Cocktail Hour - To join or not to join

smange10.10 · August 2009

I'm taking a straw poll, but here's a little background. FI was all for going around to each table and thanking them for coming, blah blah blah. I think it's a great idea, however, we're having stations instead of a sit-down meal which makes it way harder. Andplusalso, I don't want to miss dancing. In addition, I was adamently against joining cocktail hour because I wanted our entrance to be this big thing and I wanted to spend time with my new husband (that is SO weird to type) before we got overwhelmed with guests. I've kind of gotten over that and think I want to join the cocktail hour for at least half of it so that we can mingle and thank people for joining us instead of going table to table. This way we will still have time to ourselves in the beginning and the wedding party can also mix and mingle and not be secluded in a room - even though they all know each other and are friends.Question - What did you do/Are you doing? Any reasoning behind it?

JVeaux · August 2009

We are not joining b/c FI wants to go traditional and not see each other beforehand for pics (Me, I'm not so traditional and wouldn't mind this, but he felt strongly about this). So, we'll be doing pics while the cocktail hour is going on. Thus, we'll be going around to all the tables, one benefit is that the guest list is not huge, so that'll make it easier to see everyone.

Bmore09Bride · August 2009

I think we're going to stay in the bridal suite only because that may be the only time we have to soak in the moment and eat the apps. We're being served dinner first (buffet so similar to stations) so maybe if you make sure you are eating before they even announce stations are open...that way you can eat a bit then spend time mingling once the guests tables get called. OR i had friends who asked each couple to join them on the dance floor...they were able to have fun and thank everyone they may have missed earlier. you could also do a receiving line...

weezie825 · August 2009

Smange- This is exactly why we had a receiving line. We did it immediately after the ceremony, and it was only myself and my husband, not the entire bridal party. I had about 125 guests and it went really quickly. (Maybe 10 minutes at the max.)

smange10.10 · August 2009

Logistically, a receiving line won't really work. Our venue doesn't really lend itself well to that because our cocktail hour is right outside of the ceremony area - and we don't want to have a backup into the aisle or anything. Not to mention, we're going to have around 180-190 guests, that'll take forever. It's a great idea, but not ideal. I'm thinking the half/half cocktail hour is the best bet.

weezie825 · August 2009

Our set up was really similar to what you are saying. We had the ceremony and reception in adjoining rooms, with the cocktail hour set up in the lobby outside the two. What I did to keep people from backing up into the aisle was that I had the officiant announce prior to the wedding that after the bridal party recessional the ushers woud come up and release each row. There was never a line of more then 10 people in our receiving line, because the ushers didn't release the next row until the line had dwindled down. It was VERY effective in controling the crowd and moving them quickly. It also helped in that the lines for the bar and the appetizers weren't overwhelmed immidiately following the ceremony because there wasn't a mad rush from the door. Good Luck with whatever you decide!

SarahKate31 · August 2009

Okay I started to write a response and it turned into a rant, oops. Short story: we planned not to attend cocktail hour so we could spend that time taking pics. We visited tables during dinner.

JVeaux · August 2009

Dumb question - so how exactly does a receiving line work? We've never done one in my family.

Nicremy Moonderson · August 2009

We're also doing a buffet style reception and we plan on joining the cocktail hour as soon as we get to the reception venue. Originally I didn't want to do it this way but I'm on the same page you are..we want to get mingling done as soon as we can so we can enjoy ourselves and dance too! I don't know how much time we'll be in the cocktail hour because our formal pics are being done after the ceremony (since we aren't doing a "reveal") but I don't anticipate this taking more than a half hour according to my photog. I say join your cocktail hour! What time is your wedding and reception?

cincin35 · August 2009

We are not doing a receiving line at the church. We are taking pics at the reception site and then heading to the bridal suite during cocktail hour. We are not big dancers, so we figure we will have time to visit or talk to everyone sometime during the night. We are also having a 5 hour reception so we don't feel rushed.

2have2hold · August 2009

It's been said so often "You'll be surprised at how time flies" on the day of especially during the reception. So with 180-190 guests, I would say go with you suggested, which is, mingle with guests during the cocktail hour and get that out of the way. Our church doesn't allow receiving lines because there'll be a mass right after our wedding. But FI and I wont be joining the cocktail hour though, I really want to use this hour to just sit and absorb everything. we only have 100 guests so I'm sure we'll be able to greet them all during the reception without using up too much time.

SLPMel · August 2009

We joined the cocktail hour. We had the Catholic Gap, so we took pictures after the mass. The hotel opened the bridal suite before the cocktail hour, and then we met everybody for the cocktail hour. We also did a receiving line at the church.Your wedding will fly by. Think about all the things you want to do-and we had like 125 people. The cocktail hour allowed us time to spend with guests, and also have time to eat dinner and dance. It was great. I would also recommend (if you can!) a brunch the next day. It was a great way to spend time with people who you didn't feel you necessarily spent enough time with!Melissa

fitzhughh · August 2009

I am bummed that we will miss our cocktail hour because we will be taking pictures. If you go to the cocktail hour when are you doing pics? I agree that would be a great time to thank people so you get to enjoy your reception too.

shannondab · August 2009

We are telling guests that we will join them at the cocktail hour in lieu of a receiving line. The photographer promised to only take 20 minutes for posed pictures at the church and then we are on our way to the party. The caterer agreed to open the bar but not start passing apps until we are announced. Then, as soon as we are announced, we can mingle with everyone during the hour. I was scared that the receiving line would take too long. Our reception site is 20 minutes from the chapel and I wanted people to have time to get there and not be rushed.

Cocktail Hour - To join or not to join

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