Alternative for appetizer for cocktail hour??

Why can't you have traditional appetizers?

Is your entire reception appetizers? Or just cocktail hour. If it is a full dinner, leave the sweets to the end.

Otherwise:

Cheese & crackers with dips (hummus, etc.)

Bruschetta

Mini meatballs with sauce

Fried shrimp?

Pasta salad or full pasta station

Mini grilled cheese with tomato soup shooters

Fried rice balls (Italian arancini) with sauce

Grilled portobello mushrooms

Crab cakes

Fried calamari

Fruits and vegetables

I'm having a hard time justifying $1500 for cheese and crackers for 45 minutes With open bar all night. Dinner starts at 615.

No, it's a plated meal with 3 types of bread and salad. I'm just looking for ideas to add something.

Would you rather people get too drunk too fast?

I went to a wedding that had a 2-hour cocktail hour with only popcorn to eat. Yeah we left early because I got a little too tipsy a little too quickly.

We're doing a biscuit bar! Regular and sweet potato biscuits with all kinds of butters and jams. It's $2.95 a person. For $3.95 a person we could've added meats.

Do a regular cocktail hour and leave the sweets to the end of the evening

Oo that's a great idea I will check with my vendors on that one

$1500 seems a little high for just cheese and crackers. How many guests? is it priced per person or a fixed price? I would double check and see what else is included.

Per person. 160 people plus 21% service charge plus food tax plus state tax

With the cheese and crackers she adds a fruit display. I don't think that's enough for the price so I'm trying to get her to ditch one or the other and do something else instead. The bread and oils for dipping will be served with salad pre dinner. I know cheese and crackers are not enough so that's why im asking for some alternatives

You need to have appetizers. Justify it by reminding yourself it's the price of having a wedding and hosting properly. No sweets before dinner and you need something more substantial than cheese and crackers.

Ask about hot appetizers like everyone here suggested.

Agreed. Time to hit the drawing board. Thanks for the tips. I just needed a reminder that it's not enough. We are not trying to cut corners by not properly hosting however our venue was a back up due to venue 1 cancelling on us and it messed up our entire menu and budget.

Thanks!!

Our caterer is our venue in house catering. Ugh!

At our cocktail hour, we're serving:

cheese/crackers/veggies/hummus/dip

bacon wrapped beef short-rib

lobster arancini

pigs in blankets

duck wontons

caprese salad skewers

spanakopita

I’m having a brunch for my wedding . No big open bar just Some wine and Mimosas . At first I wasn’t doing cocktail hour but have been thinking of what I can have that is not too big / expensive that goes with theme . The quest will be outside with limited seating during this time so I don’t want too much of a plated appetizer.. thoughts?