“How many hours should we book?” is one of the first questions we hear, and it matters more than most hosts expect. Book too little and the booth packs up just as the dance floor fills. Book too much and it sits quiet through a long dinner. The right number depends on three things: how many guests you have, how your evening is scheduled, and which booth you choose.
After 3 years and 300+ events across Toronto and the GTA, we have a good sense of where booth time pays off and where it doesn’t. Here is how to work out your number before you request a quote.
Key takeaways
- Most events land between 2 and 4 hours. Big weddings and multi-part celebrations sometimes go longer.
- Plan around your timeline, not the clock: cocktail hour and the first hour of dancing are the busiest booth times.
- Bigger guest counts need more time, or a booth that fits large groups. Our Mirror and Wooden Mirror booths fit up to 25 guests per shot.
- Setup (usually 45–60 minutes) and takedown don’t count toward your booked hours.
- Our attended booths have no minimum booking time, and Drop-off Selfie packages start at 2 hours, with 3-hour, 4-hour or longer bookings available.
Start with your event timeline
The booth is busiest when guests are free to wander: when they arrive, between courses and once the music starts. It is quietest during speeches, a sit-down dinner or a ceremony. So before you think about hours, sketch the evening and mark the times when guests are mingling rather than seated.
For a typical GTA wedding reception, that usually means cocktail hour plus the first stretch of dancing. For an office holiday party, it is often the whole event, because people move around the room all night. For a birthday at home, it is the main part of the party, between arrivals and cake.
If there’s a long gap between your ceremony and reception, idle time is part of the booking, so it’s usually simpler to run the booth only during the reception.
Match the hours to your guest count
Guests come back to a good booth more than once, so the line builds as the night goes on. As a planning guide:
- Under 75 guests: 2 hours is often enough for everyone to get a few sessions in, especially at a house party or small birthday.
- 75 to 150 guests: 3 hours gives most guests time to visit more than once without long waits.
- 150 to 250 guests: plan for 4 hours, or choose a booth that photographs large groups at once.
- 250+ guests: think about the full open portion of the event, or pair two booths so lines stay short.
These are starting points, not rules. A crowd that loves to dance and dress up will use the booth more than a quiet networking group.
How your booth choice changes the number
Each booth moves guests through at a different pace, so the same guest list can need different hours.
Mirror and Wooden Mirror booths: big groups, fast lines
Our premium Mirror Photo Booth and Wooden Mirror Photo Booth fit up to 25 guests per shot, which makes them a strong choice for large weddings and galas. Whole tables can jump in together, so lines clear quickly. Plan about 10 x 10 ft of space so big groups fit in the frame.
Classic DSLR booth: steady and familiar
The Classic Photo Booth is easy for every age group to use, and real unlimited instant prints keep guests coming back. It suits smaller rooms (about 8 x 10 ft) and works well for 2 to 3 hour office parties, proms and family celebrations.
Drop-off Selfie booth: casual parties
The Drop-off Selfie Photo Booth is self-serve: we deliver it, set it up and your guests run it. Packages start at 2 hours (3-hour, 4-hour or longer bookings are available), which fits most house parties, showers and office socials, and it needs only about 6 x 7 ft. It is the one booth with a travel fee, quoted once we know your address.
360 Video Booth: plan a little more time
On the 360 Video Booth, one to a few guests ride the platform per spin (up to 4 on the small platform, up to 7 on the large one). Guests love to watch each spin, so the line moves more slowly than at a print booth. For a big crowd, add an hour or choose the large platform.
| Event | Typical booking | Best window |
| Wedding reception (100–200 guests) | 3–4 hours | Cocktail hour + first dances |
| South Asian wedding or sangeet | 4+ hours | Entrances through peak dancing |
| Corporate holiday party | 3 hours | Most of the open event |
| Conference or trade show | Show hours or breaks | Arrivals, breaks and receptions |
| Milestone birthday or sweet 16 | 2–3 hours | After arrivals, before cake |
| House party or shower | From 2 hours (drop-off; longer available) | Main part of the party |
Event-by-event guidance
Weddings
Most couples book 3 to 4 hours of reception time. Opening the booth at cocktail hour catches guests while they are fresh and dressed up, and keeping it through the first part of dancing catches the late-night energy. If you are adding the Audio Guest Book add-on, it can sit beside the booth the whole time. Our wedding photo booth page has more ideas.
Corporate events and holiday parties
Office parties usually run 3 hours with the booth open throughout, because there’s rarely a long seated stretch. For conferences and trade shows, match the booth to show hours or to breaks and the evening reception. See our corporate events and holiday party pages for setups that work in hotel ballrooms and office towers.
Birthdays, sweet 16s and family celebrations
Two to three hours covers most birthday parties. Teens and kids use the booth constantly, so for a sweet 16 or a big family milestone, lean towards 3 hours. For a relaxed gathering at home, the 2-hour drop-off package is often all you need.
Practical tips to get the most from every hour
- Start the booking once guests arrive, not before. We arrive early to set up, and setup time is not part of your hours.
- Place the booth near the action. A booth beside the bar or dance floor gets far more use than one in a side room.
- Announce it. A quick mention from the DJ or MC sends a wave of guests over.
- Leave room to extend. If the party is going strong, extra time on the day is often possible, subject to availability.
- Share your run sheet. Send your timeline when you book and we will suggest a start time that fits it.
Our attended booths come with an on-site attendant for the whole booking. The How It Works page explains the full process, from booking to gallery.
Booking across Toronto and the GTA
We bring booths to venues across the region, from downtown Toronto ballrooms to banquet halls in Mississauga, Brampton and Vaughan, and to every city on our photo booth rental GTA page, including Richmond Hill. Saturdays from May to October and December holiday dates book up first, so it helps to lock in your hours early. Every booking is backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
Our attended booths have no minimum booking time, so you can book the hours you need, subject to availability for your date. Drop-off Selfie packages start at 2 hours, with 3-hour, 4-hour or longer bookings available.
No. Setup usually takes 45 to 60 minutes and we finish before guests arrive. Takedown happens after your booking ends, and neither counts toward your hours.
Often, yes. If your event runs long, extra time can be added on the day, subject to availability. Let your attendant know as early as you can.
Most couples book 3 to 4 hours covering cocktail hour and the first part of dancing. Larger weddings and multi-part celebrations may want more, or a Mirror booth that fits up to 25 guests per shot.
Not sure how many hours you need?
Send us your date, venue, guest count and timeline, and we’ll recommend the right booth and booking length for your event.
Get a free quoteCall or text +1 437 974 6999
