Is a 6 hour reception too long? What do you think of this add on? Is it worth it?

Original post by puppysnugg

May 27, 2008 10:44 PM

My RH does an add on called the 'Jazz & Blues club' where they do the CH room really cute w candles & stuff. For an extra $20pp we can have the following:

Sensational Sweets
French & Italian pastries & tarts
Assorted fingertip tea cookies
Variety of signature truffles and chocolates

Bakery Bar
Fresh baked pies & specialty cakes (assorted)

Fab Fondue Fountain
Choco fountain w. pretzel rods, oreo cookies, marshmallows, graham crackers, rice crispy treats & fruits

Belgian Waffle Station
Fresh prepared belgian waffles prep'd for your guest w whipped cream & strawberries

Cookies & Milk
Fresh baked choco chip & oatmeal cookies prep'd in tabletop oven served w cold milk & chocolate milk

Cold Fresh Fruit Display
Baskets of grapes, strawberries, cherries , blueberries w seasonal fresh fruits incl. melon kiwi peaches plums pineapples
Fresh berries & whipped cream served in a crystal goblet

Cordial Bar
Brandy Port & liquers served in large brandy snifters

Int'l Coffee Station
Cappuccino espresso irish or jamaican coffee

Cigar Bar
Hand rolled cigars by pro cigar makers

My q is this: my reception is already from 7 to 12pm -- is to extend to 1am too long? Will ppl leave? Also is this worth $20 pp? I think it is especially w the cigar roller. My RH only does Vienesse for 30 mins & its $15pp -- not worth it!!

I love this idea but trying to gauge if it will be worth it

Also I have to choose between this or a photo booth...which would you choose??

Also my wedding is a Friday night

Thanks in advance!!!

Sorry so long!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

nifheim Posted: May 28, 2008 10:04 AM

Re: Is a 6 hour reception too long? What do you think of this add on? Is it worth it?

I had a problem with people leaving early but i understood why - on a sunday. Personally some of our family would of stayed later and we would of had fun but certainly not everyone. That is why we did the after party at the hotel this way the people who wanted to stay up and party did. We ordered pizza's and the bar tender was VERY happy to take care of us. So no - even though it sounds amazing.

ELluvsMB Posted: May 28, 2008 12:35 PM

Re: Is a 6 hour reception too long? What do you think of this add on? Is it worth it?

See if you can add on some of the items. I was able to get our RH to throw in a few stations durring dessert and it won't add onto the time. I just wanted a little something extra.

bride2be8 Posted: May 28, 2008 12:38 PM

Re: Is a 6 hour reception too long? What do you think of this add on? Is it worth it?

I wouldn't do it most people leave after 4 1/2 hours, or shortly after the cake cutting. It's not worth an extra $20 person IMO. If you have 150 people that's $3,000 that would still be in your pocket.

puppysnugg Posted: May 28, 2008 12:55 PM

Re: Is a 6 hour reception too long? What do you think of this add on? Is it worth it?

thanks again for all the responses.

the general consensus seems to be that most people will leave before this even happens.

i am still really undecided about this!!

i lovee the idea of having the extra time @ my rh & the set up sounds really cute....

i mean if it goes to waste that is $$ i could have used on my honeymoon.

and my rh truly does have a HUGEEEE set up w. food..

also besides wedding cake we get to choose a 'his & hers' alternating desserts...

so maybe this is overkill. esp since we're having the ceremony in the afternoon around 2pm

MKEA98 Posted: May 28, 2008 11:09 PM

Re: Is a 6 hour reception too long? What do you think of this add on? Is it worth it?

I'm getting married on a Friday night and my reception is 6 hrs long - which includes the cocktail hour and VH. It's going from 7pm - 1am. I've been telling everyone that I can that the wedding goes until 1am, and I want them all to stay til the end, if possible. I figure by giving them the heads up now, they can sort of mentally prepare for it!

One of my friends did her 6 hr reception on a Friday night which went from 8pm - 2am. I admit staying til 2am was a bit tough (I was in the bridal party and had been up since 9am), but there were still a lot of people at the end of the night, and we had a great time.

Lots of people look fwd to a VH type thing, so they will usually stick around for that and then probably leave.

One thing most married couples have told me is that the day goes by sooooo fast. I feel like once I have that dress on, I don't want to take it off, and I'm not going to want the night to end. So I definitely want the wedding to go as long as possible, even if it's just me and FH there at the very end of the night!

jtgarsik Posted: May 29, 2008 08:47 AM

Re: Is a 6 hour reception too long? What do you think of this add on? Is it worth it?

i guess i'm on the other side of this one lol...i would hands down 100% go with the extra hour with all those perks...it sounds like a large scale vieneese which most people LOVE, PLUS u get the cigar roller...people will love it...and i think it's a really nice way to end the night. My cousin had a photobooth at her wedding...it was super cute, people were impressed, & the book she got with all the photos is a nice memory,...BUT... people were lined up outside for a LONG time waiting to take photos...it kept a lot of people from staying inside the reception room and more interested in the booth..(just bein' honest here). What if u did a mix of both??? do the extra hour, and maybe have a poloroid guest book???

ps: 6hours is not too long! the night goes by SO fast... my wedding was on a friday night from 8:30-2:30 ! lol..and if it was any shorter it would've felt way too quick! very VERY few people left early...maybe 3 at most??? we also set up hotel accomadations near by, so i think that helped.... plus if u have drinkers at the party, that extra hour gives 'em a little time to get their sober goggles on lol...
good luck with everything

JoesFutureWife Posted: May 29, 2008 10:04 AM

Re: Is a 6 hour reception too long? What do you think of this add on? Is it worth it?

Posted by Future Mulligan

i like the photo booth but i dont like how people leave the reception to go out and use the booth....the VH is my favorite and im always disappointed if there isnt one when we go to weddings after drinking and dancing i crave sweets hahahaha - i am SO excited for the VH at our wedding and for us it was a must have...ive def noticed that people leave after cake on late sunday weddings but ive never noticed that on a friday or saturday - but most of all it depends on what type of crowd you have....as a guest id be more impressed with the VH type of thing you described over the photobooth JMO

I completely agree....first of all it's your wedding...my feeling is the longer it is the better. I love a 6 hr reception. In fact, i HAD to have a VH and i like the fact that mine isnt served on the dance floor so people can still dance if they want. The cake is served at the same time as the VH so i think people will stay. Mine is on a saturday from 6-12 though.