Average length of reception?

[act1980]

Hi everyone

We are having a reception with no dancing.

I am struggling to understand how to spread the 4 hours out.

If we sit down at 4pm:

Starters - 30 minutes (4.30)
Main course - 45 minutes (5.15)
Speeches - 15 minutes (5.30)
Cutting of the cake - 15 minutes (5.45)
Eating the cake (and distributing it to guests) - 30 minutes (6.15)
Tea/coffee - 30 minutes (6.45)

Does this sound about right?

We are looking to go to Epcot for a dessert party but I think I read somewhere that you get there for 8.30 which means we would need to leave the reception by 8pm. This leaves 1hr 15 minutes, how do I fill that tine? I'm also worried that my guests will be too full. Has anyone done this right after a reception?

I would be grateful for any feedback

 

[Dreams595]

We're also not doing a dancing type reception so our planner actually suggested cutting our reception by an hour. So now we're doing just 3 hours at the Living Seas Lounge and it also lowered our BEO. It saved us an hour on motorcoach transportation and on the estimate for BOC drinks.

 

[Brit_Jude]

Will you be having photo's on your own while your guests head to the reception?

Can you add 30/45 minutes for social time/drinks/pre-reception prior to dinner and let people visit the restroom etc. You'll need this if you are having personal photos.

Do you want some group photo's before or after dinner at the reception location?

We are not having any dancing either but I am bringing an iPod for background music.

Are you considering getting characters? You could also consider the Disney charater artist or get you own silhouette artist. These make nice favors for your guests and it cheaper than characters. It will entertain them.

I am cutting my reception and letting people change before the dessert party. Not sure where your reception is in location to Epcot and your guests hotels.

I'm cutting out the appertizer and just having the salad, main and wedding cake to leave some room for the dessert party.

We are getting to our dessert party at 8.00pm this was on the advice on my planner to allow for a change of location in case of bad weather.

Hope some of this helps

 

[lurkyloo]

We also did the no-dancing thing, although we had a first dance and father-daughter & mother-son dances, and we cut our reception to 3 hours. It was the perfect amount of time, and it saved money.

 

[Chilly]

We had our DP after our reception, the food was hardly touched at the DP.

 

[Princesspunkin]

On average, how much does cutting an hour from the reception saves?

Dawn

 

[Dreams595]

On average, how much does cutting an hour from the reception saves?

Dawn

It saved me about $300 because of lowering the BOC drinks and cutting an hour off the motorcoach.