blog – wedding planning – toronto

How many hours of photo booth do you need for your Toronto wedding?

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Guest count, your reception timeline and idle time all shape the answer. Here’s how to choose, with three sample timelines you can copy

Planning a wedding means making a hundred small decisions. This also applies when booking your photo booth service. One question that couples ask us all the time is “how many hours of photo booth do we need?” Book too little and your guests are lining up when the booth closes. Book too much and you’re paying for a booth nobody uses during dinner.

Quick guide: photo booth hours by wedding size

Use this as a starting point, then adjust for your timeline.

Your Wedding	Recommended Booth Time	AbuBooth Package
Intimate wedding	2 hours	Essential, from $550
Mid-size evening reception, booth opens after dinner	3 hours	Signature, from $700
Large reception, or cocktail hour + dancing	4 hours + 1 hour idle time	Grand, from $1,000

Every package includes unlimited 2×6 or 4×6 prints, premium backdrops, customization and a professional attendant. See full details on our pricing page.

What decides how many hours you need

1. Your guest count

More guests means more groups wanting their turn. With a smaller guest list, most people will visit and be able to use the booth with just a couple of hours. With a big guest list, a short rental can mean a line at the booth and guests who never get a strip to take home.

Professional photo booth vendors use fast dye sub printers that can print a high quality 2×6 or 4×6 photo within 20 seconds. One photo booth session from photo taking to print out take approximately anywhere between 60 to 90 seconds on average. Time may vary based on other factors such number of photos taken, re-takes, prop selection, etc…

2. Your reception timeline

The booth is busiest when guests are free to mingle: cocktail hour and once the dance floor opens. It goes quiet during dinner, speeches and first dances.

Planning around your timeline is crucial to avoid wasted service times. We have been to weddings where the photo booth was unfortunately scheduled to run during the speeches and the photo booth was not used during those times of our service. Inquire about adding Idle time to your package to schedule around these hours.

“The hours you need are the hours your guests are free.”

3. Whether you want the booth at cocktail hour

Cocktail hour is a great time for photos. Guests are dressed up and fresh, and the booth gives them something to do while you’re away taking portraits. If you want the booth open at cocktail hour and during dancing, plan for a longer rental, since the booth sits through dinner in between.

We find that there is a distinct difference in vibe between photo booth sessions taken during cocktail hours and during dancing. We have found that the guests during cocktail hour guests tend to be more formal with more couples posing for portrait style photos. Photos taken once the dance floor opens are different. The energy from the dance floor is carried over. Guests have more fun, and are willing to take more silly poses. It becomes a chance to haul everybody from a friend or family group to take fun group photos. This is generally the busiest time of the service for us.

Looking through your digital gallery provided within 24 hours after your event is a great way to relive the memories of your day and to see the progression of energy of your guests.

4. How late your party runs

Some receptions wind down by 11 p.m. Others keep the dance floor going until well past midnight. If your party runs long, the late-night crowd is often the most enthusiastic at the booth, so it’s worth covering that stretch.

What is idle time, and when do you need it?

Idle time is paid time, charged at a lower rate, that the booth stays set up at your venue but isn’t running, for example during dinner and speeches. It lets you split your booth hours across the evening (say, cocktail hour and then dancing) without the booth being packed up in between.

Our Grand package includes 4 hours of booth time plus 1 hour of idle time, which makes it the easiest way to cover both cocktail hour and the dance floor. Idle time can also be added to other packages; contact us for details.

Does setup time come out of your hours?

No. Setup normally takes about an hour and breakdown takes 30 to 45 minutes. That time is included in every package, so the hours you book are fully available to your guests.

Tips to get the most out of every booth hour

• Place it near the action. A spot close to the bar or dance floor gets far more visits than a quiet corner.
• Ask your DJ or MC to announce it. A quick mention after dinner sends a wave of guests over.
• Open before older guests leave. If grandparents and family friends tend to head home early, make sure the booth is open while they’re still there.
• Plan the space early. Most setups need approximately about 8 × 8 feet, an 8-foot ceiling and a standard outlet within 20 feet. Smaller spaces may work; we’re happy to assess your venue. More on our FAQ page.
• Match it to your décor. Choose a backdrop and a custom print design that fit your invitation suite and colour palette.

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