Ours finished at 1030pm and was not an issue at all, a few actually commented that it was good as they could get home to baby sitters or just home at reasonable time.
Our wedding was a long way from our house so also from many of our guests so some were staying in hotels and they also said it was good.
We were supposed to be finished by 11:30, but some guests with young children started to leave about 10:30 and that started the ball rolling for others to leave so we wound it up just before 11 otherwise DH & I would have been the last ones standing (I always thought you weren't supposed to leave before the bride and groom!). Our reception started at 5:30 with the pre-dinner drinks and dinner was over by 8:30ish so there was still plenty of time left for dancing etc.
We went to a wedding years ago that started at 7 and finished at 11 and they were literally taking drinks out of your hands to get you out of there and turning the lights up etc. It was quite rude the way it was done so that kinda turned us off and we don't have great memories of that wedding because of it kwim? BUT I think if you made it clear that there will be a finishing time your guests will know what to expect and also those that want to party on can make their own arrangements etc because at the time we had no idea what was going on and it felt odd.
Mine also finished at 10.30 and was a Sunday wedding.
Our guests appreciated the fact that it was early so they didn't feel bad about leaving early as even for those that had to travel they were still home at a decent hour.
FWIW - you don't need to specify an end time on the invites the way the evening pans out things just happen to end. We did our "leaving thing" at 10.20pm but the cab was late so we sat and hid in a special room all our guests were gone by 10.50 and the venue was fine with that.
We left ours at about 9pm because we were tired and had an early flight the next day. Also, our wedding was on a Wednesday (Australia Day) and everyone had to go to work the next day. I think most people had left by 9:30-10:00pm
the last wedding i went to started at 12 and we were gone by 5pm
a friends wedding was at 4pm (well, 4.30, but on invitation was 4 so no one was late!) and i think we left around 10pm.
i dont think it matters what time it finishes, as long as guests have warning, rather than 'this is the last song' then they flick the lights on kinda thing!
Yeah, we were outta there by about 9/9.30 I think. And the MC gave us a grand exit which kinda wrapped up the night, if that makes sense. Well, I shouldn't say a grand exit, everyone was asked to make a tunnel? (you know.. standing across from each other holding hands up together) and we walked through saying goodbye to everyone. But it did kind of conclude the night (or so I would assume.. we weren't there to know how it really ended LOL).
10:30 is definitely reasonable for a school night (and this comes from a fairly wild party animal) People who want to kick on will find a way to do so - for a Saturday night it might well be until 4 or 5am, so I say go for it. They're still getting a big awesome reception, and heaps of time with you.
One thing to bear in mind though - with all that canape time, chicks in high heels might have a bit of a hard time, and you may end up with en empty dance floor. We party animals will always go for it, but I've seen it happen. Just something to consider.
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10.30pm too early for a wedding reception to finish?
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