05/19/2025
Cocktail hour is my favorite at every wedding! Why? It’s where guests finally get to say hello to everyone, the initial stress of getting to the wedding has dissipated, and there is always super delicious and fun food and drinks! Here are my tips for a cocktail hour that sets the night up for success.
1️⃣ Bar lines are a BIG NO. Make sure your caterer has trays of passed drinks ready as your ceremony ends. Trays can have glasses of wine, champagne, beer, and signature cocktails. This can help alleviate the initial rush to the bar.
2️⃣ Place your bar as far away from the ceremony and entrance of the cocktail area as possible and in an open location that allows for people to move around. Don’t place bars where bottle necks will occur. Designing a room with flow in mind is key.
3️⃣ Place your guest book farther back in your cocktail hour area so guests aren’t all stopping and queuing to sign the book before entering the space. Really think through the guest experience and how they will walk through the space.
4️⃣ Plan your menu thoughtfully. I recommend providing a variety of proteins and vegetarian and vegan options to suit all dietary needs. A stationary display is also great so guests can grab a small plate when they have time versus waiting for servers to serve them. Reduce the numbers of HDs that leave you with something in your hand. One or two are fine but getting stuck with little sticks, spoons, cups etc after each HD can be a bit annoying when you are trying to hold a drink as well.
5️⃣ Seating is a must. Plan to have seats as well as plenty of high tops for guests to utilize throughout the space.
6️⃣ Signage is important. Bar signs and signature cocktail signs are a must. Labeling all food is also important to help guests who may have allergies or restrictions to navigate your offerings. If the bathroom is hard to find, signage for this can also be a great addition.
7️⃣ Water stations are always a yes.
What’s your favorite or least favorite thing about cocktail hour? Comment below ⬇️
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