How Long are Weddings? A Quick Guide to Your Big Day’s Timeline
During the wedding planning process, you’ll probably ask: How long are weddings supposed to be? Knowing your wedding timeline is crucial, whether or not you’re working with a wedding planner, as you pass information to vendors, venues, and guests. You don’t want the wedding DJ to arrive so late they’re setting up as the wedding reception begins, or for all the guests to be left twiddling their thumbs because you didn’t realize they’d need something to do while you took all the family photos before the reception began.
So, how long is a wedding, and what kind of timeline should you expect? Here’s what you need to know.
What You Will Learn
How Long are Weddings Typically?
That question comes with many caveats, as the length of your wedding will depend on the type of wedding you’re having.
Are you having a daytime wedding with a brunch or luncheon reception? It probably won’t last as long as a late-afternoon wedding with an evening reception. Is it essential for you to incorporate a religious ceremony into your wedding day? These types of events often last longer than non-religious ceremonies. Is your reception venue different from your ceremony venue? You’ll have to leave time to travel between venues in your wedding itinerary.
That said, there are some average wedding industry standards, and, for this article, we’ll look at the most traditional, average wedding possible, with a late afternoon wedding ceremony and evening reception with dinner service and formal dances, all occurring at the same venue.
So how long are weddings and receptions like these? Typically about six to seven hours, not including the time needed for you and the rest of the wedding party to get ready or any time necessary for pre-wedding photos like those of the bridal party or first look.
That total also does not include time needed for wedding vendors to set up, including any vendors that need to set up ahead of the event starting (such as florists and decorators; in some instances, vendors in the reception space, like a live band, can set up while the ceremony is going on, and be ready by the time the reception begins).
How Long are Wedding Ceremonies Typically?
The wedding ceremony is usually the very first part of the wedding day. The average wedding ceremony only lasts about half an hour. This includes the wedding party entrances, special readings or music, special messages you’d like your wedding officiant to deliver, and exchanging rings and vows.
Your wedding ceremony may be longer if you incorporate unique family or religious traditions.
After the ceremony, you may need time for additional photos or time for guests and the married couple to travel to a separate venue. In the case of the former, you would likely host a cocktail hour to keep your guests entertained while the bride and groom are off taking photos. Despite the name, a cocktail hour doesn’t necessarily need to be an hour. It can be two hours if you need to tack on an extra hour; if so, ensure you provide your guests with plenty of drinks and food.
How Long is a Wedding Reception?
Wedding receptions are the longest part of the wedding. They can easily last four or more hours, particularly if you have a guest list that likes to party.
The wedding reception timeline will often look like this:
- Guests are allowed into the wedding reception space
- The wedding party entrance, followed by the couple’s grand entrance
- The first dance
- Parent dances
- Dinner begins
- Toasts are made
- Dancing with an open dance floor
- The cake cutting and speech from the married couple
- Bouquet toss and garter toss
- The couple makes their grand exit and proceeds with their wedding night plans (whether that’s staying at a nearby hotel or leaving for their honeymoon immediately)
While wedding receptions typically include all of the above, do note that it’s your wedding, so you can omit certain activities if you want or mix up the schedule however you please.
For example, some couples do a little dancing before dinner or spread the toasts out throughout the evening. If you’re working with a wedding coordinator, they can discuss your options and help you plan a reception timeline that will work best for your vision.
How Long are Weddings Usually? FAQs
How long is a wedding ceremony?
Most weddings last about five to six hours in total, with only about half an hour to an hour reserved for the ceremony.
How long are wedding receptions?
The average wedding reception lasts about four to five hours.
What happens during the wedding reception event?
Most wedding receptions include a grand entrance, formal dances, a meal, toasts, cake cutting and service, an open dance floor, a bouquet toss, and a grand exit.
What is the 30/5 rule about wedding timelines?
The 30/5 rule states that anything that would normally take five minutes will take about 30 minutes on your wedding day.
Is four hours long enough for a wedding reception?
Yes, four hours is typically long enough for a wedding reception. However, you can certainly go longer if you anticipate that your guests will want plenty of time for dancing and drinking after all the formalities are over.
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Don’t forget a crucial part of wedding planning: buying wedding insurance. BriteCo offers affordable, comprehensive liability and cancellation coverage that gives you peace of mind and assurance that you’re covered if life throws a wrench at your carefully planned wedding. Learn more.
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