The Wedding Timeline Trick That Gives You More Time With Your Guests

10 Jul 2026 · 0 min

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In this segment, wedding planner Jamie Wolfer advises couples to lengthen the cocktail hour beyond the typical 10‑minute window. He notes that most catering teams allow a 15‑minute flex period, but suggests aiming for 25‑30 minutes of mingling. This extra time, he argues, dramatically improves the couple’s overall wedding day experience by giving them more opportunity to connect with loved ones. The recommendation includes negotiating a modest extension with the catering staff and positioning the longer cocktail hour as a valuable enhancement to the event’s flow.

Hey, we actually really want to be a part of cocktail hour a little bit longer. Is there anything that we can do to, like, extend the experience, etc.? Most catering staffs are okay with, like, a 15-minute flex time, but that, to the couple, that extra 15 minutes of mingling with the people that they love, giving them 25, maybe even 30 if we're pushing it just a little bit, giving them 25 minutes instead of 10 minutes is going to change their entire wedding day experience.