Sneaking off with no cocktail hour...

Barbaralgn · July 2013

My fiancé and I are having a small ceremony and brunch reception in the same location, so there is no cocktail hour. We have been trying to think of ideas of things our guests could do while the wedding party sneaks away to take photos. Some of the ideas include...a photo booth, a collage or video of childhood pics of the couple, a "Words for the Wedded" board, and a couple of photo frames people can sign. Are there other suggestions of activities we could engage them in so they are not bored prior to the reception and food service?

NOLAbridealmost · July 2013

Guests will be fine to mingle and enjoy themselves without any set activities. You really need to have some refreshments available during this time frame--beverages at the very least. I'd add mimosas and bloody mary's and some light snacks---even something as simple as fruit platters will work.

Dreamergirl8812 · July 2013

Barbaralgn said:

My fiancé and I are having a small ceremony and brunch reception in the same location, so there is no cocktail hour. We have been trying to think of ideas of things our guests could do while the wedding party sneaks away to take photos. Some of the ideas include...a photo booth, a collage or video of childhood pics of the couple, a "Words for the Wedded" board, and a couple of photo frames people can sign. Are there other suggestions of activities we could engage them in so they are not bored prior to the reception and food service?

I don't get it. That doesn't explain why are you aren't having a cocktail hour.

The point of a cocktail hour is to entertain your guests while you take pictures. Do you mean it's early in the day so it will be a dry wedding?

jessicabessica · July 2013

Provide them with food and drink. If you don't want to have any kind of cocktail hour or social hour, take your pictures before the ceremony.

sonthirathb · July 2013

I don't get it either. If you were able to provide a photo booth, can you not provide at least some punch and apps instead while guests wait?

JaneAustensGhost · July 2013

I'm having the ceremony and reception in the same place and I'm having a cocktail hour. After the ceremony, can't you have a bar in another area so the guests can have some refreshments?

AddieCake · July 2013

We had our ceremony and lunch reception at the same venue, and we had a cocktail hour for our guests while we took pictures. People are going to want refreshments during that time, not activities.

Barbaralgn · July 2013

Thanks for the feedback. Given that it will be before noon and neither of us drinks, we were not planning on alcohol, but refreshments of some sort or pre wedding pics are interesting ideas.

LiLe422 · July 2013

Liatris2010 said:

Take photos before the ceremony or have a social hour with drinks and food for guests to enjoy while you take pictures. No one wants to watch of slide show of baby pictures while you and the WP are taking photos.

Yup, what Lia said.

OP, for my brunch reception, we served fruit and cheese platters, breads, pastries, bagels and a salad bar while we were taking pictures. We also served "morning" cocktails and in addition to coffee, tea and juice.

Take the money you would spend on "filler activities" and put it toward food and refreshments.

kryan32 · July 2013

Since it's before noon and you don't drink, how about a coffee/tea bar and some mini pastries? That shouldn't be too expensive and it will hold your guests over while you take pictures...

Jen4948 · July 2013

Spend whatever you would have spent on "activities" on refreshments for your guests while you take pictures.

One thought: Don't take too long with your photo sessions, or your guests will sneak away from you.

MandyMost · July 2013

The terminology of "cocktail hour" might be what's throwing you off? The cocktail hour is just the time, typically about an hour, between the ceremony and reception, generally while the couple is off taking pictures. The guests, who arrived for the ceremony, are able to get up and say hello and mingle with each other prior to taking their seats at the reception. It's essentially a just social hour, and has absolutely nothing to do with alcohol. And etiquette really dictates that you need food and beverage for a social hour. Really, any kind of food and beverage will do. Coffee/tea and breakfast cookies? Juice and donuts? Mini breakfast-like passed hors d'oeurves, like mini quiches? Whatever you want.

You know your guest list best. If you think that they are a very quiet group that's not social, then perhaps you want some kind of "entertainment" in addition to the food and drinks. Something like a photo slide show, or even a table with photos on it, could provide at least something for your non-social guests to do without standing there and feeling awkward. You can also have the guest book set up during the cocktail hour.

doeydo · July 2013

You could offer lemonade, iced tea, and/or juice. If you really want to kill some time, you can offer some games, like a bean bag toss.

allispain · July 2013

Since it's morning time, I would say coffee/tea, maybe some lemonade or strawberry lemonade, punch, etc. would all be good options - and a heck of a lot cheaper than renting a photo booth! Add in some pastries or mini quiches and some veggie and cheese trays and you're all set. As a guest, I would much rather have that waiting for me after the ceremony than games and activities.

colleengilhooly · August 2013

As a guest, I wouldn't use the photo booth at that time of day (or without alcohol). I would be fine with a coffee bar, or juice bar of sorts and some breakfast-type foods. Go with what PPs have said and use the money you have for "activities" towards food and drinks.

erinlin25 · August 2013

does not need to be alcohol-- but you should have juice, water, and/ or a coffee bar would be perfect for a brunch too! have some fruit kabobs or little snacky breakfast foods to munch on as well (pastries of some sort?)

Sneaking off with no cocktail hour...

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