1 Hour Reception OK?

If it's a cocktail reception, you need at least 2 hours, but then you're also having dessert, and that should be another hour.

If you want the non-meal mid afternoon wedding, I think the 2-3 hour cocktail and dessert reception is great (the menu has good options). But I'd say you might as well go up to the full 4 hour dinner reception and move the time down (or up, you could do a nice lunch reception!)

Can you use that for cocktail hour and move somewhere else for dinner?

@OG Kathryn That is an idea. We probably could do that since we'd still hit the minimum with just the 1 hour at the original venue.

@Kay: My reception will only be 1.5 hours with (75) guests but my wedding is a Ren Faire. We are really just planning on the reception for lunch/cake and then everyone will disperse. However, while the reception itself is short, my wedding includes admissions to the Faire itself so we are anticipating spending time with guests as everyone enjoys what the faire has to offer. My FH and I are going to make it a priority to spend time time with anyone who doesn't want to enter the faire while eating.

If you aren't planning anything like that (so an extended reception that isn't a reception), then I do think 1 hour is extremely short and would cut your time with guests short. OG Kathryn had a good idea of taking your dinner elsewhere.

Thanks again everyone. I'll present all options to my FH and see which he thinks would be best. I didn't want to "waste" anyone's time or the money they spent to come enjoy our wedding. I've got a few different options now that we can ponder.

That sounds like cocktail hour, not a reception.

I feel like with 1 1/2 wedding you wouldn't be able to fully enjoy it because it's going to be rushed:/

Definitely too short. You want to enjoy yourself and take your time with your guests and 1 hour won't even give you time to say hello to everyone.

I'd feel rushed:/

As a guest, I'd feel rushed. I'm usually in a restaurant longer than an hour when I dine out - and that's just with one to four others.

I think one hour is too short. You also need to consider that if your wedding is at dinner time, passed hors d'oeuvres aren't really enough. I would go for the full dinner if it's in budget!

I don't think you'll be happy with it. Every bride I know says a 5-6 hour wedding flies by. With an hour reception you'll barely get a chance to start enjoying it before it's over.

Is this for a cruise? It sounds exactly like a cruise wedding package

Thats not long enough time. Considering some people may show up late the event will be over shortly after. Are you able to extend to say 3 hours? That gives people enough time to get there, eat and mingle. Also what if the ceremony starts/runs late. Would that cut into your reception time?

I think 2hr is the minimum reception time. I'm doing hors and open bar for 2 hours in a suite in Vegas for about 40ppl. I may add an extra hour depending on whether we add some dancing/speeches. An hour goes fast. So I would say 2 minimum even if there is no big entertainment.

I don't think an hour is enough time honestly. Not even with a small group of people. I'd go for 2.5 hours or even 3.

It's not enough time. Do not shorten your memories of your big day.

@dwbride I was wondering the same...op come back and let us know! If it is a cruise package it's a lil different because it ends up still being a good portion of the day for your guests...if not an hour is way to short and you should plan 2-3 hours at least