Hors d'oeuvres- How many per person?

How long is your cocktail hour? I think the most used number is 5 per hour.

All of the banquet managers we talked to suggested 3-4 per person.

If you're having a cocktail hour before a dinner and they are passed (as opposed to sitting in a chafing dish, I'd say at least 5-6. If your cocktail hour starts at 5ish or after, they are going to be starving, and the prospect of a dinner to come had no bearing on how hungry they are at that moment.

Also take into consideration how many of the guests are men -- they usually have bigger appetites.

Our coordinator at the restaurant we are getting married at is suggesting 3 pieces per person. I'm not sure how that all works but I'm hoping she's right.

Three per person doesn't wound like enough. I can eat three myself, in about four minutes if I'm starving.

Idk... I tend to agree with the 3-4. I am having a full-course meal and the hors d'oeuvres aren't meant to fill a person up. I've honestly never had more than 4 hors d'oeuvres since I would consider that to be rude but I can't expect my guests will feel the same. My venue charges a minimum of $2.50 a piece and I refuse to spend more than $10 a person on hors d'oeuvres when they are also getting a 5 course meal.

I'm with Celia! As a guest, I would prefer 4-5. Whenever couples skimp on the hors d'oeuvres, they get hoarded and I end up with one measly, cold meatball.

We didn't have a traditional venue so I was able to do this. We made snack bags for everyone including: peanuts (we made sure no allergies), pretzels, fruit snacks, cookies, and water bottle. Came out to about $3 per person.

I still agree with the 3-4 folks. I feel like hors d'oeuvres should never be an expectation... If my guests come to my reception and 3-4 each isn't enough then maybe they should have eaten lunch at some point that day before coming to my freaking 5 course dinner.

P.S. Did my mention how much my venue is charging me for them!!! Otherwise I would be feeling much more generous