Prelude to a Party // The Cocktail Hour

Most know what the wedding cocktail hour is: it's that lovely, relaxed bit of time scheduled into the wedding day after the ceremony has concluded. Almost always held in a designated space at the reception venue, this gathering occurs before the actual reception and traditional formalities begin. It's usually an hour to an hour and a half long, allowing time for guests to arrive, mingle and have appetizers and drinks before the formal introductions of the wedding party kicks off the reception. The atmosphere is casual and upbeat and it's the perfect way for everyone to get ready for the big party!

As with all things in the world of weddings, there are trending elements, ideas and styles that follow the cocktail hour, too. And with this part of your wedding event inherently being so laid-back and informal, it's really easy add (or remove) what you want to really make it your own.

Couples Joining In For The Cocktail Hour

So many couples have a formal First Look before their ceremony at today's wedding events. And because they have most of their formal and candid photos take place then rather than during their cocktail hour, this leaves time for the couple to join in for at least part of the event. Consider having a first look so you can mingle with as many friends and family as possible at your cocktail hour while the music is still quiet and there's time to connect in a more intimate way.

Personalized Appetizers

Appetizers with a backstory are in! Be sure to select appetizers that you love, of course, but also have relevance to your wedding location or have meaning within the story of your relationship. Don't be afraid to choose fare with an international flavor to incorporate your heritage or culture, featuring both familiar dishes and some obscure cuisine for your more adventurous guests.

And if you just want to select trending foods, some of the hottest appetizers for wedding cocktail hours include cheeseburger or crab cake sliders, bacon-wrapped scallops, sushi, oysters (especially when offered by roving shuckers) and reimagined comfort foods like fried mac & cheese and crispy smashed potatoes with spiked sour cream.

Including Games

Indoor or, if space permits, outdoor games can be set up for guests to play before and during the reception. Cornhole, Giant Jenga, ladder golf or croquet are perfect for an outdoor wedding with ample lawn space. And trivia, particularly questions about you and your history together as a couple, is a great ice breaker and a ton of fun for guests!

Signature Cocktails

Don't forget to choose a signature cocktail for your cocktail hour and reception, again, tailoring your event just to the two of you and your love story. Maybe it's one special drink that you both really enjoy together as a couple.  Or perhaps it’s a cocktail one or both of you ordered on your first date.  Maybe it’s a drink that evokes memories of a great (or hilarious!) evening out or an amazing vacation.  Or perhaps it’s simply a cocktail with some of your favorite ingredients in it.  Choose your drink based upon personal experience, factoring in both your tastes and your history together.

Another couple of ideas for choosing your signature cocktail include simply matching your drink with your wedding theme color, or coordinating it with the season. You can’t have a winter wonderland themed wedding without a white chocolate martini, right?  And nothing says a summer wedding like sangria or peach schnapps lemonade!

Unique Musical Entertainment

All great cocktail hours include a soundtrack of lively, yet quieter background music designed to set the mood and allow for conversation. Jazz musicians, violinists and acoustic guitarists are ideal entertainment for this hour. But here's the perfect place to add a musician or group that no one was expecting. Having a summer, beachy wedding? Why not bring in Caribbean steel drums? And a strolling accordion player would be an excellent musical mood setter for a European-inspired venue or wedding theme.

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