Cocktail Hour...is this necessary?

japonica334 · January 2011

I see alot of shows or hear where alot of people have cocktail hours before the reception. Are any of you all doing this? I was just curious as to what all is served. Is it just a light snack and Im wondering is this really necessary to have before the main reception meal? Whats your thoughts on this?

eagles347 · January 2011

Necessary...no. A nice touch though.

We are doing one to keep our guests occupied during the 30-45 minutes of time that we will take pictures after the ceremony. We will have a grits station with shrimp, sausage, and cheese, fruit, cheese & crackers, and lots of beverages. My caterer actually talked me out of adding more food because of the short amount of time before we begin our meal.

eagles347 · January 2011

Are your ceremony and reception in the same place? Are you taking pictures before or after your ceremony?

YasJas2011 · January 2011

Hey Japonica!!! I am from the 334 also, but live in NC now.

To answer your question, It is not necessary. But if you are getting married and having the ceremony and the reception in the same venue then it can be good to have while you all take pictures or while they are flipping the room over.

We are having one because it comes with our package and because our ceremony is in the same room as our reception. So the cocktail hour is for the guess to mingle and to have something to do while they change over the room.

We are having:

Mini bacon cheeseburger sliders
Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip with Pita Rounds
Season Fruit Trays
Gourmet Cheese Board
Quesadilla Trumpets
Mini Martini Bar

eagles347 · January 2011

@ Yas - I'm drooling over the sliders. I love them! My mom makes great ones...I need to start buttering her up to make me some!

YasJas2011 · January 2011

YAY!!!! Eagles!!! I am glad that you like our choices!!! Your Grit station is going to be FIRE!!!

japonica334 · January 2011

Ok, yes,that makes sense, I didnt think about the picture part in between. I really think that i want to do the cocktail hour thing. Just really wasnt sure what to serve. I watch like wedding shows on tv and they serve like full meals! And im like wow, thats alot of food!! lol But this would be great for the guest and prevents them from being bored.

@eagles347: Thanks for the reply! The wedding/reception are at the same site. Its arranged so that once the ceremony is over, really all the guest have to do is walk to the back yard of this Old Victorian home and go to the arranged tables. More than likely we will take pics afterward.

@YasJas: Thanks for your response! I tried to send you a message in response to you being from Shorter, but it wouldnt go through. I actually live in Montgomery but I see all my clients in Shorter and Tuskegee. I work with the elderly and disabled.

Thanks ladies, this was a big help!

cincy2011 · January 2011

We are having one b/c we are getting married/having the reception in the same room, so the room needs to be changed out. We wanted to provide a nice variety of food, but not too much b/c I've been seeing on wedding shows how cocktail hours just have way too much food!

Here's our menu...it may seem like a lot, but we are not having as much of every dish b/c they will be passed vs. plated appetizers that sit on a table and tempt people to load up.

Hors d'Oeuvres - 7:30 pm-8:15 pm
Cold Passed Appetizers:
Vegetable MooShu Wrap w/ Sweet Chili Sauce
Seared Ahi Tuna w/ Chickpea Pate on a Parmesan Crisp
Sweet and Spicy Thai Shrimp Wrap

Warm Passed Appetizers:
Sun-Dried Tomato & Feta Cheese Tartlet
Angus Beef Biscuit w/ Merlot Onions and Blue Cheese Aioli
Black Bean Cake w/ Chipotle Cream Sauce

japonica334 · January 2011

@cincy2011: thats sounds really good! Having them passed versus plated is a great idea. Never thought of that.

YasJas2011 · January 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_cocktail-houris-this-necessary?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:e0efca32-79af-4984-93dc-c433a59217c3Post:dcc31371-10c6-4d04-9556-b21313194c15">Re: Cocktail Hour...is this necessary?</a>:
[QUOTE]Ok, yes,that makes sense, I didnt think about the picture part in between. I really think that i want to do the cocktail hour thing. Just really wasnt sure what to serve. I watch like wedding shows on tv and they serve like full meals! And im like wow, thats alot of food!! lol But this would be great for the guest and prevents them from being bored. @eagles347: Thanks for the reply! The wedding/reception are at the same site. Its arranged so that once the ceremony is over, really all the guest have to do is walk to the back yard of this Old Victorian home and go to the arranged tables. More than likely we will take pics afterward. @YasJas: Thanks for your response! I tried to send you a message in response to you being from Shorter, but it wouldnt go through. I actually live in Montgomery but I see all my clients in Shorter and Tuskegee. I work with the elderly and disabled. Thanks ladies, this was a big help!
Posted by japonica334[/QUOTE]

You are welcome! That is so cool that you work with the elderly and disabled :-)

[Deleted User] · January 2011

We're having a "Caribbean" bar during our cocktail hour. So immediately after the ceremony, servers are going to pass rum punch, capirhinas (sp?), and other tropical drinks to our guests. We're still deciding on how much food to serve. I was thinking a selection of four hot canapes passed will work, since we will be having a 5 course plated dinner afterwards.

kiyamurph · January 2011

Ditto about not really needing a cocktail hour but it's great for your guests. My wedding's taking place outside at a golf club and the reception will be indoors. After the ceremony, everyone will head up to the clubhouse where the cocktail hour food will be and we're having a fruit and cheese display, as well as an antipasto display, which includes meats, cheeses, and olives. I wanted to also have hot passed hors d' oeuvers but that would've cost extra money.

And I agree, when I watch Four Weddings and see all of this food that people have for cocktail hour, at first it makes me wish I could offer more food, but then at the same time half of the people don't even eat their entire entree because they're so stuffed!

msktn95 · January 2011

I agree, its not really necessary, just something to keep the guest busy while we take pictures. We are having a cocktail hour, we will serve beer and wine. We will also have a Chocolate fountain with a variety of fruits.

A&M_Abyss · January 2011

I think this is also a personal opinion. I'm seeing a lot of trends in regards to the area that we're located in. It seems like in the South/Mid-West area cocktail hours are smaller than in the Tri-State {NJ, NY}.

Most reception venues in NJ {where i live} come packaged with a cocktail hour. It's all I personally know, so for me {personally} it is absolutely a necessity and it needs to be a substantial amount of food. I cannot write every item we're having b/c it ALOT. I think I might be in that category of the ladies in 4 weddings whose cocktail hours are overflowing with food and alcohol

http://www.thewilshiregrandcaterers.com/menus/trad_menu1.shtml

sweets18 · January 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_cocktail-houris-this-necessary?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:e0efca32-79af-4984-93dc-c433a59217c3Post:cddf8fbe-6614-427f-a063-ff7af445d1de">Re: Cocktail Hour...is this necessary?</a>:
[QUOTE]I think this is also a personal opinion. I'm seeing a lot of trends in regards to the area that we're located in. It seems like in the South/Mid-West area cocktail hours are smaller than in the Tri-State {NJ, NY}. Most reception venues in NJ {where i live} come packaged with a cocktail hour. It's all I personally know, so for me {personally} it is absolutely a necessity and it needs to be a substantial amount of food. I cannot write every item we're having b/c it ALOT. I think I might be in that category of the ladies in 4 weddings whose cocktail hours are overflowing with food and alcohol <a href="http://www.thewilshiregrandcaterers.com/menus/trad_menu1.shtml" rel='nofollow'>http://www.thewilshiregrandcaterers.com/menus/trad_menu1.shtml</a>
Posted by A&M_Abyss[/QUOTE]

WOW!!!! That is A LOT of food! Mine will be more lowkey than that... but I love yours!

A&M_Abyss · January 2011

Yeah it is A LOT of food. partially why we booked this venue b/c the other venues weren't offering as much of a selection and we're foodies and want our guests to have their pick at whatever it is they want. There are places in NJ that offer more than this.

missheaven1999 · January 2011

To me, the only reason its necessary, is if you're having your ceremony & reception in the same room. It keeps the guests busy, so they're not just standing around waiting, while the crew break down the ceremony decor & re-set up for the reception decor.

japonica334 · January 2011

Thank you all so much for the responses, its really helping get my thoughts and ideas together.

M1ssJ · January 2011

I am having a morning wedding and our cocktail hour is pretty simple

Mimosas, Poinsettas, Bellinis
Strawberries w/cream cheese
Guava turnovers
mini quiches

I love that people eat less in the morning cuts down on the feasting!

lil01 · February 2011

I agree with other pp that its necessary is you are taking pics in between the ceremony & reception and if the ceremony & reception are in the same room. Its also a nice way for folks to socialize. Some couples do a cocktail hour even if they've already taken their pics. They just choose to socialize with their guests.

We are having one, but havent selected our food yet. I think having enough, but not too much food is good.

missqueens · February 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_cocktail-houris-this-necessary?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:400Discussion:e0efca32-79af-4984-93dc-c433a59217c3Post:4539fb49-0fd4-412b-a000-22b7040811fe">Re: Cocktail Hour...is this necessary?</a>:
[QUOTE]Necessary...no. A nice touch though. We are doing one to keep our guests occupied during the 30-45 minutes of time that we will take pictures after the ceremony. We will have a grits station with shrimp, sausage, and cheese, fruit, cheese & crackers, and lots of beverages. My caterer actually talked me out of adding more food because of the short amount of time before we begin our meal.
Posted by eagles347[/QUOTE]

Umm, Soror did you just say you're having a Grits station??!!! That MAY be the most Fab thing I've heard!!! Shrimp and Grits and Cheese and grits and ANYTHING and grits is GREAT!! I love it!

(BTW, I'm available on your wedding date in case you need an official Grits taster <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-kiss.gif" border="0" alt="Kiss" title="Kiss" />.... LOL)

purplehoney · February 2011

I don't think its necessary... Me and the fi don't drink so it seems pointless in our case

eagles347 · February 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_cocktail-houris-this-necessary?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:400Discussion:e0efca32-79af-4984-93dc-c433a59217c3Post:d69f10c5-199e-4bee-87f6-a17966ba1def">Re: Cocktail Hour...is this necessary?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Cocktail Hour...is this necessary? : Umm, Soror did you just say you're having a Grits station??!!! That MAY be the most Fab thing I've heard!!! Shrimp and Grits and Cheese and grits and ANYTHING and grits is GREAT!! I love it! (BTW, I'm available on your wedding date in case you need an official Grits taster .... LOL)
Posted by missqueens[/QUOTE]

Yes ma'am...lol. FI and I LOVE shrimp and grits so when we saw that the caterer offered this, we were sold. I'm glad you like the idea. I'm hoping it goes over well with our guests.

Cocktail Hour...is this necessary?

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