3 or 4 hour reception?

kiermart

Ok ladies here's the deal, Our venue includes a 3 hour reception.So we are contemplating on whether we should opt to pay extra for another hour or just have the recpetion be 3 hours, what do you think?

alestelle504

I love the idea of a 4 hour reception if you can afford it.  It just seems like 3 hour receptions are over as soon as they start.

louisianablue

I did a 3 hour reception, but also hosted an after party at Petite Bourbon.  It was a blast.  We had boxes of Mardi Gras beads to throw.

NO2012

We are having a 4 hour reception. I debated about it for quite awhile and am glad I decided to pay for the extra hour. If you go back about 4 or 5 months on this board, you will find a good thread about this topic where a lot of ladies put in their two cents on it. It helped me to make up my mind for certain at the time.

silverspark7

I had the same dilemma and decided on the 4 hour reception.  Really, the only thing that costs extra is the extra hour at the venue and the extra hour for the band.  If you think about how many things the bride and groom have to do during the reception -- photographs, dances, cake cutting, garter/bouquet toss -- that last hour really is for the two of you.  It'll go by so fast, you'll be glad you spent the extra money for it.

At least, that's what I think. :0)

Brooke4377

we are doing five hours.  for us, the only extra cost will be the bar and the dj.  we aren't having the dj during the cocktail hour, so this really only adds on an extra hour for him ($100).  for the bar we will have to pay for two extra hours, which raises the bar package $10/person.  We expect around 100 people, so changing our reception from 3 hours to 5 only increases cost $1,100! (well, plus tax/tip on the 1k).  Considering the wedding is costing us around 20k when all is said and done, I thought that seemed like a small price to pay to nearly double the reception.  I am from the North also, where 5 hours is the norm, and I can tell you it does still go by fast!  We are also having a seated/plated reception, so you need a little more time for that, I think.  It seems to me with a 3 hour reception it's 1 hour cocktail, 1 hour eating, and then only 1 hour for dancing which just seems so short.  Good luck deciding!

egammo3

I asked this question a long time ago, and went back and forth with myself on what to do. I really thought that having a 3 hr wedding reception was too short, and inquired about prices to have the reception longer. But even the coordinator at my venue advised me against it. She said it would be a waste of money because people usually leave after the 2nd hr anyway especially if they have kids. She told me to take into consideration the time it takes for guests to get ready and be at the church on time for the ceremony, and then being at the reception... all of which is exhausting... Not to mention myself as the bride who will most likely have a full day of preparation. Just this past weekend, I went to a wedding this past weekend, the reception room was booked for 5 hours and people began to leave in between the 2nd and 3rd hour, so the other 2 hours were wasted. There is only so much partying guests can do, and food they can eat.

Not trying to sway your decision, "to each their own", but my suggestion is for you to go through your guest list and see who you think would stay the full amount if you were to add additonal hour(s). If the amount of guests is worth the additional money I'd say go for it! If not, save your money!

kiermart

Thanks Ladies!!!!

kiermart

Thanks Ladies!!!!

ngddvm1

I think a lot of it depends on your number of guests, and as a PP said, all of the things you choose to do at your reception.  We had a very small wedding (40 guests) and the only "traditional" things we did were the first dance and father-daughter dance.  We had no cake to cut (we had Bananas Foster instead), no bouquet toss, no garter toss, etc.  We had a 3 hour reception and it was a perfect length.  My husband and I were not utterly exhausted after the reception, and it left time for our guests to go out afterwards if they wanted!

NO2012

I also think it has alot to do with with whether your guests are primarily local or from OOT.  If your guests are coming in town just for your wedding, then I can't imagine people leaving early after only 2 hours.  But if most are local, I could see some leaving early if necessary to get home to kids, etc. 

Brooke4377

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_louisiana-new-orleans_3-or-4-hour-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:84Discussion:03adf027-626b-4624-99f3-bb21910eb48fPost:c0118ae0-868b-4a13-a14b-98cc8edd73e9">Re: 3 or 4 hour reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]I also think it has alot to do with with whether your guests are primarily local or from OOT.  If your guests are coming in town just for your wedding, then I can't imagine people leaving early after only 2 hours.  But if most are local, I could see some leaving early if necessary to get home to kids, etc. 
Posted by NO2012[/QUOTE]


I agree.  Actually I can't imagine ANYONE leaving a wedding after two hours! :)  weddings cost thousands of dollars.  if someone can't stay at my wedding for the length of an average movie that's just sad! lol. I mean the average restaurant dinner is two hours, that means they would have to come, eat and leave and do nothing else (no dancing, cake, toasts etc).   As everyone has said, it truly depends on your guest list.  This is my second marriage, and at my first reception my parents ended up having to pay an extra half hour on my 5 hour reception because everyone was still dancing.  And I thought it flew by.  Good luck deciding!

RYLZ

I agree it depends on what's the norm for your guests but also the style and tone of the wedding.  If a lot of time will be taken up with speeches and dances and tosses, that can eat a good 90 minutes of your time.

We had an hour of cocktails AND a 5.5 hour reception and quite frankly, we could easily have stayed another hour!  Because we had a serious dance party atmosphere  (live music and then a DJ) once dinner, toasts and traditional stuff were over.  But we had no one under 21 there and everyone was staying in the hotel and could stumble back to their rooms whenever they wanted :-)

shaylapetties20

Do the 4 hour! You will not be able to get this time back! Also, don't forget to close the bar for a 1/2 hour at some point (dinner service or toast) and that way you can add it towards your extra hour.