Cocktail Hour is a must at weddings these days, and for good reason. What is Cocktail hour and what are the benefits to having one at your wedding? Well, besides the obvious (cocktails!), there are some less-obvious benefits to having a cocktail hour.

What is cocktail hour?

It's a set amount of time in your wedding timeline for your guests to mingle and socialize together. Serve them appetizers, open up the bar (if you have one), and play some music to create a great atmosphere for your guests.

Behind the scenes, this time can be used for anything you need. For example, you can take bridal party photos or create another special, private moment as newlyweds. It's really up to you how you incorporate it into your day as you like.

When is cocktail hour?

It can take place anytime you want it to because it is your wedding after all! We've typically seen it between the ceremony and reception to give the bridal party time for photos. We've also seen cocktail hours held before the ceremony (Usually we only see this for more religious Jewish Weddings). It's also a wedding-logistics-secret-weapon that you can use to keep things running smoothly and on time behind the scenes.

Where is cocktail hour?

Where you have your cocktail hour depends on the season (the weather), your venue, and the vibe you want to create.

If you are having your reception in the same place as your ceremony, it's great to have the cocktail hour in an adjacent room/space so you can turn over the room for the reception.

Music during cocktail hour

You may have a DJ, band, string quartet or other types of musicians playing during your cocktail hour. Ask to have the music played at a low volume so you can set the mood while allowing people to mingle and chat. Depending on your entertainment, you may have discussed a playlist or set list beforehand. The key is to keep the energy and excitement of the day going without overpowering your guests.

Food and drinks

Cocktail hour is a perfect time to serve appetizers and small dishes to your guests. You might opt for an appetizer station or have your servers go around offering appetizers on their trays.

Some couples ope for an open or cash bar at their wedding and the bar opens up during Cocktail Hour. It's fun to have one or two signature cocktails that match the theme of your wedding for your guests to try.

Additional cocktail hour details

A few things to keep in mind when it comes to your cocktail hour:

• You can put your Reception Seating Chart in the cocktail area for your guests to find their seating arrangements

• You don't need a lot of seating in the actual Cocktail Hour area, because you'll want guests to be able to move around and mingle. Seating will clutter the space.

• BUT do have some seating! Make sure you provide enough seating so that guests who need it have it. A combo of low chairs for those guests along with high tables for mingling guests works great.

• Personalize with small touches, like monogrammed napkins or cups.

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"I definitely recommend Parisi Events! They did such a great job during the whole event from the ceremony music to the cocktail hour to the reception, everything was perfect!" - Shannon Russo

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