Photo Booth-During the Cocktail Hour, Reception, or Both?

I have mine for both, but we have it for 6 hours (my entire ceremony and reception). But for your 2 hours, I would just have it for the reception.

Hmmmm, My first thought was 6-8 but what is going on the first hour of your wedding? Your first dance? It seems like cocktail hour would be good because you would catch a lot of people

We had our DIY photo booth throughout -- people were using it as they were arriving, since many folks arrived well before our ceremony was set to begin.

But looking at your timeline, I think during the reception is best, perhaps from 8-10, since I assume people are likely eating when the reception begins?

Or perhaps through cocktail hour and the beginning of dinner -- I would pop in to use it while I was waiting to be served or for my table to be called...

@Candice J: Thank you!

@Bee J.: The first hour of my wedding reception will be the first dances, dinner, and toast. Then the dance floor will open up from 8-10pm.

Oh I my wedding guest list count is only 50-60 people. That includes the wedding party.

If you have it open during your cocktail hour, your second hour will be wasted because people will be sitting down eating dinner. I agree with @Reenski, 8-10pm will probably be best.

You're welcome!

@Just Reenski: Thanks! We both were thinking the same thing. I am really leaning towards the 8-10pm. Especially since I will have a bar game with a prize at the end of the night for guest to play during the cocktail hour.

@Candice J: You're right, it would be a waste!. Can't have that. Lol

I would say do it in between cocktail hour and reception....that way during cocktail hr your guests can mingle, eat, drink, and have fun taking the pics....during reception it might be fully utilized being as though the focus will be on the first dance, bouquet toss, toasts, special speeches, dancing, etc....

I'm not sure why you only have a two hour rental for the photo booth. Most of the contracts for weddings are longer. I personally have a "bias" if you will... I think this is a safety concern, as well as an undue distraction.

Don't get me wrong. I love photobooths, and I offer one with my services. However, the idea of someone tearing down something, making noise and distracting people during your dinner, or dancing, or whatever it might be, doesn't seem right.

Is the cost of 4 hours of coverage prohibitive?

That's tough. I had the same dilemma, and we ended up with 5 hours. Things to think about-the photo booth during cocktail hour would give people something to do, people might come in at scattered times (so at the start in cocktail hour might not be ideal...plus people will probably be mingling), and people get more in the mood for the photo booth the later in the night (after a few drinks).

I just read your timeline post. Knowing that, I would also say 8-10.

I would say both..

@MCDJCarlos: Thank you for your advice. I am having a two hour rental because I won the photo booth in my wedding giveaway. Therefore it is not something that was a "must-have" on my list for my reception, but more so an "extra". The cost of 4 hours is not prohibited, but I would not deem it necessary since my reception is not 4 hours.

Also since we are going to have other forms of entertainment during the cocktail hour, a small wedding of 50-60 guest max (including the wedding party), a Sunday night wedding and a shorter reception time, like some of the others have suggested thus far, I am going to go with the 8-10pm slot.

THey will have it set up before the reception starts and take it down when it ends. My time doesn't start until they start taking the photos.

@Future Mrs. C: Thank you! You are right, after a few drinks, some folks may take more "fun" pictures in the booth.

@Leslie H: You bring up a great point as well. That is the one small part I was torn with is the other things going on during the reception.

It really depends on your guests as well. It is not uncommon for photobooths to have people lined up ready to get their pictures taken with different groups/poses. Therefore, you don't want to start your reception and have most people waiting in line for pictures.

I would recommend starting the photo booh during the cocktail hour. If you don't want it conflicting with other things at the cocktail hour and you have a small wedding guest list you may want to start it at 6:30 and have it go through 8:30.

Be careful if you're planning many different activities. It will end up looking like chaos for many of your guests.

Good luck!

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