How long is a wedding if it starts at 4?

If your ceremony starts at 4 PM, you have a shorter window, but it can still be a wonderful celebration. The ceremony might run from 4 to 4:30 PM. Then you have about an hour for drinks and a few photos, from 4:30 to 5:30 PM. The wedding breakfast can start around 6 PM and take about two hours, finishing at 8 PM. Speeches can happen during or after the meal, around 7 to 8 PM.

After that, you can move to the evening reception. If you want dancing, you might start the first dance around 8:30 PM and keep going until 10 or 11 PM, depending on your venue's licence. Evening guests could arrive at 8 PM, just as the meal finishes. This works well if you want a more intimate daytime feel with a smaller group, then a bigger party later.

Be realistic about what you can fit. You may not have time for a long photo session or a separate cake-cutting moment. Combine elements, like cutting the cake during the evening reception. Also, check with your venue about their latest finish time and any noise restrictions. A 4 PM start can be relaxed and elegant, as long as you plan the flow carefully.