss and garter toss 

Our wedding is on a Friday so we could not do earlier than 5:30 let me know if you think dinner and cake will take that long its a buffet I guess i am just under the 5 month mark so starting to stress 

jagore08

I had four hours total for my ceremony, cocktail "hour" (which was really about 45 minutes), and reception.  I felt that it was plenty of time for the reception.

JaxInBlue

You could free up another 30 minutes or so if you have the slideshow playing during dinner while guests eat.  You could then cut your cake immediately at the conclusion of the meal and start the dancing while cake is being served.

Maggie0829

I had 5 hours total for my reception...
5-6 cocktail hour
6-6:30 first dance, F/D dance, M/S dance
6:30-7:45ish dinner and saying hello to each table
7:45ish-10 dancing

I felt like this was plenty of time for everything.  Some people may leave, especially the one's who aren't into the whole dancing and partying aspect that happens after dinner, but those who want to dance the night away will stay.

Don't listen to your friend...your timeline looks perfect.

Slider_852000

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_is-3-hours-enough-for-the-danceing-at-our-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:4a2095ab-3b2e-4869-ac39-3a6561fd0221Post:1ec3029c-1079-4c5e-967a-cf547a7614a8">Re: is 3 hours enough for the danceing at our reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]You could free up another 30 minutes or so if you have the slideshow playing during dinner while guests eat.  You could then cut your cake immediately at the conclusion of the meal and start the dancing while cake is being served.
Posted by JaclyneD[/QUOTE]
 <div>I love this idea, </div>

alithebride

i thnk that's plenty of time.

vikingmom806

When I was in high school most of our dances were between 3 and 4 hours, with little to no festivites before or after (with the exception of Prom), and I was pretty tired out afterwards, so I'm sure the 3 hours you have set aside for dancing will be just fine.