Cocktail hour or no?

Originally, I really wanted to have a cocktail reception, but I'm not sure yet.. I think you should do whatever you feel is appropiate for your guests! Whatevent the WC says it is just AN ADVICE (I'm a WC myself and I always recommend my brides & grooms to listen to my advise, but at the end of the day they are the ones that TRULY know their guests).

Love the lobby bar suggestion! That's what our plan is! Why pay for drinks when you're at an all inclusive! Ceremony will start around 2pm and then there will be a short champange toast after the ceremony. We'll then take pictures and all our guests will have a couple hours to themselves to head to Air Conditionning and hang out. I'm sure people will appreciate have a little time to themselves...maybe even time for a swim. Dinner and the reception will begin around 6:30pm.

Sorry, this is quite late. Since your family doesn't really drink and FI is worried that his friends will drink a little too much , maybe you could do a signature drink like a mojito - have virgin and alcoholic and let that be it for the booze during the apps? That way people who want to drink can yet those who aren't big drinkers still have something cool to sip on. Just a thought. The resort will probably charge an arm and a leg for that anyway!

 

My wedding isn't at an AI, but I totally understand not wanting to pay extra for something that is actually included in the price of the room.

Im having my ceremony, cocktail hr to follow and then my reception. The time line isn't the problem. The issue is I have to pay more at an all inclusive so I can have liquor at my cocktail hour. All they are providing me with is soft drinks and champagne and 5 apps. If I want 3 choice of liquor I have to pay an additional $12 pp and Im having 60 people so it adds up. There is a bar 100 feet away if anyone would like a mix drink.

 

My concern is that I dont want to look cheap since cocktail hr usually is for the guest to have cocktails.

It just sounds like they are trying to get you to spend more $$. If you didn't care to spend another $1,000, then sure. But if it makes a difference to you, then do what you want to do. I really don't get why they would charge you extra since the lobby bar is nearby as you said.. Perhaps for staff rather than the drinks themselves

To me, the main reason for a "cocktail hour" is to keep your guests occupied between the ceremony and the reception while you are taking pictures - I think its important to have something during that time for your guests, but i do not think it has to be anything extravagant. You are serving appetizers, and i think its perfectly fine not to have alcoholic beverages during that time, just so long as you have some sort of beverage....maybe a signature lemonade? just a thought!

I agree with this - pics took us about an hour so it was important that guests would have something to entertain them ! However for me it was out of the question NOT to have alcoholic beverages. Even if we had a lot of guests NOT drinking, we also had quite a few that were. Plus, it's a tradition in France to have champagne at cocktail hour so I would not have skipped this - it was a reminder of my country ! And honestly, if I was at a wedding and there was not even a glass of wine with the appetizers, I would go look for some (and pay for it as needed).

Suggestion - maybe you could try and count how many of your guests are drinking, and agree on a few bottles of red and/or white and/or sparkling wine that would cover for 1-2 glasses each ? That way, they would have something, and you would also ensure the quantity is limited and nobody gets drunk before the dinner, and you would still remain in a limited budget ?

Now of course, if you're in an AI it does not make sense to pay extras - when guests can just go get a drink at the nearby bar !!

I agree skipping the cocktails is ok, but do a fun signature non-alcoholic drink instead...like an aqua fresca, lemonade or mojito mocktail.

If it is within budget to have the cocktail hour. DO IT...

 

from a photographer stand point I love when they have a coctail hour because it's usually a little cooler and typically the sun is starting to set at that point and makes for amazing photo opportunities.

 

If it's going to make the budget tighter and you need to cut something then make sure you plan enough time for some photos around that time to sneak away and get photos taken

I also agree with the lobby bar