When does your reception end? (advice needed)

PetalPockets2012

When does your reception start and end? I don't need to know specifics (unless you feel like sharing).

I found out that our reception needs to end at 10:30. We have the venue until 11:00. I sort of thought it would end at 11:00. Our wedding is at 5, cocktail hour at 5:30, and reception starting at 6:30. Dinner should be finished by 7:30. We can add an hour on (I think) but that would cost additional money and then I would need to have the bar open an additional hour.

Would you think it was weird to end at 10:30? Do you think 11:30 is too late? Most of the non-relatives attending the wedding are married and around our age (late 20's, early 30's) if not older.

As you can see I'm stressing about this and probably over thinking it. Thoughts?

mbuckley85

Ours is ending at 9:30 and if we opt for an extra hour 10:30.

Its a Sunday, so any later would probably be too late for a lot of people.

islandmonkey8

I think since everything starts at the half hour, it makes sense that it ends at the half hour. As far as the extra hour, can you decide on the day of? Like if the party is still rocking, can you add it on then?

PetalPockets2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_october-2012-weddings_when-does-your-reception-end-advice-needed?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:56b9bcef-1e34-456e-81f5-cfaa107456b2Discussion:37d8e06d-9dbb-4f5c-9222-d9ea04504cdfPost:267a3c16-298e-480a-86fb-b6cbd9f68f81">Re: When does your reception end? (advice needed)</a>:
[QUOTE]I think since everything starts at the half hour, it makes sense that it ends at the half hour. As far as the extra hour, can you decide on the day of? Like if the party is still rocking, can you add it on then?
Posted by islandmonkey8[/QUOTE]

I just didn't think of the "clean up" time and thought it would end at 11 since we have the venue until 11. I emailed the coordinator to see what our options are but I haven't heard back yet. I would like to play it by ear but I don't know if everyone would be able to like the DJ. I don't know. I think I would rather just decide ahead of time if possible.

AEPerpete

Our venue has no limit, although we need to stop serving alcohol at 1:30am.
I feel like it will probably go until 11pm, and then people will start to leave, but the whole thing will probably last into the morning.

ericaandtom2012

Our reception is from 6 to midnight.  Our venue is pretty flexible and said that we can start cleaning up at midnight, not have to be out completely, which is really nice.   

I think 10:30 is fine to end your reception.  If you want it to go later, you could see if your venue would allow you to add an extra hour day of if you're not ready to end the party. 

LDubHawksFan

Ours will end at 10:30 because our package includes 6 hours.  We could pay to extend it until 11:30, but it would be several hundred dollars between the venue & dj and we don't feel it's necessary.  We've been to weddings where they end that early before.  There are a ton of bars where our friends can continue to party....and I'm pretty sure FI & I will be ready to head back to the hotel! 

mlperkins12

Our reception is from 6:00 to midnight.  We will not have any clean-up responsiblities and the venue will hold anything we brought until the next day to be picked up.

CFM102012

Our reception is ending at 10:30. Our DJ package gives us 5 hours and we figure guests will get there at about 5:30 or so. Venue policy is that loud music etc needs to be over by 11.  There's a patio near the pavilion where we can talk and hang out if we want to while DJ and venue staff start tearing down.

brainybrunette

Our wedding is at 6, cocktail hour 6:30-7:30, reception 7:30-11:30.  Everything is at the same venue.  

I think you're ending time is fine.  I don't think you need to extend it but if you have the extra $ and you think guests will stay that long, then it might be worth it.  In the end, I would probably keep it as is.  People aren't going to be immediately filing out at 10:30, so I'm sure it'll be fine.

minionlover

I think that ending at 1030 is good.  I am not sure if the cost of adding an extra hour for the venue plus the DJ is going to be worth it.  You could always plan an after reception get together somewhere.

BrittneyRN

Our cocktail hour starts at 5, dinner at approximately 615, and our reception goes until 10.

catwine

ours starts at 6 (dinner at 6:30) but we don't really have an end.  I think we hav to be out of the venue by 1, but we are leaving probably at 9:30 or 10.  Guests will prob leave around the same time as us, being that they are older and it's a sunday.

trawas01

Ceremony 4:30
Cocktail hour 5 - 6
Reception 6 -10

After the reception we'll have a bonfire (weather permitting) that everyone is welcome at.

ktelizabeth86

Starts at 6 p.m.
Ends at 11:30 p.m. (bar closes at 11:00 p.m.)

PetalPockets2012

Thanks everyone. I think I will just leave it as is. Thanks for the info and advice. I've just recently started to over think and stress about things.

LDubHawksFan

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_october-2012-weddings_when-does-your-reception-end-advice-needed?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:56b9bcef-1e34-456e-81f5-cfaa107456b2Discussion:37d8e06d-9dbb-4f5c-9222-d9ea04504cdfPost:ca056a90-7f2a-4e72-b113-d32ab1d3491e">Re: When does your reception end? (advice needed)</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks everyone. I think I will just leave it as is. Thanks for the info and advice. I've just recently started to over think and stress about things.
Posted by PetalPockets2012[/QUOTE]

I worried about this at first too, but really late receptions are not the norm for what I've been to.  Plus your guests will be grateful for whatever length of party you do through.  Younger people will find a way to extend the night if they want, at nearby bars, etc.  Old folks will probably be happy they can settle into their beds at a reasonable time.  I think you are making a good decision to just leave it as is.

aimeek420

Our ceremony is at 4:30, cocktails from 5-6, reception from ~6:30-10:45. Our ending time was dictated by our DJ package, but we have the venue for as long as we want it.

CarolineandDean

I work for a wedding venue part time, and every reception we have HAS to end by 10:30 due to a noise ordinance in the town.  By then, everyone is usually exhausted and ready to pack it up.  The few parties that want to go later just go to a favorite bar or something afterwards.

lv2011

We have our venue from 4pm-midnight, but we're only using it from 5-10 for the reception and using the time afterward for cleanup. Hoping to be out of there for the night at 11pm.

pengy16

Starts at 4:30 ends at 8pm. Cleanup for an hour, so out by 9. Our reception is more of a family dinner though.

Simply_Caitlin

Our reception ends at 10pm, but there is a live band in the bar at the hotel until 1:30 for people who want to keep partying.

ljsquintz

5 hours is typical.  Our cocktail hour is 5:30PM to 6:30PM, followed by dinner and dancing from 6:30PM to 10:30PM.

huskerfan246

Our Venue allows us to go until Midnight, but we only have our DJ until 11pm, so that is going to be our Cut-off time.

Heather613

Cocktail hour starts at 5:30 and it ends at 12.

insanityofamom

I had no idea such late evening weddings were so common! I guess late weddings are okay for single people/couples with no kids. 

We are going to a wedding in December with VERY late time... I think the ceremony starts at 7:30pm.... so who knows what itme reception ends...  Our babysitter ends at midnight plus with the drive, we have to be out of the wedding by 10:30pm. Either that or FI goes alone. 

nani1012

I have the venue till midnight, but drinks stop at 10:30p and DJ stops at 11. I figured it was enough time when cocktai lhour starts at 5p.

schnugglebug

reception and cermony are at the same place... I am getting there for 2 for first look photo's and last call is at 2 am.. out by 3 am...