Out of curiosity... What do you call a cocktail hour in the afternoon?

AprilH81

We are having a late morning/early afternoon ceremony and reception (with a bar).  Do you still call the cocktail hour by the same name?  To me a cocktail hour happens in the evening, but maybe I'm just weird like that.

tiny speck

I wouldn't find it weird to still call it cocktail hour at the earlier time. Ours started around 3.30 after our ceremony, so definitely not in the evening.

AddieCake

We called ours a cocktail hour. It was about 11:00 a.m. 

AprilH81

LingerLonger1 said:

Of course.  What else would you call it?

I don't know, that is why I asked...  lol

itzMS

Another vote for sticking with cocktail hour.

efmcc67

I think calling it anything other than "cocktail hour" would be confusing.

QueerFemme

are there cocktails?  Is it an hour?    Cocktail hour.

 

Peledreamsofrain

FierceFemme said:

are there cocktails?  Is it an hour?    Cocktail hour.

 

You have mentally staggered me with your logics.

manateehugger

LingerLonger1 said:

show previous quotes

FierceFemme said:

are there cocktails?  Is it an hour?    Cocktail hour.

 

Oh shit!  This is getting complicated now.  What if it's only 45 minutes, FF?


Ours is an hour and 15 minutes!!! Oh no! I'll have to put cocktail hour and a quarter on the invites to avoid mass confusion and panic.

Peledreamsofrain

LingerLonger1 said:

show previous quotes

Liatris2010 said:

Cocktail hour.

But, where do you write cocktail hour out anyway? Our invitation said "reception to follow" and guests were directed from the ceremony space into the cocktail hour space (which was in the afternoon and lasted over an hour).

This is true.  We had a cocktail hour but I'm not sure we ever actually acknowledged to our guests that's what it was.


I'm guessing it was when you set down cocktails in front of them .

QueerFemme

LingerLonger1 said:

show previous quotes

Liatris2010 said:

Cocktail hour.

But, where do you write cocktail hour out anyway? Our invitation said "reception to follow" and guests were directed from the ceremony space into the cocktail hour space (which was in the afternoon and lasted over an hour).

This is true.  We had a cocktail hour but I'm not sure we ever actually acknowledged to our guests that's what it was.

we had a timeline on our program:

it said:

3:30-4:30  -  Cocktails and Appetizers

4:30-5:30  -  Dinner

5:30 -  then, there will be dancing

 

AddieCake

rel1988

Call me old fashioned but I would call it a "cocktail hour"

Peledreamsofrain

LingerLonger1 said:

show previous quotes

Peledreamsofrain said:

LingerLonger1 said:

Liatris2010 said:

Cocktail hour.

But, where do you write cocktail hour out anyway? Our invitation said "reception to follow" and guests were directed from the ceremony space into the cocktail hour space (which was in the afternoon and lasted over an hour).

This is true.  We had a cocktail hour but I'm not sure we ever actually acknowledged to our guests that's what it was.

I'm guessing it was when you set down cocktails in front of them .

Yes, I made sure to have the servers go around telling everyone that for the next hour they will be drinking COCKTAILS and as a result they are in the midst of COCKTAIL hour.  Yes, I made them shout COCKTAIL.


That was my point, even needing to say it when you are setting down cocktails in front of people is moot.

AddieCake

Lia, that always bugged me about Cookie Monster. 

AprilH81

Wow, I go back to work and my thread explodes while I'm gone...  lol

I wasn't trying to come up with another name for it, I just wasn't sure if it was called something else for a daytime reception.  It was a random thought that popped into my head yesterday evening after visiting our first potential venue.  

AprilH81

CMGr said:

"Social hour".
Cocktails are usually served at 5:00 PM or later.  We served mimosas and bloody marys at noon.  They were not "cocktails".
There is no need to specify different times.  It is simply a "reception".  You don't describe the food or entertainment, as if the guests won't come if you don't serve what they want!
The term "cocktails" describes a relatively informal hour when guests are invited to come for conversation and drinks before they go off to dinner somewhere else. It is rather similar to an open house, but more formal. They were very popular in the 1950s and 1960s.  A dinner invitation would be much more formal than a cocktail invitation.
You want to invite people to your "reception".  Whether you serve mixed drinks, wine, beer or soda should not be on your invitation.

So I wasn't completly crazy?!?  WOHOO!!!  

We will probably just say "Reception to follow" since the ceremony and reception will be at the same venue.  I just needed to know what to call it while making plans.  

missmarieclaire

If it is helpful in the UK and Ireland our weddings nearly always take place during the day. With drinks starting by 2-3pm. We'd call this time (after ceremony but before sit down meal) the 'drinks reception' whether you are serving champagne or cosmos. To my ear 'cocktail hour' sounds like a Friday night out with the girls!