text: how does one limit a wedding receptions time when it is held at ones home? we are having the reception at a home we're renting close to where the actual wedding is taking place.  we'd like to limit the time to 2-3 hours. put the starting and ending time on the invitation, as in "reception to follow at the bride's home, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m." if your guests need reminding as it approaches the ending time, the bride and groom should go around to each guest saying something like, "thank you so much for sharing the day with us. we hope you had a lovely time."