Those that have photo booths...QUESTION!

I seriously just made this same decision yesterday! My ceremony is from 2-230 and my cocktail hour is from 4-5 then dinner reception is from 5-11 so I decided to open the booth after dinner b/c I only have it for 3 hours!

I think having her during dinner would be better, personally but I don't know. That's why I'm just having mine for the whole thing =p

We are having ours for the whole reception,but not for cocktail hour

She won't split up the time? We ordered our photo booth through our DJ because he matched a family pricing discount from another company. We have it for 4 hours, but they will have it set up for 1 hour during the cocktail hour/beginning of reception and then the attendant takes the dinner hour as a break and eats, and they use the rest of the 3 hours after dinner. This way, it's not being wasted during dinner. So we actually get 4 hours of use, not 4 hours of set up. Can they do that if you provide them food? If not (our DJ said it wasn't common what he does), then I would do the reception. Yes, it is nice to do it during the cocktail hour, but I assure you that no one would use it during dinner. So choose after dinner.

I think after dinner is a better idea. During cocktail hour people will be catching up, after dinner they will be looking to be entertained. I think it will be more in use after dinner.

Della, spot on! Also, I have people who may not be able to make until dinner/ after dinner and I don't want them to miss out. My attendant won't split the time up either so if she is there for dinner then it's a wasted hour.

I had mine during the cocktail hour, and they left an hour before the reception finished. Having them there for cocktail hour was ideal. Later into the reception, people were more open to dancing and socializing, so it was great to have them there as an ice breaker, and an activity before dinner.

Our schedule was:

Ceremony 4:30-4:45pm

Cocktail Hour and Photo Booth: 5pm

Dinner: 7pm-8pm (The photo booth shut down during this time)

Photo booth was back up and running form 8pm-11pm

Our guests loved the photo booth! Especially because it gave them something to do during cocktail hour.

If I was in your shoes, I would have her come after dinner. Most guests will have some drinks in them by then which will make your booth photos better!

I've always used photobooths as a break from dancing, never during cocktail hour, partially because I'm never there right when cocktail hour starts. I'm more in a fun and festive mood when I'm on my feet moving around after dinner. Regardless of when you choose to have your photobooth I would recommend having a sign letting people know when it will close and also having your DJ announce when people have 30, 15, 10, and 5 minutes left to use the photobooth. People will better be able to time when they pop into the booth if they know when the photobooth will be available.

Ditto what Jesse's Girl said. Make it known! The first wedding I went to with a photo booth (2 years ago) it was at a hotel. They didn't mention the photo booth at all! We stumbled upon it in the hall outside while we were going to the bathroom! And the attendant stopped us and was like "Are you guy's with ___'s wedding?" Our DJ and Photo booth attendant will be texting throughout the night so if it is slow, the DJ will make an announcement to go over to the photo booth, when it's closing, etc.

Wow. Thank you all for the advice! These are things I didn't even think about lol. I'm going to ask her about splitting the time that would be perfect!!!!! If not probably after dinner would work out best!

Ours included cocktail hour with it. If it didn't I wouldn't have had it during that time. I don't think anyone used it then. I think you're better off not having it during cocktail hour and just having it after dinner.

We are having one and having it start after dinner. We are doing so because our cocktail hour is in a different location. I say get the most us out of it you can and more people are probably going to use it after dinner.

I almost always see them during cocktail hour and part of dinner.