{"id":4124,"date":"2022-11-20T14:00:48","date_gmt":"2022-11-20T13:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/?p=4124"},"modified":"2024-01-18T13:06:40","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T12:06:40","slug":"wedding-cocktail-hour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Wedding Cocktail Hour Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Planning a <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">wedding cocktail hour<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and not quite sure where to start? No problem, friend!\u00a0 Let&#8217;s get you sorted with our go-to organisational blueprint for this fun and festive aspect of your wedding celebration. After all, the time between the ceremony and reception is the perfect opportunity to set the tone for the rest of your Big Day.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>What to serve during cocktail hour<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-4128\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Wedding-Appetizers_Canva_MADQLJTVWiY-wedding-food-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"Wedding Cocktail Hour Canapes\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Wedding-Appetizers_Canva_MADQLJTVWiY-wedding-food-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Wedding-Appetizers_Canva_MADQLJTVWiY-wedding-food-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Wedding-Appetizers_Canva_MADQLJTVWiY-wedding-food-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Wedding-Appetizers_Canva_MADQLJTVWiY-wedding-food-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Wedding-Appetizers_Canva_MADQLJTVWiY-wedding-food-1480x740.jpg 1480w, https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Wedding-Appetizers_Canva_MADQLJTVWiY-wedding-food-760x380.jpg 760w, https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Wedding-Appetizers_Canva_MADQLJTVWiY-wedding-food.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 100vw, 532px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A wedding cocktail hour would not be complete without some tasty canap\u00e9s and drinks. Here are a few pointers to pave the way for a fuss-free event:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Food\u00a0 <span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Wedding cocktail hour food<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> is normally served in the form of hors d&#8217;oeuvres or canap\u00e9s that are tasty enough to stimulate the appetite, but light enough so guests won\u2019t be too stuffed to enjoy their main meal.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cocktail hour wedding appetisers<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> can be passed by servers, served at individual food stations, or set up as a harvest table from which guests can serve themselves. If you are unsure about which option to go for, check in with your caterer to see which set-up they prefer.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Drinks<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Typically, a bridal party will choose a <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">wedding cocktail<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> or <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">signature drink<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to be served during cocktail hour. However, if <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">signature cocktails<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> are not quite your thing, you can also opt for some batch drinks from which guests can serve themselves, or a full bar set-up so there are a wider range of beverages on offer. Always remember to offer mocktails or non-alcoholic drink options as well.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Big batch inspo:<\/span><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktails\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Gorgeous Wedding Cocktails for Easy Pouring<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Tips for hosting a cocktail hour<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-4127\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Hosting-a-Wedding-Cocktail-Hour_Canva_MAEJeHcpixk-photo-booth-at-a-party-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"Wedding Cocktail Hour Entertainment\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Hosting-a-Wedding-Cocktail-Hour_Canva_MAEJeHcpixk-photo-booth-at-a-party-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Hosting-a-Wedding-Cocktail-Hour_Canva_MAEJeHcpixk-photo-booth-at-a-party-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Hosting-a-Wedding-Cocktail-Hour_Canva_MAEJeHcpixk-photo-booth-at-a-party-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Hosting-a-Wedding-Cocktail-Hour_Canva_MAEJeHcpixk-photo-booth-at-a-party-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Hosting-a-Wedding-Cocktail-Hour_Canva_MAEJeHcpixk-photo-booth-at-a-party-1480x740.jpg 1480w, https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Hosting-a-Wedding-Cocktail-Hour_Canva_MAEJeHcpixk-photo-booth-at-a-party-760x380.jpg 760w, https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Hosting-a-Wedding-Cocktail-Hour_Canva_MAEJeHcpixk-photo-booth-at-a-party.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 100vw, 532px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Now that you\u2019ve got the food and drinks sorted, it\u2019s time to think about how the whole event segment will come together. Here are a few important things to bear in mind:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Design the atmosphere<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When it comes to <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ideas for cocktail hour at weddings,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> we always like to take a step back and look at the space we\u2019re working with. Most wedding venues will have designated cocktail hour spaces that have been laid out to accommodate stand-up mingling. To ensure that your guests are comfortable while you slip away to commemorate your day in pictures, consider providing the following:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A coat- and bag check (especially if the wedding takes place in winter or autumn)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A handy gift table (including a safe container to deposit cheques or monetary gifts)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Enough servers to keep tables clear of glasses and plates<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Soft seating spaces for guests who want to sit down<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Higher bar tables for guests who wish to stand but need a spot to place their drinks<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Fans in summer and heaters in winter<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hosting outdoors? <\/span><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/outdoor-cocktail-party\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Easy-Peasy Guide to Hosting an Outdoor Cocktail Party<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Music<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Wedding cocktail hour music<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> should be chosen by the bridal couple to reflect the ambiance of their Big Day. Some folks may prefer a string quartet playing covers of popular <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">wedding cocktail hour songs,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> while others may opt for a full-on <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">mariachi band.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> The choice is yours!\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Our recommendation is to steer clear of deafening silence at all costs, however \u2013 even a Bluetooth speaker and iPhone playlist are better than nothing. Don\u2019t lose the vibe!<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Interactive elements<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Although it\u2019s not a <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">must<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">-have, interactive elements are a nice way to encourage mingling and to get the party started in your absence. Some bridal couples like to offer <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">cocktail hour photo ops<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> in the form of <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">photo booths<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, or a selfie installation. Others like to offer lawn games like croquet or giant chess.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Cocktail hour etiquette<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-4125\" src=\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Etiquette_Canva_photosMAD2j3dda4A-wedding-bouquet-at-wedding-reception-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"Wedding Cocktail Hour Etiquette\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Etiquette_Canva_photosMAD2j3dda4A-wedding-bouquet-at-wedding-reception-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Etiquette_Canva_photosMAD2j3dda4A-wedding-bouquet-at-wedding-reception-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Etiquette_Canva_photosMAD2j3dda4A-wedding-bouquet-at-wedding-reception-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Etiquette_Canva_photosMAD2j3dda4A-wedding-bouquet-at-wedding-reception-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Etiquette_Canva_photosMAD2j3dda4A-wedding-bouquet-at-wedding-reception-1480x740.jpg 1480w, https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Etiquette_Canva_photosMAD2j3dda4A-wedding-bouquet-at-wedding-reception-760x380.jpg 760w, https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/381.-Cocktail-Hour-Wedding_Etiquette_Canva_photosMAD2j3dda4A-wedding-bouquet-at-wedding-reception.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 100vw, 532px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Weddings may no longer be quite as starched and stuffy as they were in previous eras, but there are still some etiquettes to observe if you are lucky enough to crack an invite to someone\u2019s Big Day.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>How long does cocktail hour last?<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A good rule of thumb is to keep the cocktail hour to, well, an hour. Sixty minutes should be enough time for the bridal party to get all the pictures they want, and for the guests to have a good mingling session before they sit down to the rest of the formal proceedings.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Do you need to have a cocktail hour<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Here\u2019s the great thing about planning <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">your <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">wedding \u2013 you get to do, and not do, exactly what you want. If you don\u2019t see the need for a cocktail hour, skip it! However, we have found that this little reprieve in-between the formality of the ceremony and the sit-down atmosphere of pre-dinner speeches gives everyone a welcome moment to unwind.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Can you have the cocktail hour before the ceremony?<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As previously mentioned, the world is your oyster! The reason why most bridal couples choose to host the cocktail hour after the ceremony is because it makes for a nice smooth transition to the rest of the proceedings. Also, it has to be said that fun-loving guests can become a little hard to herd once they start chatting and mingling. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">TIP: If you decide to go the pre-ceremony cocktail hour route, we suggest serving <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/trends\/low-alcohol-cocktails\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">low-alcohol drinks<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to keep things on an even keel.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Can guests skip the cocktail hour?<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Here&#8217;s the thing &#8211; when a guest RSVPs yes to a wedding, the bridal couple factors them in for every aspect of their celebrations. So, when they order canap\u00e9s and discuss pre-drinks with their caterers, they assume everyone will be there and allocate budget to the food, drinks, and entertainment per head. In short, it&#8217;s good manners to partake of all the beautiful and tasty things the nuptial hosts have arranged. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">However, there are certain instances in which it might be okay to skip the cocktail hour. For instance, some guests may have to check in on their children who are being taken care of at their accommodation, or elsewhere on the premises. Elderly friends and relatives also sometimes take this moment to rest before the rest of the proceedings.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A good rule of thumb is to check in with the bridal couple beforehand if you do plan to skip the cocktail hour, and to explain your reason for doing so. This will give them and their organisational team a welcome head&#8217;s up.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Planning a wedding cocktail hour and not quite sure where to start? No problem, friend!\u00a0 Let&#8217;s get you sorted with our go-to organisational blueprint for this fun and festive aspect of your wedding celebration. After all, the time between the ceremony and reception is the perfect opportunity to set the tone for the rest of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4130,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[19],"class_list":["post-4124","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-plan","tag-wedding"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Cocktail Hour \u2013 The Mixer UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The classic wedding cocktail hour is the period between the wedding ceremony and the formal reception. Discover how to host the best wedding cocktail hour now.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Cocktail Hour \u2013 The Mixer UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The classic wedding cocktail hour is the period between the wedding ceremony and the formal reception. Discover how to host the best wedding cocktail hour now.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Mixer\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-11-20T13:00:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-01-18T12:06:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/Wedding-Cocktail-Hour_Canva_tattywelshie.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Anna-Bet Stemmet\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Anna-Bet Stemmet\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Anna-Bet Stemmet\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/#\/schema\/person\/76a680d313678dea221ee2124b110b63\"},\"headline\":\"The Ultimate Wedding Cocktail Hour Guide\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-11-20T13:00:48+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-01-18T12:06:40+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/\"},\"wordCount\":1037,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/Wedding-Cocktail-Hour_Canva_tattywelshie.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Wedding\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Plan\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/#respond\"]}],\"description\":\"The classic wedding cocktail hour is the period between the wedding ceremony and the formal reception. Discover how to host the best wedding cocktail hour now.\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/\",\"name\":\"The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Cocktail Hour \u2013 The Mixer UK\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/Wedding-Cocktail-Hour_Canva_tattywelshie.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-11-20T13:00:48+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-01-18T12:06:40+00:00\",\"description\":\"The classic wedding cocktail hour is the period between the wedding ceremony and the formal reception. Discover how to host the best wedding cocktail hour now.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/Wedding-Cocktail-Hour_Canva_tattywelshie.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/Wedding-Cocktail-Hour_Canva_tattywelshie.jpg\",\"width\":1800,\"height\":900,\"caption\":\"Waiter serving red wedding cocktails\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/\",\"name\":\"The Mixer\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Campari The Mixer\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/07\/Rectangle.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/07\/Rectangle.jpg\",\"width\":122,\"height\":120,\"caption\":\"Campari The Mixer\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/#\/schema\/person\/76a680d313678dea221ee2124b110b63\",\"name\":\"Anna-Bet Stemmet\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/095023dbf724197c75dffaa3e536c3e83b661113bb4bea63c8fbffc311e31e98?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/095023dbf724197c75dffaa3e536c3e83b661113bb4bea63c8fbffc311e31e98?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/095023dbf724197c75dffaa3e536c3e83b661113bb4bea63c8fbffc311e31e98?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Anna-Bet Stemmet\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Cocktail Hour \u2013 The Mixer UK","description":"The classic wedding cocktail hour is the period between the wedding ceremony and the formal reception. Discover how to host the best wedding cocktail hour now.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Cocktail Hour \u2013 The Mixer UK","og_description":"The classic wedding cocktail hour is the period between the wedding ceremony and the formal reception. Discover how to host the best wedding cocktail hour now.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/","og_site_name":"The Mixer","article_published_time":"2022-11-20T13:00:48+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-01-18T12:06:40+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1800,"height":900,"url":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/Wedding-Cocktail-Hour_Canva_tattywelshie.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Anna-Bet Stemmet","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Anna-Bet Stemmet","Estimated reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/"},"author":{"name":"Anna-Bet Stemmet","@id":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/#\/schema\/person\/76a680d313678dea221ee2124b110b63"},"headline":"The Ultimate Wedding Cocktail Hour Guide","datePublished":"2022-11-20T13:00:48+00:00","dateModified":"2024-01-18T12:06:40+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/"},"wordCount":1037,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/Wedding-Cocktail-Hour_Canva_tattywelshie.jpg","keywords":["Wedding"],"articleSection":["Plan"],"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/#respond"]}],"description":"The classic wedding cocktail hour is the period between the wedding ceremony and the formal reception. Discover how to host the best wedding cocktail hour now."},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/","url":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/","name":"The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Cocktail Hour \u2013 The Mixer UK","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/Wedding-Cocktail-Hour_Canva_tattywelshie.jpg","datePublished":"2022-11-20T13:00:48+00:00","dateModified":"2024-01-18T12:06:40+00:00","description":"The classic wedding cocktail hour is the period between the wedding ceremony and the formal reception. Discover how to host the best wedding cocktail hour now.","inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/plan\/wedding-cocktail-hour\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/Wedding-Cocktail-Hour_Canva_tattywelshie.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/11\/Wedding-Cocktail-Hour_Canva_tattywelshie.jpg","width":1800,"height":900,"caption":"Waiter serving red wedding cocktails"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/","name":"The Mixer","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/#organization","name":"Campari The Mixer","url":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/07\/Rectangle.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/07\/Rectangle.jpg","width":122,"height":120,"caption":"Campari The Mixer"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/#\/schema\/person\/76a680d313678dea221ee2124b110b63","name":"Anna-Bet Stemmet","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/095023dbf724197c75dffaa3e536c3e83b661113bb4bea63c8fbffc311e31e98?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/095023dbf724197c75dffaa3e536c3e83b661113bb4bea63c8fbffc311e31e98?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/095023dbf724197c75dffaa3e536c3e83b661113bb4bea63c8fbffc311e31e98?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Anna-Bet Stemmet"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4124","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4124"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4124\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8006,"href":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4124\/revisions\/8006"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4124"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4124"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4124"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}