Reception Timeline Calculator

Cocktail Hour (min)

Guest Seating Time (min)

Introductions (min)

First Dance (min)

Dinner Service (min)

Toasts/Speeches (min)

Parent Dances (min)

Cake Cutting (min)

Bouquet/Garter Toss (min)

Open Dancing (min)

Last Dance & Send-off (min)

Formula

Total Time = Sum of all reception segments

How long should a wedding reception last?

Most wedding receptions last 4-5 hours, including cocktail hour. A typical timeline is 1 hour cocktails, 1.5 hours dinner, and 2 hours dancing.

When should toasts happen?

Toasts are typically given during or just after dinner service. Keep total toast time to 15-20 minutes to maintain energy.

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