Half hour cocktail hour?

How long is the reception?

That's what I'm thinking. Plus I feel like it doesn't give them enough time to eat chips and salsa and enjoy some drinks.

Sqwiggy, roughly 4 hours. Maybe less since it's a sunday.

If you do not need time for the pictures I'd say it could be fine. As a guest at a lot of weddings where I only know a few people the shorter cocktail hour is the better.

We're doing the pics before the ceremony for the most part.

Maybe I'm strange, but as a wedding guest, I really don't like cocktail hour. Mostly because I am pretty shy. I think a half hour is enough time for people to get some bites, drinks, and socialize a bit. If you are doing a first look, I say go for it!

Too short.

Following with interest! My fiance wants to feed people dinner while we're doing photos and skip cocktail hour. I think it's a mistake but can't really express why.

We're doing about 30-45 minutes, too, but we're doing a first look and all of the pictures before the ceremony as well. I think it's going to be plenty of time for people to grab a few drinks and start settling in before dinner starts at 8:00.

That is too short. I would feel like I had to down my drink(s) and stuff hors d'oeuvre in my mouth by the fist full. Plus, it cuts down mingling time. Some guests haven't seen each other in years or months.