45 minute cocktail hour?!

So why not have the standard hour-long cocktail hour and join your guests there. Will be going to our cocktail hour.

You might as well tack on that extra 15 minutes.

At the end of the day, what do you plan on having your guests do?

Food, drinks, guest book, washroom break, check out venue?, find their seats etc.

For me, 1 hr was probably a minimum because I would assume all my guests would want to sign the guest book and maybe 45min is not long enough?

How many guests do you have?

I think do what you want. Ours is a full hour but the guests will be able to have access to the ballroom 10 minutes before the end of cocktail hour.

I think that's not really enough. Don't forget, they're not going to instantly materialize in the reception room; they'll say their hellos, sign the book, find their seats.

We have 110 guests. Thanks so far for all the good advice! As a guest I always feel like they go on forever so trying to avoid this. I saw the earlier convo on an hour and a half and the mixed opinions on that so I got to thinking.... is our plan to short?! Our planner suggested it so I am just double checking with others opinions. Leaning toward the hour now with your input.

Lots of couples join their cocktail hour mid-way through. Why not just do that?

I guess I should add it's in same room as reception and we will have two appetizer stations and passed apps as well if that helps! And of course an open bar

I guess I didn't think of joining the cocktail hour that's a great thought! (Duh)

Why?

Our venue moved the guestbook to the cocktail hour. We had some alone time in the bridal suite and stuffed our faces with all the food that was brought to us. We also had a mini bar there.

45 minutes? Make it an hour. Believe me your pics WON'T be done in an less than an hour.

I would have it for a full hour

I have never felt like a cocktail hour was too long. I think an hour is just enough time to hang out with friends for a bit, have a couple cocktails and grab some food. That 45 minutes is going to fly by. I would hate for you to have all those stations and nobody get a chance to visit them. Go to your cocktail hour and extend it another 15 minutes.

Also a lot of people don't sign the guest book. I don't think that should have anything to do with how long your cocktail hour is.

We did ALL of our pictures before the ceremony (1st look, BP, Family, etc) and attended our cocktail hour. We did things a bit differently, but its what worked best for our set up and venue timing. We went into the venue immediately following the ceremony, while guests moved to the veranda. About ten-15 min into cocktail hour we did our big entrance and first dance. Then mingled 30-40 minutes before moving into the reception space.

"Cocktail hour " so add that 15 minutes on & enjoy