Why a cocktail hour?

[E B]

I feel so silly asking this, but I have *no* idea what the "cocktail hour" is for. Is it really needed? I was thinking we could save money going straight to the reception (which will most likely be on the same property as the ceremony), but if we're supposed to be doing something important during this hour, we might want to consider it.

Anyone want to explain the cocktail hour to me? I'd appreciate it MUCHO!

 

[jcrow]

usually this is the time where the bridal party take formal pics. if you take them before the ceremony maybe you could nix the cocktail hour?

 

[E B]

Date: 5/19/2006 5:09:42 PM
Author: jcrow
usually this is the time where the bridal party take formal pics. if you take them before the ceremony maybe you could nix the cocktail hour?

Thanks, JCrow! That's what I suspected.

We've decided against a bridal party, so it'd be just pictures of FI and I (and our families). I'd probably want to get the photos taken before the ceremony, so we'll have plenty of light to work with, but I haven't actually decided yet.

Hmmm.

 

[ChargerGrrl]

Just something to think about- there may be some pics that will have to wait until after the ceremony. For example, ones with your officiant, and with special friends at the ceremony site.

The cocktail "hour" can also be a time when you and your new hubby can spend a quiet moment together. FI and I are planning to sneak away for a couple of minutes and "toast" to ourselves!

Lastly, just know that it doesn''t have to be an "hour" in length. I think that ours will run about 45 minutes.

 

[selflove]

Yeah, this was what we used our''s for...to occupy guests while we had more pictures taken. We used the time before the ceremony but it wasn''t enough and like CG said, some of them you can''t get until afterwards (like on the steps of the altar, for example).

 

[flopkins]

we actually had the cocktail hour so we could chat w/our guests. we had a big break between the ceremony and cocktail hour for pictures (not exaclty how I wanted it, but it had to do with the time slots available for the chapel) anyway, it''s not required by any means, and cutting it could save a lot of money, but it was really nice for us to mingle with the guests and chat before the dinner got going... once the dancing starts after the dinner, we didn''t have much ''chat'' time so I enjoyed that aspect a lot.

 

[monarch64]

We had our ceremony at the same site as the reception, so we did a receiving line right after the ceremony that was also the start of the cocktail hour. The ceremony was right outside the clubhouse, and there was a four-seasons room in between the outside and bar...as guests got through the receiving line they were able to grab a drink and some hors d''heuvres and mingle a bit before finding their tables. It worked out really well for us. We only had around 100 guests, though, so I wouldn''t recommend doing the same thing with more than that as the receiving line does take some time (I think all of our guests were through in about 30 minutes.)

We did separate bridal party pictures before the ceremony, and I think we did the rest shortly after the first dance???

God I can''t remember now, lol! I would have to get out my proofs to figure out the timeline!