Wedding Tip Thursday: How long should your Ceremony and Reception be?

Shannon + Ryan's Wedding Planned by: Erin McLean Events, PhotoCredit: Nancy Ray Photography

You’ve been dreaming of your wedding day for as long as you can remember…and you’re not going to want it to end. You’ll be on cloud nine and the entire day will fly by and it will be a blur of sweet moments and fabulous memories. So, how long is too long when it comes to the timing of your ceremony and reception?

Yes, you want it to go on as long as possible, but your guests may feel otherwise. My recommendation is around 6 to 7 hours from pre-ceremony music to grand exit. This can depend on how long your ceremony will be (or extra travel time between ceremony and reception locations) but in general, you want your reception to be about 5 to 6 hours – maximum.

It will go by in a flash to you but your guests will appreciate a well-planned, smooth-flowing event that ends on a high note and not at the break of dawn. After all, you should leave them wanting more instead of wishing they could have gone home hours earlier. If you really feel the need to continue the party, close out the reception with a bang and then invite your partying friends to meet you out for more drinks and dancing at your favorite local hangout!