Cocktails before the Ceremony

MikkiStreak · July 5, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by naughie

each one is a little different...for the most part, you have the cocktail hour in a separate room. the couple sometimes chooses to come mingle, other times they are still taking pictures. after the cocktail hour, guests are escorted into the main room, where there's bread on the table/plates. music is already playing...a few minutes later, they introduce the bridal party, etc. and then have the first dance(s). then everyone goes to their seats for salad, or appetizers. sometimes, the toasts are inserted in here...music still playing, gets louder and faster when people finish eating, people get up to dance...told to go back to seat by band/dj for next course...this "dance and then sit" routine repeats until after the main course, where the bride and groom cut the cake in the middle of the dance floor...more dancing...coffee/dessert are served, little more dancing, the end.

i can't imagine sitting to eat all of the courses and THEN (fatter and more bloated) getting up to dance!

That's why I really like this idea!! After eating appetizers, it makes more sense to pace the food throughout the rest of the evening so people won't eat too much and get lazy!

Thanks for posting that---- I may have to use this idea for our wedding!

DreaW · July 5, 2007

I'm going to give my guest water and if they choose to drink b4 hand they can purchase their drinks (we will be at Baja Cantina is this is possible).

The wedding will begin at 5pm then at 6pm we are opening up the bar for cocktail hour and then at 7pm dinner....

We are having open bar for only 3 hours....so from 6pm-9:00pm

foxytv · July 6, 2007

We are having our ceremony in a private garden area right off from the lobby bar of our resort, so I expect guests will mingle at the bar until it's time to be seated. Afterwards, it's back to the lobby bar for drinks while we get the pictures finished, and then moving on the the private beach area for the reception.

dragonfly · July 6, 2007

Thanks guys one more thing to think about!!! LOL

NYJen · July 6, 2007

Originally I was going to do my entire cocktail party before the ceremony but now I think I'm going to go back to the traditional set up of doing the ceremony first. I haven't worked out all the details yet but YES, we're definitely offering our guests something to eat and drink while they wait for the ceremony to begin. I think we'll have glasses of Sangria and bottled water offered in addition to some passed hors d'oeuvres. This way they also have something in their stomachs to hold them over until the party starts.

KAMEYER70 · July 6, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaboDate

We're having a server greet guests and point them in the right direction.. he's also going to be offering 2 different flavored traditional mexican fruit drinks (non alcoholic) and some water.. We're holding off on the booze until after the ceremony.. then it's free flowin'.

We are doing the same... offering aqua frescas before the ceremony. The full bar will be open immediately after the ceremony. I was recently at a wedding where they served drinks before the ceremony and some people were drinking beers during the ceremony. It struck me as a kind of tacky. Guess I'm more traditional than I realized.

NABUMBAH · July 13, 2007

The cabo surf offers a welcome cocktail before the ceremony and people definitely took advantage of it

edited. thanks Christa!

A10CalGal · July 13, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by NABUMBAH

The cabo surf offers a welcome cocktail before dinner and people definitely took advantage of it

did you mean before the ceremony? That's how it was for us, and I really liked - gave people an incentive to get there on time, gave them a purpose & a way to mingle w/eachother as the waiters pointed them down to the beach! And, everybody appreciated it for sure. **You also don't lose people that decide to get a drink & don't get seated on time.

NABUMBAH · July 13, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by A10CALGAL

did you mean before the ceremony? That's how it was for us, and I really liked - gave people an incentive to get there on time, gave them a purpose & a way to mingle w/eachother as the waiters pointed them down to the beach! And, everybody appreciated it for sure. **You also don't lose people that decide to get a drink & don't get seated on time.

yes! of course! sorry. I saw everyone boozin' it up prior to the ceremony. I was a little jealous. Only a little. I had my stash of champagne in the room