Cocktail Reception

[Alisarosenbaum]

I am trying to get all of our times figured out, and the hotel said people either do a one hour cocktail reception before the real reception or 1.5 hours. What are you guys planning? For those who are married, did you feel the cocktail reception was too short/long??

[deleted]

Hi Alisa!

 

We did 1 hour and we used that time to take photos. I think it lasted more like 70 minutes but it seemed just right. I think people were hungry by then! I don't think 1.5 hours is necessary...it will just cost you more!

[Nrvsbride]

I agree I would just do an hour.

 

-Glenda

[JPMO]

I have scheduled an hour as well. Anything longer becomes very noticable and is rude to guests. To host a coktail hour before the ceremony seems unecessary. ( I think I understood that correctly) I think that serving a refreshment just before the ceremony starts is fine but an entire hour or serving light food is not needed.

 

Plus, guests will be coming from there hotel rooms on property typically so the travel time is eliminated. I would imagine that my guests for exapmly would start to arrive 10-15min before the ceremony is scheduled.

[Hummingbird]

I agree - 1 hour is about right. That gives you time to do post-ceremony pics, but isn't so long that guests get annoyed. I have been to some weddings where the cocktail hour is more like 1.5 - 2 hours, and it just drags by. There are only so many celery sticks and little snackies that you can eat before it starts to get boring and you want "real" food!

[Jessalyn]

I'm planning a 1 hour cocktail hour between the ceremony and reception too.

[NATASHA]

Yep - 1 hour.

 

We put bottled waters out on a table at the top of the sand for our guests to grab on their way to their seats Everyone took them (none were left!)

[Nrvsbride]

Natasha can I just pay you to plan my whole wedding b/c everything you did at your wedding I want!! LOL.

 

-Glenda

[gkashmira]

we have one hour planned as well.

[michelle08]

Okay so for some reason deciding on the food for the cocktail hour is driving me nuts!

 

I am wondering, for those of you who had and who are having a cocktail hour, did you have food too or just drinks?

 

I feel that since the we will eat at 7pm I don't want anything too heavy because we will have alot of food for them and then there is the cheese, fruit and bread table but it's all really weird stuff which isn't typical of our guests and then there is like a fruit and veggie w/ dip station which is what I would be leaning toward, but not sure if that is lame! HELP!!!