Cocktail hour is the perfect time for your guest to relax, mingle, and enjoy having drinks before the reception. While they are there to celebrate you and your day, it's important to ensure they have plenty of things to keep them entertained until it is time for the reception to start.
Signature cocktails
Set the tone of your reception by offering a fun cocktail! Consider the season of your wedding, your guests preferences as well as any colors or themes you want to incorporate. Finally, name your cocktail something fun! Maybe a joke between you as the couple, your pet's name or something that matches the theme of your wedding!
Light Bites
Whether or not you serve alcohol during your cocktail hour, you will definitely want to offer some sort of appetizer. This is the key to keeping your guests happy and entertained! Guests can’t enjoy all the fun activities you've planned if they’re hungry, so help them out by offering some snacks to eat before dinner.
Live music
Surprise your wedding guests with live music! It is one of the best ways to set the mood of the cocktail hour. If you have plans to hire a live band for the reception, then ask a few of their members to also play during the cocktail hour. You can choose from an electric violinist, romantic Latin guitar trio, classic jazz quartet or go for an unplugged acoustic session.
Live Artist
Capture your cocktail hour by hiring a live painting artist. It will not just be fun for your guest to watch, but also it will provide a beautiful keepsake from your wedding.
Lawn Games
Consider renting lawn games like giant Jenga or giant checkers. Lawn games can be enjoyed by adults and children so this is a great option for any wedding!
Interactive Guestbook
Ditch the traditional guestbook that you’ll probably never look at after your wedding day and do something different! Have you guests sign the matting of a photo so you can hang it on your wall and cherish it forever. Or, have your guests sign Jenga game pieces to make for a fun (and practical) keepsake. The possibilities are endless!
These ideas are sure to wow your guests and create a memorable cocktail hour. Remember, the key to keeping your guests happy is providing them with a light snack and activities. By doing these two things, your cocktail hour is sure to go off without a hitch!