Wishes Reception: 3 hours or 4 hours???

[flowerbelle]

Hello everyone! I'm just wondering for those of you who have had your DFTW already or have booked an upcoming wedding at Disney....if you have a 10am ceremony, is it a general rule that your reception can only be 3 hours long (12p-3p)?? I was told by the wedding coordinator that you could only have a 3 hour reception for a morning ceremony. If you want a four hour reception, will it cost you more? I am planning on having a Wishes wedding and I really want a four hour reception, even though it's in the afternoon. I know that music and dancing is important to me, my family and friends. Right now, I don't want a night reception for a couple reasons...also because I think it'll be too rushed with doing a desert party afterwards as well. Please let me know your experiences and thoughts on this one. I greatly appreciate your help!!! Thanks!

 

[lurkyloo]

We were never told this. In fact, it was assumed that we would have a 4-hour reception until we decided we wanted a shorter one.

Where are you looking at holding your reception? Some of the restaurant venues, like Narcoossee's and Citricos, have a 3pm cut-off time for receptions so that there is time to re-set the room for that night's dinner service... California Grill's cut-off times vary depending on whether you are using the main restaurant or one of the private rooms, and the private rooms have higher food and beverage minimums after a certain time.

 

[flowerbelle]

We were never told this. In fact, it was assumed that we would have a 4-hour reception until we decided we wanted a shorter one.

Where are you looking at holding your reception? Some of the restaurant venues, like Narcoossee's and Citricos, have a 3pm cut-off time for receptions so that there is time to re-set the room for that night's dinner service... California Grill's cut-off times vary depending on whether you are using the main restaurant or one of the private rooms, and the private rooms have higher food and beverage minimums after a certain time.

Hi Lurkyloo! You've been a great inspiration BTW...I read your PJ and your book and loved your wedding!! Thanks so much for sharing!!! Anyhoo, I spoke to the wedding coordinator about the reception at the Grand Floridian ballroom (whitehall room for pre-reception and one of the ballrooms for reception) with approx. 50 people attending (unsure at this time how many will be). With all this in mind, he told me that usually the afternoon receptions are only 3 hours (not the usual 4 hrs). This was strange and unusual, but I only started to question it when I read someone else's thread on this site. Of course, I would rather have a longer reception especially because I plan to have dancing and a DJ at the reception...and having it end at 4pm instead of 3pm. But (silly, naive me being new to this whole wedding thing and all) I just thought this is just the way things are at Disney--until I started doing some reading on this wonderful site! (Sooo thankful to have all the Disney bride's experiences!!!) What should I do?? Do I confront the wedding coordinator with this?? Do I become a Bridezilla in the making???

 

[lurkyloo]

Oh, I don't think you need to confront him, per se... he was probably just trying to be helpful by saving you an hour's worth of bar tab. Just let him know that you would like to have a 4-hour reception.

 

[Ann117]

I am having a night wedding but they keep on adding time to mine because I want to watch fire works and such I started with 3 hours and am now at 5. There is no fee for the room so she told me to just hold it for the 5 hours now and if i change something then I change it later. I would talk to him and tell him you want 4 hours. I don't think you will be a bridezilla but hey its your wedding you are entitled to be that way sometime!!

 

[Pinkerbell1983]

I was told that you could have 5 hours with no extra charge and then any additional is $400 per hour.

 

[flowerbelle]

Oh, I don't think you need to confront him, per se... he was probably just trying to be helpful by saving you an hour's worth of bar tab. Just let him know that you would like to have a 4-hour reception.

Thanks Lurkyloo!! I didn't even think about it that way (duh!!)...I'll talk with him. Thanks again!

 

[flowerbelle]

I was told that you could have 5 hours with no extra charge and then any additional is $400 per hour.

Pinkerbell, I appreciate you telling me this. I feel better about this now...and will talk with my coordinator! Best wishes to you!!

 

[Malefi_Stitch]

We're having a 10am ceremony then having our cocktail hour and reception at the Living Seas. Our timeline for the morning/afternoon from our coordinator reads:

9:30am - Guests seated for ceremony
10am-11am - Ceremony
11am-12pm - Pre-reception
12pm-4pm - Reception

No one ever mentioned to me about it being three hours. I agree with Lurkyloo and that you can just say you prefer to have all four hours.

 

[flowerbelle]

We're having a 10am ceremony then having our cocktail hour and reception at the Living Seas. Our timeline for the morning/afternoon from our coordinator reads:

9:30am - Guests seated for ceremony
10am-11am - Ceremony
11am-12pm - Pre-reception
12pm-4pm - Reception

No one ever mentioned to me about it being three hours. I agree with Lurkyloo and that you can just say you prefer to have all four hours.

Hmm...wonder why I got the "brunch receptions are typically only 3 hours long and not four hours" spiel??....thanks for all your input and advice!!

 

[DisneyDJChuck]

Hi there-

I have done many, many receptions in the early afternoon that are 4 hours long. Many times they are smaller and more informal (Whitehall, Ariel's, etc) but they can be with a pre-reception (1 hr) and then reception (4 hours).

However, sometimes these events end earlier, because guests want to get to the parks, travel, etc. Doesn't happen all the time, but something to keep in mind for afternoon receptions with wide open windows to daylight.

Good luck!