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What to call a cocktail-free cocktail hour

mctlongmctlong member
10 Comments
in Wedding Etiquette Forum
II'm putting together itineraries and I'm trying to figure out what to call a cocktail-free cocktail hour. Our reception is alcohol-free, but there wll be soda, tea, and appetizers during the morning (11:30-12:30) "cocktail" hour. It will be followed by a lunch reception. 

My MOH is thinking "Mix and Mingle hour".

What do you guys think?
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Re: What to call a cocktail-free cocktail hour

  • annakb8annakb8 member
    2500 Comments
    Social Hour
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    generic blog link.
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  • Rosie109Rosie109
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    Hour
    image
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  • mixtapeheartsmixtapehearts member
    Eighth Anniversary 100 Comments
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_call-cocktail-cocktail-hour?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:c9860182-d5ec-4f9b-9ca6-23ada0c269b7Post:cc023734-fdbd-41e5-9f4b-2f70869ca311">Re: What to call a cocktail-free cocktail hour</a>:
    [QUOTE]Hour
    Posted by Rosie109[/QUOTE]

    <div>Hehe</div>
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  • Marrin713Marrin713 member
    1000 Comments Third Anniversary 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    Coffee Clatch......hmmmm, I don't know.  Will you and groom be there or will you be using that hour for pictures?  If you're there maybe call it a Meet and Greet?  Sounds cheesy but I can't think of anything.
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  • KentuckyKateKentuckyKate member
    1000 Comments
    I would just call it "Hors d'oeuvres" or "Appetizers."
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  • KentuckyKateKentuckyKate member
    1000 Comments
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_call-cocktail-cocktail-hour?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:c9860182-d5ec-4f9b-9ca6-23ada0c269b7Post:cc023734-fdbd-41e5-9f4b-2f70869ca311">Re: What to call a cocktail-free cocktail hour</a>:
    [QUOTE]Hour
    Posted by Rosie109[/QUOTE]
    Or this.<img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" />
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  • plato79plato79 member
    Tenth Anniversary 500 Comments
    edited May 2011
    I might call it a pre-dinner gathering. I like the idea of meet & greet if you'll be there. Good idea PP. You also could write something like, "please join us for appetizers..." or "we'll have a pre-dinner social hour..." or "we'll have a pre-dinner gathering..."  You get the idea. :)

    edit: i really like the mix & mingle idea too!
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  • TurtlesAllTheWayDownTurtlesAllTheWayDown member
    10000 Comments Sixth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    I don't know that you have to call it anything. It will just be a period of time when guests mingle before they sit down for their meal. However, at the one dry (evening) reception I've been to, they still had cocktail hour with mocktails (different punch) and passed hors d'oeuvres. They did call it "cocktail hour."
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  • hz80408hz80408 member
    5000 Comments 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_call-cocktail-cocktail-hour?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:c9860182-d5ec-4f9b-9ca6-23ada0c269b7Post:baadd7f1-b86c-497c-9902-5ed7776c54bc">Re: What to call a cocktail-free cocktail hour</a>:
    [QUOTE]I might call it a pre-dinner gathering. I like the idea of meet & greet if you'll be there. Good idea PP. You also could write something like, "please join us for appetizers..." or "we'll have a pre-dinner social hour..." or "we'll have a pre-dinner gathering..."  You get the idea. :) edit: i really like the mix & mingle idea too!
    Posted by plato79[/QUOTE]

    Unless I misinterpreted, I don't thnk there is a dinner reception? OP-is reception lunch or dinner?

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  • jessicabessicajessicabessica member
    2500 Comments Third Anniversary 100 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited May 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_call-cocktail-cocktail-hour?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:c9860182-d5ec-4f9b-9ca6-23ada0c269b7Post:6ca836e3-9a16-4bb5-966d-42ebcab0cc11">Re: What to call a cocktail-free cocktail hour</a>:
    [QUOTE]I would just call it "Hors d'oeuvres" or "Appetizers."
    Posted by KentuckyKate[/QUOTE]

    Agreed, I would go with "hors d'oeuvres."

    ETA: Why do you have to call it anything?  Are you writing it on the invite/reception card?  If that's the purpose, you don't need to say "______ and lunch to follow," you can just say "lunch to follow" (or we are saying "celebration to follow" for our lunch, which includes a cocktail hour). 
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  • zitiqueenzitiqueen member
    Knottie Warrior 2500 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer
    Bor-ing.
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  • em01092em01092 member
    1000 Comments
    You could call it a mocktail hour. 

    I had to explain to my grandmother what a cocktail hour was. She seriously thought it was free flowing booze and everyone getting smashed. I had to tell her its just a name and something for guests to do while the couple takes pictures (she says this is new, everyone used to just start eating dinner at the reception while waiting on the B&G, apparently?)

    She was extremely worried that there would not be any non-alcoholic beverages (she and about 20 guests are strict Southern Baptist and do not drink), so even the term "cocktail" hour can be somewhat misleading, at least to some people. I never had any intention of not providing mocktails or soda, water, etc. 
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  • mica178mica178 member
    5000 Comments Fourth Anniversary 5 Love Its
    On the reception card, you'd just list the reception start time.  You don't need to break down what is being served when.

    If you're just giving an itinerary to wedding party and/or DJ/wedding coordinator, you can say "Reception starts at 11:30am, lunch served at 12:30pm."
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  • ajroarkajroark
    100 Comments
    I like Mocktail Hour or just  "hors d'oeuvres."  :)
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  • wyneywyney member
    10 Comments
    I can't tell from your OP, but I think "Appetizer" and "Hors d'oeuvres" suggest that more food is coming, so I'd avoid those terms if there was no food following them.


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  • lyndausvilyndausvi mod
    Moderator Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its
    Why do you need to call it anything.

    We had a real cocktail hour but didn't fee the need to separate it from the reception.  We just said, 'reception to follow'.






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