How Long is a Typical Wedding Ceremony and Reception?

When it comes time to begin planning your wedding, one of the first questions you may have is, “How long is a wedding ceremony and reception?” The answer is, “It depends.” While typical wedding festivities may last around 5 or 6 hours, there are a number of factors which may increase or decrease this estimate. The type of ceremony you choose, reception activities and delays may all contribute to variations in the length of your wedding. The best way to get a concrete sense of your wedding timeline is by sitting down and creating one—with a little room left over, perhaps, to account for mishaps and deviations.

Planning a wedding is no mean feat, and asking for help from reputable sources like our team at The Four Columns may make the process that much easier for brides- and grooms-to-be. With nearly 50 years of experience in the wedding industry, our wealth of knowledge is at your disposal. Add on services including event catering and coordination, and you can rest assured that we will do everything we can to make your wedding day as enjoyable as possible.

How Long are Weddings?

The length of your wedding ceremony—and the amount of control you have over what is included—depends heavily on the type of ceremony you choose. Religious ceremonies such as Catholic services tend to be the longest, and may run from around 30 or 40 minutes to up to or over an hour if Mass is included. Post-wedding photos shot at the church may take up additional time.

Secular ceremonies, on the other hand, may last around 20 to 30 minutes on average. This gives you time to include personalized and meaningful aspects, such as unique readings and handwritten vows, without losing the attention of your guests. Weddings with minimal frills, as well as civil ceremonies, may even last 15 minutes or less. However, make sure that you’re not giving up memorable wedding moments for the sake of speed. In the end, this is your big day; making decisions to please others or excessively cut costs may lead to feelings of regret down the line.

Wedding receptions are typically much longer affairs than wedding ceremonies—and for good reason. This is when your friends and family get to celebrate your wedding, and you can thank your guests for being there to support you. In general, receptions often last around 4 or 5 hours, depending on the activities and traditions you plan to include. Make it too much shorter, and both you and your guests may feel a little rushed, while longer receptions may significantly increase wedding costs.

Planning Out Your Wedding Ceremony

Before you can plan out your wedding day, you need to know what you want to include, and what you’re willing to skip. Traditionally, wedding programs include moments such as the:

• Processional: The wedding party—typically the bridesmaids and groomsmen, the flower girl and ring bearer, and the parents of the bride and groom—walk down the aisle in a set order to start the ceremony. Other family members may be included as well, depending on the couple’s preferences.
• Opening remarks and speeches: The officiant welcomes the guests, and may say a few words about or to the couple. Depending on the ceremony, readings—such as book passages, scripture, or poems—may be shared by the officiant or guests.
• Exchange of vows and declaration of intent: The couple exchanges heartfelt promises and verbally declares their desire to get married. Oftentimes, a declaration of intent takes the form of, “I do.”
• Rings: The couple exchanges wedding bands, and the officiant may ask them to repeat a few lines while doing so. 
• Pronouncement and first kiss: The officiant declares the couple to be married, and will likely prompt them to exchange their first kiss as newlyweds.
• Recessional: The exit of the newlyweds and their attendants—that is, the wedding party—following the ceremony. 

It is important to note that this list doesn’t include wedding day preparations—hair and makeup, photos, first looks, and guest arrivals, for example—which will likely take up several hours of your timeline. 

What Happens During a Wedding Reception?

After the ceremony comes the wedding reception, which traditionally includes activities such as the:

• Cocktail hour: A chance for the couple, and likely the wedding party, to take photos while guests enjoy drinks, munch on appetizers and socialize outside of the reception area. During this time, the couple may also change out of their wedding clothes and into outfits more suitable for a post-wedding party.
• Grand entrance: Guests are gathered in the reception hall—or wherever the reception is being held—and the couple is officially introduced as newlyweds for the very first time.
• Dinner: Depending on the wedding, dinner may be served before or after the first dance. Between the meal and speeches, the couple may spend some time mingling with their guests.
• Speeches: Guests—often the best man and maid of honor, as well as other close friends and family—share fond memories, amusing stories and advice about or for the couple.
• First dance: The couple share their first dance as newlyweds, after which the floor is typically opened to everyone.
• Family dances: Oftentimes, a dance for the bride and her father and/or the groom and his mother.
• Dessert: Traditionally, the newlywed couple jointly cut a slice of cake, then feed each other a bite to symbolize their commitment. Then, cake—or another dessert—is served to guests.
• Socializing: A chance for the couple and their guests to relax, mingle and make use of the dance floor. 
• Bouquet toss: A tradition which often takes place toward the end of a wedding reception, single women in attendance are first asked to gather for the bouquet toss. The bride then tosses her wedding bouquet over her shoulder into the crowd; as the tradition states, whoever catches it will be the next to get married.
• Grand exit: The couple say their goodbyes and make their official exit from the reception.

Contact The Four Columns and Start Planning Your Wedding Today

So, how long is a wedding ceremony and reception? The answer depends on factors including the type of ceremony you choose, the personalization’s you make and the traditions you take part in. However, it is reasonable to assume that your wedding day—without including preparations prior to the ceremony—will likely be around a 5 or 6 hour event. The best way to know for sure? Creating a comprehensive wedding timeline with the help of a skilled event company like The Four Columns. And we do more than offer information; with including catering services, venue setup and event coordination, we provide much of what you need to plan the wedding day of your dreams. 

Ready to start tackling wedding planning? We would be happy to offer our assistance. Just give us a call or send us a message today!