Cocktail Hour - How Long??

[YaelM]

Hello everyone!

 

Not sure if this is the right place for this question but i was hoping to find out from previous brides and upcoming ones...how long was your cocktail hour?

 

At our resort our cocktail hour is for 2 hours which to me seems kind of long. We are planning to have it after our reception while we and bridal party take pictures. Im considering cutting it to just 1 hour but I wanted to hear what others had to say

 

Thanks!!

[NJ_bride]

We did 2 hours after the ceremony while we took pics. This was perfect b/c we still got to enjoy about an hour of it with our guests. Also we did our 1st dance, and cake cutting during that time. 2 hours went really quick.

[Erika J]

The one we are doing is offered by the resort as is 1 hour. We plan on taking pictures at this time, but wont do the cake cutting and first dance until we are at the reception site.

[TATrisha]

Ours was an hour and a half, and that worked out very nicely. I had the mariachi band play at the beginning (for 45 minutes) and then near the end of their set the bridal party showed up from taking pictures. So we were still able to have some drinks and mingle with the guests before going to dinner. That was very nice. Plus, if people know what time dinner is, they don't necessarily have to show up for the whole two hours.

[nibsmom]

My ceremony is early - 1pm, so I was thinking of having 2 hours of cocktail reception afterwards. I might just make that my entire reception, or we might go to restaurant for dinner after the cocktails. From what I heard, at the Moon Palace, the cocktail receptions have a lot of food though.

 

I think if you are going to have it after your reception, I bet an hour would be enough. People might be tired by then!

[YaelM]

Thanks Ladies! I think we will do it for an hour and a half and change it to 1hr later if thats too long. Ill also ask my photographer how long he usually takes pics of bridal party and bride and groom to get an idea

 

Tlseege - we are also having a Mariachi band for the cocktail hour Im excited!

[Crisp Video]

I always encourage couples to give the photographer all the time he needs,

if the cocktail hour is when you're taking photos. When it's all said and done

it's the photos and video that last.

 

Congratulations!

Joel

[20thvowrenewkim]

So from those of you that have had your cocktail party...we are only having maybe 10 people coming to our ceremony so we are looking at using our cocktail party as our reception. Is there music, could there be dancing? Where do they have the cocktail parties?

[lali333dance]

I am looking for the same answers! I want to do our first dance and cake cutting at the cocktail party but don't know if that could be arranged.

[harkatea]

I think one hour should be plenty.  Cocktail hours are super expensive!