How long is your reception?

leahrachel521 · July 2011

I am one of the former Anthony's brides currently shopping for a new venue. My original plan was to have a cocktail hour starting at five o'clock, followed by a dinner/dance reception that would last four or so hours, making a total of five hours. Is five hours too long?

I am noticing that most of the venues I have been looking at allow for 4 hours of guest time, and you have to purchase additional time if you want your event to last any longer. I don't want to be unrealistic about how long people will stick around, but it seems like lots of weddings I have been to have lasted well into the night.

I'd be interested to hear how long others expect their reception to last.

belletop · July 2011

Here was our timeline:
ceremony 6:30
cocktails 7-7:45
about half of the guests had left by 10:30
we left at 11:00

That was with lots of guests dancing & drinking.

panayotta · July 2011

Greetings!

I will be moving to Atlanta next month and am considering getting married there. Now, I currently live in MD but am from NY and am Haitian. Traditionally receptions are 6 hours for us( including the cocktail hour) and the venue is all inclusive ( cocktail hour, sit down dinner, booze, cake, dinner/ glass ware, space). Everything all in one with one flat fee per person plus tax and service. So far all of the places in ATL ive looked at charge a sperate fee for everything.
Few questions:
What are weddings in Georgia typically like?
What is the average price for a Georgia wedding?
Are there any all inclusive venues?

Thank you!

HYDROPHILE · July 2011

From our ceremony to the end of our reception, we booked 4 hours. Our ceremony will only take 15 minutes, then family pictures, then dinner, then cake cutting, dancing, and all of the other stuff.

Because of country laws, we have to be off premises by 11pm, and our DJ requires 45 minutes of packing up time. The winery allows weddings to start "anytime after 6pm" as that's when it closes to the public.

As for the other questions from the other poster:

1. What are weddings in Georgia typically like?
Depends on the bride and groom and what they want.

2. What is the average price for a Georgia wedding?
Depends on the bride and groom and what they want.

3. Are there any all-inclusive venues?
Several - it depends on the bride and groom and what they want.

Being a former NY'er, it annoys me when people ask what things are like in Georgia. It's the same as every place else: it wholly depends on the bride and groom.