Wedding Planning

Wedding Cocktail Hour

Written by Meraki Team20/07/2021

Cocktail hour is the wonderful time to let your guests socialize and get to know each other. It is a time to unwind, to refresh the mind and ready one's self for the party to come. Wedding cocktail hour is very common and it is one of the “must have" parts of the wedding celebration from all over the word. Although it is not popular in traditional weddings in Vietnam, Vietnamese people are starting to adapt this cool idea from the international community and apply it to…

What is Cocktail hour?

The cocktail hour is a gap time between wedding ceremony and reception dinner. Usually, the couple will sneak out during this time to take photos with their family and wedding party while guests will mingle around, chit chat, drink and whet their appetite for the meal to come.

The cocktail hour can be either intimate or big.

Where is it usually hold?

Cocktail hour takes place anywhere, but is usually held at or near the Ceremony site.

It should be held on a different site from the reception site because you do not want the guests to peek into anytime before dinner time. Here are some reasons why:

Guests will likely try to find their seat in the reception space, which creates unorganization and you don't want them to miss the cocktail hour.
Photographers will take photos of the decoration during this time and you don't want anyone photobombing in the background or leaving their stuff on the chair.

What type of food and beverage served?

Hors d'oeuvres or canapes are the popular type of food to serve.
You can also serve sweets, such as popcorn, ice-cream, or pastries.
Fruits are also a great choice for a budget-friendly option.
For beverages, serve your signature drinks (if you do have) along with cocktails, beer, wine, champagne or liquor.
Soft drinks, mocktail, and water would be a nice touch for the kids and the elders.

How long does cocktail hour last?

The standard time for cocktail hour is 60 minutes. However, this time range can be adjusted based on the flow of your wedding.

How do I make my cocktail hour fun and vibing?

**1. Custom it. **Show off your personality

2. Take good care of your guests

Give them enough room to mingle easily
Have some low comfortable chairs for people to rest and take a break
Cocktail tables and coffee tables will add a great touch of the look and convenience.

2. Take good care of your guests

Give them enough room to mingle easily
Have some low comfortable chairs for people to rest and take a break
Cocktail tables and coffee tables will add a great touch of the look and convenience.
3. Make it fun
Put on some music. recorded music is fine, but live music (such as hiring a musician) will definitely create an awesome vibe.
Provide games (we will have an article about wedding drinking games, stay tuned for it!)

Why do I need a cocktail hour for my wedding?

It is a nice transition from the formality of the ceremony to the party vibe of the dinner reception.
A cocktail hour is an excellent place to focus that creative energy with personalized decor, beverages, and cuisine if you're searching for another way to make your wedding stand out.
You will delight your guests. cocktail hour is what many wedding guests look forward to.
You have additional time for photos and freshening up.

Cocktail hour doesn't have to be expensive to be pleasant. it doesn't require a wide range of drink options, a carving station, or a large number of high-priced delicacies. with a reduced cocktail menu, you can keep things simple, classy and still enjoyable.

Happy planningLove,The Meraki team