Wedding

We need a bit more info - what time of day, how formal, do you want dancing, or games, or things?

If your reception is at a meal time, you need to serve a meal, so that's usually at least 2 hours. Most receptions are 4-5 hours, unless you have a non-meal time reception, which is usually called a cake-and-punch reception.

View Quoted Comment Yes we are going to have a meal and cutting the cake and a few dancers and toast and the bouquet toss also some pics

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So, a standard reception is 4-5 hours, including cocktail hour.
Our ceremony was at 5, our cocktail "hour" was 5:30-7, and our reception was 7-11.

Have you already signed with the venue? They often have coordinators to help you with this.

I'd also recommend using the Planning Tools, in the tabs, above. They help with so much of this stuff!

I agree with Rebecca, receptions are usually about 4-5 hours including cocktail hour. For our wedding, the ceremony was from 4:30-5, cocktail hour was from 5-6, and the reception was from 6-10. Our ceremony and reception were held at the same location though.

Our reception was 5 hours, including cocktail hour. I think the standard is 4-5 hours.

It can be any length. If you have an all inclusive venue, they decide for you at 4-5 hours that somehow you fit cocktail hour, 1-2 hours of dinner, and the rest is dancing and other festivities. At a blank slate venue such as a community center you can go until closing.