How is a wedding reception timeline?

Start by working backwards from your venue closing time. Most receptions run for three to five hours, but this varies by venue and licence conditions. Write down arrival, drinks, meal, speeches, dancing and departure, then add small buffers between each part.

Guests usually need 30 to 60 minutes for drinks and canapés before the meal. This is also the best time for portraits. The meal itself takes about an hour and a half if speeches are included. Dancing can easily fill the rest of the evening, but remember some guests may leave early.

Share the timeline with your wedding party, parents and venue coordinator. A printed copy for the day-of team helps a lot. If something runs late, stay calm and let the next part shift rather than stressing over the clock. Your guests will follow your lead.