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ONe of the funnest weddings I've ever been to was a cocktail reception! It was very open with just standing tables and a few chairs in kind of a corner for people too old/ill to stand for a long time. There was a killer band and great apps with a super fun dessert bar!
Go for it! Your cocktail reception is going to be awesome! I can tell :-)
@Lexy:aww thanks for the encouragement! i am quitely freaking out about this lol! I just think boring receptions are the worst :P And since I have never been to a good one I am trying to get excited about it.. :)
My wedding is in 12 (eek!) days, and I completely agree with you about the drama of an evening wedding!
We're having a cocktail/hors d'ouvres reception as well, although I've never been to one myself. The idea came about because I wanted a much more "adult" reception, and something unlike all the run-of-the-mill midwest wedding receptions that I've had to endure so many times. (you know the kind: free beer, chicken family style dinner, polka band.)
In order to keep things fresh and moving all night long, I've come up with a few strategies:
1) The hors d'ouvres are not the same all night. The reception starts at 5:30pm, with very light snacks (international cheeses, olives, etc). The heavier, more filling hot hors d'ouvres come out at 6:30pm (bruschettas, antipasti, stuffed portobellas, artichoke cakes, brie-stuffed phylo purses, etc). At 9pm all that goes away and out comes the dessert hors d'ouvres. Because this is a Christmas wedding, I am incorportating that by serving mini pecan pies, mini pumpkin pies, frosted sugar cookies, gingerbreads, chocolate fountain, etc and also a warm beverage bar including hot cocoa, flavored coffees, hot apple cider, spiced rum, etc.
2) There is never a quiet moment! We have hired both a DJ as well as a 16-piece big band/swing band. The DJ will play during the mingling hour, as well as during the band's breaks. At 10pm the band is done playing the classics (frank sinatra, michael buble - type music), and the DJ starts kicking it up a notch with dance music to "reignite" the energy of the evening.
3) I don't have seating for every person. We have approximately 225 guests, but only 13 "sitting" tables, each of which seat 10 people. There are also approximately 20 bar stools at the wrap around bar, and small corner tables by the fireplace in the gathering area. The entire seating layout and table choices were chosen to encourage mingling - like pub tables. With not enough seating for all the guests to sit, they're forced to be up and walking, talking, and dancing!
I hope that this post helps - I'd be more than happy to let you know how it turns out!
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Ok so.. I have always ADORED the look and drama of an evening wedding. So my FH and I decided to do a sunset wedding. My wedding decorator plans to load our outdoor garden venue with tons of candles and light making it very soft, romantic, and special. I am very excited about this but the one drawback is that it will have to take place around 7pm (on a sunday evening to cut costs). MY FH and I are leaning towards a cocktail reception to be held at 8PM with heavy passed hors dourves and a few food stations just so that there will not be a long sit down dinner lasting until midnight when my guests have work in the morning.
My concern is.. I have only been to one cocktail reception..and it was in one word BORING there wasnt too much mingling because there were tables and chairs as though it was a plated dinner and because there was only finger food and no entertainment, my friend and I left after only a half hour. How can I avoid this! I do not want my guests (some flying 2,000+ miles) to attend a short boring cocktail reception after coming such a long way. Any ideas on how to spruce this up? Should I include enough tables and chairs for everone or just have some tables with a few lounge areas? This is also a dry reception (to respect our parents for religious reasons) so the old adage of alcohol makes any party worthwhile will not work in this case :) A few notable points: the Wedding is being held at the Westin which is actually at the end of a very nice high-end outdoor shopping center. The shopping center has a lake running through it with Gondola and paddle boat available to ride. I have thought about renting these out and making them available to guests during the reception (good idea? bad idea?) A friend also suggested having a caricaturist just as an extra "something". We are trying to limit our list to 150; age group 25-70. I'd love to get some ideas from anyone who has done or been to a cocktail reception and had a great time.