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Cyndi Lou
Super October 2018

How long to set up reception?

Cyndi Lou, on August 12, 2015 at 10:19 AM Posted in Wedding Attire 0 12

How long did it take you to set up the reception for your wedding. Our reception venue rents per hour ($35 per hr) so I want to make sure I plan accordingly. My mom is not considering set up time so is thinking four hours... Which would be right for our reception length. Lol. So how long did it take you? I'm not sure how elaborate everything will be yet, which I know will add to set up time. Just looking for guesstimates at the moment. Thanks!

12 Comments

Latest activity by Zachary, on September 2, 2022 at 11:38 PM
  • OG Kathryn
    Champion May 2016
    OG Kathryn ·
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    Probobly an hour i would think? but im not doing a lot of decorations. and my venue will set up for us if we need. Did you ask if they provide that?

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  • Cyndi Lou
    Super October 2018
    Cyndi Lou ·
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    They don't, it's city owned, we set up and clean up.

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  • MrsTex
    Super October 2015
    MrsTex ·
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    My venue is giving me two hours

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  • annakay511
    Master July 2015
    annakay511 ·
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    I think it depends on how elaborate your setup is and how much help you have. Are you just setting up decorations and are chairs, tables, linens included or do you have to set all of that up? Are DIYing or do you have professional vendors like rental company and florist setting things up? How much help do you have? Do you have a DOC with a staff that can do it or are you depending on family/friends? If you are DIYing, I would say at LEAST 2 hours plus anyone setting up will need time to shower and change because they will get hot and sweaty. Pros may be faster but you should consult them on how much time they will need.

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  • Sarah
    Devoted June 2016
    Sarah ·
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    I'm stressing about this too. I have rented the following (all at one place but different rooms):

    2 hour setup

    1 hour ceremony

    4 hour reception

    1 hour cleanup

    I'm definitely thinking I'll need another hour beforehand, I'm planning to diy some decor and dinnerware but not over the top. Remember you have to get ready and likely have some photos in this time too. Don't forget guests may start arriving an hour before!

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  • Barbara
    Master September 2014
    Barbara ·
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    We had a day of coordinator to do this, and she had two hours. I think it took her and her assistant an hour and a half to set up decor. They didn't have to set-up any of the plates, glasses, food, etc, so that would add on more time if you don't have more than two people doing this.

    I wasn't there for clean-up, but that definitely took less time. Our reception was over at 11:30 and I think she said they were done by midnight. Though again, this was with two coordinators, plus the catering staff, which I think was 3-5ppl.

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  • Lynnie
    WeddingWire Administrator October 2016
    Lynnie ·
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    It's going to be between 1 and 2 hours depending on how much set up and decor you have! (and how many helping hands)

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  • Nicole
    Master July 2015
    Nicole ·
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    We did a lot ourselves and it took us about 4 hours.

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  • M
    Just Said Yes August 2019
    Monica ·
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    We are being given 2 hours to setup the day before. I'll have my decorator along with some of my family.

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  • C
    Beginner August 2020
    Claire ·
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    Hello, we are on the same boat now. We have a small budget so we are doing everything ourselves. Our ceremony and reception are in the same place so I think it would not take us too much time to set it up, we're gonna try to get as many people to help, but we won't have crazy deco, very simple linens, flowers, lights I think, so I don't think it would take more than 2-3 hours? We are given 7 hours total, from setting up to clean up, so I know we will need to be fast.

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  • 1120Kj
    Savvy July 2021
    1120Kj ·
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    Where was your venue for 35hr i live in ohio

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  • Z
    Just Said Yes June 2023
    Zachary ·
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    View Quoted Comment
    Hi! How was your experience with the entire wedding with the timing? My venue gave me 2 hours for venue set up as well but I don’t think it should take that long? I assumed the ceremony would be an hour too, would you say the whole timing was correct to your wedding? Thanks!
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