Cocktail Hour

ElyseE25 · July 2012

Our ceremony is at 5, the reception is only feet away so I had planned on opening the bar at 5:30. We were going to do some party trays of food, but our caterer said they can't touch or clear or set out food that they did not bring. So we were going to buy some party trays from the caterer, well she is being really annoying and never responds properly to my email (ie: doesn't answer the question I am asking), finally I get out of her the the two trays we were thinking about getting isn't enough. Not sure what isn't enough because she wont give me an estimate of how much they will feed. Note these party trays don't come cheap and we are already at the top of our budget!

So long story short (sorry) is an hour of cocktails/beer/drinks only too long? I don't really want to spend a lot of money on food because I have already done that for dinner. There will be other drink too and unlimited water so it wont only be alcholic drinks. It's so frustrating! Do you think people would really mind if we don't have them? I feel that a 6:30 dinner isn't late and because the wedding is right before they would have had plenty of time to eat a lunch. Please tell me what you all think.

dawnp917 · July 2012

As long as dinner is going to start promptly at 630 you should be fine. I get migraines if I go too long without food. If I start drinking on an almost empty stomach that sometimes triggers them as well. I would make sure to have food as soon as possible.

DeClue82 · July 2012

Our cocktail "hour" is only 30 minutes long... We are doing drinks, sliders, and mashed potatoes. Dinner will start shortly after the bridal party is introed, and first dances happen.

libby2483 · July 2012

Our timeline is ceremony at 330, cocktails at 400. We will do our grand march and cake cutting at 515 and dinner will be promptly served at 530. Initially, we weren't going to do food with cocktails, because we are serving a late night pizza snack at 930. However, we decided to keep it very simple and just do bowls of Gardettos and pretzels so people have a little something to munch on. Perhaps this would be in your budget too? If not, I think the time is short enough that you don't have to serve anything.

h1jung · July 2012

Our cocktail hour is 1 hour long and I don't think it's too long. We're also taking group photos at that time, and including the congratulation line in that time.

If the party trays are expensive to buy from the caterer, could you buy some cheap ones from Ikea?

If you still feel like the cocktail hour is too long, can you provide some type of entertainment? Like a slide show, lawn games (if it's outdoors), etc?

Edit: Sorry I think I misread. You probably mean that you're buying party trays with food prepared on them from the caterer and not jsut the trays itself.

ChristineNB · July 2012

I would really try to have some trays of apps, even if they are from costco or something. Having just alcohol and no food for an hour could be problamatic, especially if you have a lot of guests that are big drinkers.

i2012do · July 2012

I think that you could do just a display of cheese and crackers at least....That could be picked up and then just supply some small plates and napkins. then people just throw those out- and anything left over gets tossed.

This would at least satitie people for a bit.

I recently went toa wedding that had no passed apps at cocktail hour- and there was just a cheese table and people were starving so they were all over it.
plus people like to munch while they drink

rungirl12 · July 2012

I personally wouldn't worry about not having appetizers if it's outside of your budget. Or, if you can afford the two trays, but worry whether or not it's enough, DON'T worry! Let those trays feed the people who eat it and once it's gone, it's gone. Adults can wait until 6:30 which is a completely reasonable hour for dinner and should know by now how to pace themselves with alcohol available. In the case of people with medical conditions, they should be aware of them and know to carry snacks if they've made it this far in life.

This may be more of a personal rant, but I absolutely HATE planning food to make sure every single person gets as much as each item as they want. I hate this at family holidays - it probably stems from the fact that half of my family is morbidly obese, and has to cook up food to serve an army and then try to push leftovers on me (not a fan), but I get so irritated at mass quantities of food. No one is starving! Let one freaking dish run out - there are likely 8 more to choose from. If your apps run out, then dinner will be served within the hour - everyone should be content. Most weddings I have been to stop serving apps at least 30 minutes before dinner is served (if they're served at all). Whether that is by design or they "run out" of all they've paid for, it's never bothered me.

Don't force yourself to go out of your budget - you are already serving a meal and a snack later!

ElyseE25 · July 2012

Do you guys think that bowls of gardettos or something on each table is trashy?

i2012do · July 2012

I had to google what that was. But... I'm not sure how I feel about a mix thing being served.What do you mean on tables like on cocktail tables?

You could do it, if you had nice serving trays that were long anda bit deep and fill it and just put it up by the bar. people would take a handfull

thats always a sanitation issue to me though.

How much do the two trays of food cost?
Could you possible just cut your bduget elsewhere

It also depends on what is typically done in your area! that varies greatly.

orangemell2012 · July 2012

We are having passed appetizers right after the ceremony, with an open bar all night I really want to keep people fed! I have been at a few wedding where there wasn't food early enough and people got pretty drunk.

libby2483 · July 2012

In Response to Re:Cocktail Hour:[QUOTE]Do you guys think that bowls of gardettos or something on each table is trashy?nbsp; Posted by ElyseE25[/QUOTE]

We are just doing Gardettos and pretzels on a table near the bar with serving spoons. I'm confused about your idea of having them on each table, though. People generally aren't seated at tables during the cocktail hour.

Cocktail Hour

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