Cocktail Hour Alternatives?

I did not have any alcohol at mine and just called it a social hour. i would add a food item too like simple cookies or fruit platter would even do

View Quoted Comment

Thank you! I was struggling what to call it as well. I think "social hour" is good.

Cocktail hour should always include some kind of apps. I personally wouldn’t do hot chocolate right before dinner. Just let guests mingle and eat some snacks.

We are also having a dry wedding, we are having lemonade tea and water and appetizers, we are also calling it social hour. Whether it be drinks like hot coco or cider too or some food you have to have something if you are going to have people wait. Just standing around with no food or drink isn’t cool. I think the coco bar is really cool you could do different marshmallows, peppermint stir sticks different flavor combos to really make it cool!

View Quoted Comment

Thank you. I thought a hot coco bar would be cool too. Guests could come in a warm up with it.

I'm at a loss of apps to serve, though. I feel like sweets go really well with it, but part of me is like "can't serve sweets before dinner" lol.

View Quoted Comment

Thank you. Why not hot coco before dinner?

You could always do a signature drink without alcohol and call it mocktail hour

I agree that social hour should probably have some kind of appetizer - something easy to hold/eat while standing and not messy. I like the hot chocolate idea too!

We’re getting married at sunrise, so we’re calling it a social hour too since I can’t imagine people really drinking at 8am. We’ll have fruit platters, muffins. and other small stuff to snack on. I would definitely get some kind of appetizer, even just something simple.
Mocktails could be fun, otherwise just focus on what your crowd drinks. My friends and family are big tea drinkers, so that’s a given for us.

I think the hot chocolate is good idea. for apps you could serve sippable soups, or small bite sized chili and cornbread, mini pot pies, im thinking warming comfort foods but bite sized servings

With it being a winter wedding, a s’mores station might be a lot of fun! Not only would it provide food, but also an activity to keep guests busy

View Quoted Comment

Love this idea! Thank you!

View Quoted Comment

This is a really interesting idea. I hadn't thought of this, but like it a lot! Thank you!

Meat, cheese and vegetable platters work for all seasons! And I would enjoy hot apple cider even more than alcohol

I like Melle's idea of calling it a social hour. I definitely think some sort of snacks should be served; maybe a veggie tray, cheese and crackers, etc.

For drinks, tea, water, lemonade, and soft drinks are fine. If you want to do a hot chocolate or coffee bar, that would be nice. But a lot of guests probably wont partake in that before dinner is served.

Do a punch in a really beautiful punch bowl. Have someone serve. S’mores is a cute idea too

View Quoted Comment

Happy to help! also if hot chocolate feels like too much you could do apple cider with little cinnamon sticks i got ideasssss lol

View Quoted Comment

I thought about this too, but I'm doing a little s'more packet for the favors so I don't want to do it twice.

I would definitely serve food and drinks. You could have fun mocktails. I don't drink either so I totally understand not wanting to serve alcohol.

At my friends wedding they had a "Mocktail Hour". They made non alcoholic versions of a couple signature drinks and had snacks (chex mix, veggie trays, cheese and crackers).