Why finish your wedding reception at midnight?
That is a very good question and one that I discuss with my clients when they tell me they have a 0100 finish to their wedding reception.
In my many years of experience of mobile disco entertainment I can explain why its is not the best way to end your wedding reception entertainment at 0100 and that a midnight finish is a much better way to end your special day. From my experience over the last 20 years, I have a policy of advising my clients NOT to end at 0100. My wedding prices are quoted with a midnight finish as the default.
Why midnight is the best time to end the wedding reception.
Firstly, some of your guests have been up early in the morning to get ready for your special day. It may seam a very short day for yourselves however this can be a very long day for your guests. Some of your guests may find staying to 0100 far too late for them and have to go, other guests may have babysitters booked and have to go go and relive them as this is an additional cost along with hair cuts, presents hair cuts etc
YOU are the most important factor. You will have been on the go since around 0700/0800 in the morning and it will be a very long day by midnight you will just want to sit down and relax.
Some entertainers will not perform for an extended period.
Some entertainers will not perform for an extended period.
Many bands/DJs or other entertainers will not encourage a very late finish for the reasons above and charge significantly more for doing so. If the entertainers truly know what they are doing, they will regularly suggest a “less is more” approach based on their experience.
Your reception should ideally finish on a “high” with as many guests as possible there to share it with you. From the point of view of a couple’s future memories, this is of paramount importance. It is much better to finish with a full dance floor for the finale, than not many guests at 0100 and therefore not a great finale to end your very special day.
It is far better for a couple to remember their reception for who was there, rather than who wasn’t.
“…but you don’t know our crowd.”
Some will have a different outlook. Often we hear the words “you don’t know our crowd” which is true. What we do have is vast experience of human nature in these situations. You will have far better memories with a midnight finish compared to a 1 am finish.
Others have their own reasons for a 1 or even 2am finish. For example, a venue will encourage a late finish purely be to “line their own pockets” i.e. sell alcohol for as long as possible. This may seem brutal but it is ultimately true.
However, if the bar is still open between midnight and 1am, this can actually be a very memorable hour where you see your guests off, perhaps have a final drink and take a few moments to review the day which has passed.
Here is a 1 am finish, with a picture taken after midnight
Lets finish your Wedding reception on a high, full dance floor and lots of memories that will last forever.
