What To Do During Cocktail Hour At A Wedding?

A wedding cocktail hour is a crucial transition from the ceremony to reception, providing an opportunity for guests to mingle and enjoy the fun. To make the transition enjoyable, consider serving creative appetizers such as savory hors d’oeuvres and sweet bites. Drinks typically include a wedding cocktail or signature drink, but if signature cocktails aren’t your preference, you can also opt for some other options.

A standing cocktail hour is the perfect transition between a one-hour cocktail party and a four-hour reception usually centered around a meal. To keep guests happy and well fed post-ceremony, consider using the best cocktail hour music playlist. Engaging guests with interactive activities like tasting tables or sommeliers can help set the mood for the fun. Deviled eggs and mashed potato bars are popular appetizers, and guests can choose from traditional toppings like bacon, chives, sour cream, cheese, and butter.

The bride and groom typically use the cocktail hour portion of the wedding proceedings to take official photos with their photographer and videographer. Some fun cocktail hour ideas include croquet on the lawn, giant Jenga sets, roasting marshmallows, a game of checkers, DIY wooden wedding signs, and mariachi band music.

Add small creative touches to enhance the atmosphere or support the guests. Some couples spend all of their cocktail hour taking photos, which is the original purpose of cocktail hour. Consider what is on your wedding invitations, decor, seating, and carousel to create a memorable experience.

In conclusion, a well-planned cocktail hour at a wedding can transform it into a full-scale soiree, with a variety of finger foods, drinks, and activities to keep guests happy and engaged.

What do the bride and groom do during cocktail hour?

Couples structure their days in different ways to fit their priorities. Some couples don’t see each other before the wedding and spend all of cocktail hour taking photos. Cocktail hours are for guests to do while you take photos. Some people take all their photos before the wedding and start cocktail hour with their guests. Many couples do a bit of everything (family photos before the wedding, a few moments alone after, and a few minutes with their guests). Ultimately, it’s about your priorities and how you structure your day. It comes down to whether you want to see each other before the ceremony.

How to make a cocktail hour special?

Timing is important. The cocktail hour is after the ceremony, so plan accordingly. Make sure your guests don’t get hungry or thirsty while waiting for the reception. Have some light food and drinks available. There should be at least an hour between the ceremony and dinner. If your ceremony ends at 4:15 pm, plan for cocktail hour to take place from 4:15-5:15 pm, and have dinner served at 5:30 pm. Offer a signature cocktail. Make your cocktail hour memorable with a signature cocktail. Work with your caterer or bartender to create a unique and delicious drink your guests will love. Some couples name their cocktails after their pets. They also frame pictures of their pets at the bar. Plan for a variety of drinks. Offer a variety of drinks at your cocktail hour, including non-alcoholic options. Have a self-serve bar with wine, beer, and a few signature cocktails, as well as a non-alcoholic station with juices, lemonades, and other drinks. Planning a dry wedding? Hire a bartender to make custom mocktails! Serve delicious hors d’oeuvres. Food is as important as drinks at your cocktail hour. Choose easy-to-eat, flavorful hors d’oeuvres. Offer hot and cold options, including vegetarian and gluten-free choices. We love charcuterie with passed appetizers. Consider the setting. The setting of your cocktail hour affects your guests. If you’re hosting your wedding at a rural Maine venue, use the natural beauty for your cocktail hour. You can also add lawn games or a photo booth. Our outdoor silo bar is perfect for serving drinks and treats. We also provide cornhole boards, giant Jenga, and bocci ball. We provide plenty of seating. A cocktail hour is meant to be relaxed, but you still want your guests to be comfortable. Provide seating for those who want to sit and enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Set the mood with music. Music sets the tone for your cocktail hour. Hire a live musician or ask your DJ to play background music that matches the vibe you’re going for. Follow these tips to plan a cocktail hour your guests will love. Be creative and add your own touches to make it special.

How to make cocktail hour special?

Timing is important. The cocktail hour is after the ceremony, so plan accordingly. Make sure your guests don’t get hungry or thirsty while waiting for the reception. Have some light food and drinks available. There should be at least an hour between the ceremony and dinner. If your ceremony ends at 4:15 pm, plan for cocktail hour to take place from 4:15-5:15 pm, and have dinner served at 5:30 pm. Offer a signature cocktail. Make your cocktail hour memorable with a signature cocktail. Work with your caterer or bartender to create a unique and delicious drink your guests will love. Some couples name their cocktails after their pets. They also frame pictures of their pets at the bar. Plan for a variety of drinks. Offer a variety of drinks at your cocktail hour, including non-alcoholic options. Have a self-serve bar with wine, beer, and a few signature cocktails, as well as a non-alcoholic station with juices, lemonades, and other drinks. Planning a dry wedding? Hire a bartender to make custom mocktails! Serve delicious hors d’oeuvres. Food is as important as drinks at your cocktail hour. Choose easy-to-eat, flavorful hors d’oeuvres. Offer hot and cold options, including vegetarian and gluten-free choices. We love charcuterie with passed appetizers. Consider the setting. The setting of your cocktail hour affects your guests. If you’re hosting your wedding at a rural Maine venue, use the natural beauty for your cocktail hour. You can also add lawn games or a photo booth. Our outdoor silo bar is perfect for serving drinks and treats. We also provide cornhole boards, giant Jenga, and bocci ball. We provide plenty of seating. A cocktail hour is meant to be relaxed, but you still want your guests to be comfortable. Provide seating for those who want to sit and enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Set the mood with music. Music sets the tone for your cocktail hour. Hire a live musician or ask your DJ to play background music that matches the vibe you’re going for. Follow these tips to plan a cocktail hour your guests will love. Be creative and add your own touches to make it special.

How long should a cocktail hour be at a wedding?

How long should a cocktail hour be? Your cocktail hour should be an hour long. Some couples extend their cocktail hour to two hours. This is sometimes to accommodate travel time between venues or finish their wedding photos. Guests will likely expect a short 60-minute ceremony and reception. A 60-minute cocktail hour includes socializing, drinks, and appetizers. Some couples prefer a 45-minute cocktail hour. Some think cutting 15 minutes is wrong. It’s about what’s most important to you and how convenient it is. Think about whether you want a cocktail hour.

Should I have music during cocktail hour?

If you want a performance, like a mariachi band, keep it to 15 minutes. You can also have a musical act play for only the first 30 minutes of cocktail hour.

Make it interactive. Provide at least one activity for your guests besides eating and drinking. Don’t set an area for discards. It’s annoying to let things like toothpicks, crumpled napkins, and empty glasses build up on high-tops. Having an assigned place to pile these things will only create an eyesore. Your caterer will have staff clean up. They’ll collect the items and put them on a table out of sight.

What do you do during cocktail hour at a wedding?

The ceremony was a success. You’re married! Now celebrate! The party starts with cocktails, where guests can mingle, drink, and snack. This is for your guests, since you and your new spouse are likely busy taking photos. Make this interlude creative with drinks, treats, and activities. We’ve put together some fun cocktail hour ideas from real weddings to help you make the time between the ceremony and reception as fun as possible. From monogrammed napkins to a pretzel station, these ideas will get the party started. Food and drink are important, but décor and presentation are too. One couple had their dogs on cocktail signs. Another great idea? The prettiest globe display, which invited guests to share their travel recommendations. The little touches make a big difference when dressing up your cocktail hour. Put mismatched glasses behind the open bar. This is both your bartenders’ stock and a colorful bar display. Also, prepare your guests for the rest of the evening. As the party ends, guide guests to their seats (one couple used Polaroid photos instead of escort cards). Ready to see our full list of ideas? Click through for cocktail hour ideas.

How do you make a cocktail hour not boring?

Top 10 Tips for a Successful Cocktail Hour: Make sure there’s plenty of space. … Provide seating and standing options. … Choose the right music. Stock the bar and hire bartenders. … Offer signature cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. … Keep lines short. … Think about the food. Even if you’re a good hostess, the wedding cocktail hour is hard. Use these tips and your cocktail hour will be easy-breezy and your guests will enjoy it. Even if you’re a good hostess, planning the wedding cocktail hour is hard. You have to book lots of vendors and think about how many guests will be there. Then comes the hard part: figuring out your floor plan, what to serve, and the feel for this part of your wedding day. You won’t be there for most of it, so you won’t be hosting the way you would any other cocktail party. But there’s good news: with a little planning and some tips, throwing the perfect cocktail hour is simple. Use these tips and your cocktail hour will be a breeze.

Do you need entertainment during cocktail hours?

Cocktail Hour Ideas. You’ll need relaxing music for a cool vibe at your cocktail hour. To make your party really special, we suggest hiring a live musician. Live music creates a more engaging atmosphere than recorded music. A live musician is a great way to create lasting memories. They’re a popular choice for weddings! Here are our favorite cocktail hour entertainment ideas. Whatever vibe you want, we’ll find the perfect music for your cocktail hour. If you want a laid-back, Live Lounge-style musical backdrop for your cocktail hour, our talented singer-guitarists are perfect for you! From Bob Marley to The Beatles and Foo Fighters to Ed Sheeran, you’ll find a talented musician to play the perfect music for your afternoon drinks. For a fuller sound, consider an acoustic duo. They provide more sound and often play more than one instrument.

How to make a cocktail hour more fun?

Cocktail hour activities keep guests entertained and encourage socializing, laughter, and relaxation. Play some popular cocktail games at your party, like I Spy, table tennis, giant Jenga, lawn games, and cocktail table tic-tac-toe.