The truth is, there are no set rules on how long your reception should be. Most wedding receptions are about five hours long from start to finish. If, however, you have a lot of speeches planned or have invited a lot of people who like to party, tacking on an extra hour or two may work better for you and your guests. If you do decide to have a longer reception, be prepared to provide a late night snack to your guests and keep the music full of danceable tunes.