Dear Inspired: Cocktail hour query

Dear Becca and Casey,

Confused about Cocktails

Dear Confused,

My answer may be surprising from the photographer's perspective, but I am not a fan of extended cocktail hours. It is generally accepted that cocktail hours should be just that - an hour - and can occasionally extend to an hour and a half. Any longer than that, and guests will begin to be hungry and bored. Other important considerations for cocktail hour: there should be drinks for all of the guests, including guests who prefer nonalchoholic beverages. There should be enough snacks to go around - it's never a good idea to serve drinks for hours to guests with empty stomachs! It's also a good idea to include some kind of activity. If you're having an outdoor wedding it can be a great time for lawn games.

Any photographer worth their fee should be able to get all of the family photos done in the time allotted. I am always careful to take as many photos as possible before the ceremony, and to have everyone ready to go so that the family groups can be formed as quickly as possible. Another important consideration is to take the photos somewhere close to the reception venue - driving everyone around to different locations for photos eats up tons of time!

Talk to your photographer and see what they think. There are always ways to fit the photos into the timeline, and it's really important to take your guests comfort into consideration!

Best of luck,
Casey