Cocktail Hour...Entertainment needed?

I think just socializing is fine. I usually go find my seat (if that's where the cocktail hour is being held) and then chat with friends, get a drink, look at the decorations, ect.

None needed. The guest will self entertain.

We are going to have lawn games because our venue comes with them and are also going to have a photo booth and our DJ playing music. While entertainment isn't necessary, be prepared for your guest to be hitting up your bar very frequently if there isn't something to help the time pass by especially if there isn't appetizers or if some people don't know others to socialize with. That hour can drag on for some and so the bar becomes there friend as something to do.

The keyboardist and saxophonist, from our band, played during the cocktail hour. With everyone chatting, you could barely hear them.

It's a nice idea, but not really necessary. The cocktail hour flew by at the last two weddings I attended--we didn't miss out on any entertainment.

We will have a photobooth at our reception, and that will be available during cocktail hour. I think some people will probably use that, but the rest will eat and mingle.

The string trio that played during the ceremony continued during the cocktail hour. They had a 1 1/2 hour minimum so it worked out great.

Our DJ just played jazz music during cocktail hour while everyone socialized.

We have a champagne toast, basic appetizers like fruits and veggies, and a live pianist. However, if the pianist wasn't a close family friend of my FMIL and wasn't offering it to us as our wedding gift, we would have just had other music playing. And will do so if she backs out.

I have never seen a cocktail hour (which are generally 1.5 hours here) drag.....it's usually hard to get people into the reception room!

On another note, we work at a gorgeous venue (Bonnet Island, near LBI) and each time I've been there, there has been a steel drum band for cocktails! It REALLY put people in the mood for the evening!

Some of my other couples have had mariachi bands, klezmer bands.....maybe a really distinctive kind of music would add that touch you need without balloon animals? (Which, by the way, I think is a great idea, lol)

We are having acoustic Irish music (guitar and fiddle) for both the ceremony and cocktail hour.

It's fun for the guests to have a live band. This is expensive and a luxury, but does lighten the mood and set a fun celebrative atmosphere. If you do have live music, have a different kind of music than you will have for the reception.

We were lucky enough to have ours in an art gallery so people could walk around and talk about the art. But I don't think I'd do anything more than that, or background music.

We're planning on just hooking up an ipod/ iphone and playing a playlist we made over the speakers.

We plan on setting up cornhole and ladder ball/golf. I know it's not necessary, but we will keep them out for later as well. Our wedding is on a Sunday with the ceremony at noon. While we will want to dance after the brunch, we wanted to have some options for people that don't.

I've hired a live musician for the ceremony and cocktail hour.

We will have a photo booth right next to the bar