Skip to main content

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

CourtneyBrittain
Master August 2019

“Cocktail” hour

CourtneyBrittain, on June 24, 2019 at 1:08 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 14
So we won’t be having any alcohol at our wedding due to budget. Please, don’t give me any grief because it’s decided and that won’t change.
Anyway - we are doing a first look but also some pictures after the ceremony. We were thinking 30-45 minutes but no more than that. We are serving pizza for dinner along with a side salad, but what would you do to fill the gap while we are taking a few more photos? We thought of showing the 5 minute video of my fiancé proposing, but what else? The pizza and salads won’t arrive until 7pm, and the ceremony ends at 6pm. We have just one venue, the chapel is literally next door to the farmhouse that the reception is in.

Thanks in advance!

14 Comments

Latest activity by CourtneyBrittain, on June 24, 2019 at 4:11 PM
  • MrsD
    Legend July 2019
    MrsD ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    For sure have appetizers and drinks available, even if there is no alcohol. If the pizza doesn't arrive until 7 PM, I anticipate people won't eat until 7:15/7:30. I like the video idea! I'd have something for people to do since there isn't a bar. Like a photo booth, video booth, caricature artist, or yard games. Then for sure have several appetizers & drinks available.

    • Reply
  • M
    Legend June 2019
    Melle ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Games! I also agree with photo section
    • Reply
  • Kelly
    VIP October 2020
    Kelly ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Love the video.
    My wedding is dry as well (and I keep getting greif for it🙄) and I will be doing a nacho bar!
    • Reply
  • CourtneyBrittain
    Master August 2019
    CourtneyBrittain ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    Yard games! That would be perfect, we have a large outdoors area in our venue. As long as weather permits, that would be great!
    We will have lemonade, tea and water available.
    • Reply
  • CourtneyBrittain
    Master August 2019
    CourtneyBrittain ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    We’d thought of doing a photo scavenger hunt throughout the venue too, something with just phones?
    • Reply
  • CourtneyBrittain
    Master August 2019
    CourtneyBrittain ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    Ooooh a nacho bar sounds delicious!
    • Reply
  • MrsD
    Legend July 2019
    MrsD ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    Great! I'd have your guest book out too, so people have something to do during cocktail hour. I'd really recommend food even if it's fruit/veggie trays.

    • Reply
  • CourtneyBrittain
    Master August 2019
    CourtneyBrittain ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    GUEST BOOK! I knew I was forgetting something 😅
    • Reply
  • Lauren
    VIP February 2020
    Lauren ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    The video idea is great! We're having a dry wedding as well, but our guests have been fine with it. Our venue is in a dry county so we couldn't have alcohol if we wanted to. lol. We're having a "cocktail hour" and will serve little apps like chicken salad and cheeses along with sweet tea and lemonade (or something along those lines). We have our photobooth for 2 hours and will start it during the cocktail hour. Also, you could have yard games like cornhole to keep people busy. Our ceremony musicians will also be playing during our "cocktail hour".

    • Reply
  • Alicia
    VIP August 2019
    Alicia ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    We aren't having alcohol either, partly for budget and partly because we have several current and recovering alcoholics in our families and just didn't even want to go there. We're having lawn games, appetizers and drinks during the "cocktail" hour when we are doing pictures. The video is a cute idea, you could also have picture tables, a photo booth, or some other type of activity that people can occupy their time with.

    • Reply
  • Heather
    Savvy June 2019
    Heather ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    A wedding I went to a few years ago had a crossword about the couple that was actually a good time filler. Some of the questions were pretty easy, while others were a little more difficult. A group of 4 of us were able to pool our knowledge (and access to Facebook) to finish it. Something like that might work if weather doesn't allow outside access and/or you have less mobile guests.

    • Reply
  • Rachel
    Dedicated July 2019
    Rachel ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    We are doing a cocktail hour with simple finger foods (cheese/crackers and fruit) along with yard games. Our guests will literally only have a 30 yard walk from ceremony to reception as well so we wanted to keep them entertained. The guests will also have access to the barn the reception is in so they can sign the guest book, find their table, check out the decorations, cake etc while they wait as well.
    A few other ideas you could use to fill the time are some “how well do you know the couple” games or if you are doing the “shoe game” you can give them the questions so they can try to guess what you will say when you play. Also, don’t let anyone give you grief about a dry wedding, if people need alcohol to have a good time, then maybe they are just boring lol
    • Reply
  • MD
    Super July 2019
    MD ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I agree with everyone else. I'd serve food and drinks for sure, even if it's just tea and water. We are also showing a slideshow of our pictures and our venue has some games, like pool and shuffleboard to kill time.

    • Reply
  • CourtneyBrittain
    Master August 2019
    CourtneyBrittain ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    I love that idea! If considered something like that or a how well do you know the couple, or put in questions for the shoe game
    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×
WeddingWire celebrates love ...and so does everyone on our site! Learn more

Groups

WeddingWire article topics