Does a 4 hour reception sound good enough for a 50 guest wedding?

Question

Does a 4 hour reception sound good enough for a 50 guest wedding?

Answer 1

Any amount of time is good, your guest will not really be concerned with how long your reception is, but how great it was.  

Answer 2

The number of guests and the length of the party aren't connected. A general rule is that if you keep your guests for four hours or more then you have to give them an actual meal, not just snacks. It's OK if the meal is very casual though -- no requirement for table service or fancy foods as long as it's tasty stuff and there is plenty of it.

You start counting your time from when the first guests arrive for whatever comes first. For instance if guests are invited to the ceremony and the ceremony begins at 1 pm, then by 5 pm you need to be serving food. If the party continues even later then you need to serve another meal around 9-10 pm.

If there is a wait time between ceremony and reception, you don't get to play "that doesn't count" with those hours. It is up to YOU to provide for your guests, not up to guests to scout up a burger for themselves during "intermission" time.

Don't worry about providing "entertainment" for every single minute of those 4 hours. Guests are expected to entertain themselves by having conversations and making new acquaintances. A wise host appoints a few good friends (the bridesmaids and groomsmen?) to be "social angels" who make sure no one is left out by making introductions, bringing wall flowers into groups, dancing with those lacking partners, and so on.

Answer 3

That was the length of ours. We had a cocktail hour, toasts & cake cutting, then a sit-down dinner. And by the time dinner was over, there were basically two hours left for dancing & mingling.  

Answer 4

It would definitely be enough time for everyone to talk to one another. And you'd get to greet your guests and get pictures with everyone. You should consider music (live or canned, doesn't matter), that way it keeps things lively.

I personally wouldn't want a reception that long, no matter how many guests there were. I would want to get on with after reception events as soon as possible. * If you know what I mean.* :)

But it's totally up to you! God Bless!  

Answer 5

I don't see why not? Personally I HATE receptions that last all day....it's exhausting.

We are getting married at 7pm...the reception will be about 9 with hors d'oeuvre, champange, cake and some liquor & beer for about only 30. That way we don't have to have a LONG reception. Everyone can eat before the ceremony on their own.

Answer 6

I don't think time and number of people need to necessarily correlate.  I would say make the reception as long as you want to celebrate with those 50 people.  If 4 hours is what you want, go for it! But, if you're choosing that length for the number of guests I'd recommend re-thinking it in terms of what will make you happy- it is your day after all. :)  

Answer 7

Sounds like it's way too long. Have fun and enjoy it, but don't overdo it.

Answer 8

unless you are having a formal sit down dinner and a dance, a 4 hour reception is VERY long. people will start leaving half way through.  

Answer 9

Sounds like a big fun wedding to me. Just make sure it isn't just one of those ones where you are sitting down and there is nothing to do  

Answer 10

That sounds fine, do what you can afford. Don't over extend yourself- it's not worth it in the end. You stress and it's just not worth it. Enjoy the day and everyone else will too.  

Answer 11

Sounds like an ample amount of time.

Answer 12

We have 80 guests and we're having a cocktail hour from 4-5p, then dinner from 5-6p; then a four hour reception with dancing and live music.  I think it's perfect no matter how many guests you have as long as there is something to entertain them.

Answer 13

I had 50 guests at my wedding. The ceremony and reception were at the same place and it was from 11-3. 4 hours total and it was perfect! After the wedding we had our closest friends and family come party at the hotel with us. I say 4 hours is perfect no matter how many guests. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Answer 14

I think that's plenty of time! We are having around 80 people and that's around the amount of time we are having! Supposedly, a lot of halls offer that as a base time and you pay extra for more time!

Congrats and Good Luck!!

Answer 15

Yes, as long as you are planning on serving a meal during the reception.  4 hours can really drag on if it is just a cake-and-appetizers type of reception, but if the guests are all going to eat dinner during the reception, 4 hours will be a perfect amount of time.  Allow 1-2 hours for dinner and toasts and 1-2 hours for cake, dancing, and bouquet toss and all that.

Answer 16

that should be fine, they are generally 5 so its not a lot different  

Answer 17

I think that is a good amount of time.   We just had 25 people show up at our wedding and the reception was three and a half hours from 1:30 to 5:00.  When I told my mom that the photographer would be showing up at 5, she rolled her eyes at me and said why are we making people stick around that long?  But then between the time for personal photographs, the food, the speeches, the cutting of the cake, the dancing, etc., we only just managed to fit it all in.