Cocktail hour food

No one's going to make a meal of berries and crackers - don't worry about it. They'll know there's a full meal coming and pace themselves.

Eh, trust your guests to manage their consumption and still enjoy their dinner. @Delfina is right. Don't worry about it.

I agree with PPs. I don't think four choices overwhelms be guests to choose from either.

People come to weddings to eat. They will manage. Your cocktail hour is not a crazy amount of food to be honest.

Don't worry depends how many guest you will have.

I think you're probably fine with the selection you have. As PP's said, people know they're being served dinner, so most will be able to pace themselves during your cocktail hour.

People know how to pace themselves.

It's to wet their appetite and to get even more excited for what's to come.

What you have is hardly going to fill people up. Just order enough for 1-2 bites per person per item.

I felt the same way at our venue. We're have six different passed hor deurves (3 hot options 3 cold) a Mediterranean display. An action or carving station (like a mashed potato bar or something similar) and two different pastas

Wth their own sauce!! We were so surprised at how much food we actually cut the appetizer course and are having just a three course meal! (Also all the app options where very similar to the cocktail food)! As well as desert later in the night!

This will be feeding about 80 people and it is actually more food than what I originally planned because I thought we didn't have enough. I was just worried it was too much now since we have a three course dinner plus apps at the after party. Thanks for the input everyone!

We have 8 passed apps.. I don't think this is anywhere close to "too much food". Average cocktail hour is 3 apps, I would try to add another if you can!

We are having a shit ton of food.

10 different passed apps, 3 hot stations (carving, stir fry and pasta). 2 "specialty" stations (we are doing sliders and Mediterranean) and cold fruit, cheese and cured meat platters throughout.

I usually eat lighter than typical before going to a wedding personally. Better to have more than less.

I don't think that even approaches "a lot of food', honestly. Don't forget that no matter when your meal is, the guests will have spent hours getting ready, traveling and at the ceremony. Then after cocktail hour there's more time before dinner.

We used to figure on 10-12 pieces of hors plus a cold display.

Honestly, that doesn't sound like enough food.

I agree with Alyssa. Most weddings I go to have a cheese and cracker display, multiple stationary apps an at least 4 passed apps. If anything, you don't have enough. People pig out at weddings. Its a celebration.

We're having fruit and cheese with an open bar. Dinner will start 30 mins later.

We had more food available, during our cocktail hour and dessert bar, than I've seen at some weddings (in total), out of our region (the NE USA). We had 10 passed hors d'oeuvres, a giant fruit tower, and a hot/cold buffet. Guests are really hungry at 6:00 PM.

The soup course wasn't served until 7:30. In our social circle we have open dancing between courses, to burn off the calories.

What's your dinner menu like?

People load up at cocktail hour because usually the dinner at a wedding is a tad light. So if I were you, I'd add a hell of a lot more food for your cocktail hour. I will update my comment with my cocktail hour menu when I can find the info.

Cocktails hours aren't a thing in my region or in my social circle. Our wedding is actually the first one I'm going to that will have a cocktail hour. We were actually surprised when it was a part of the package. In all the weddings I have been to there has been a two hour break for pictures and the straight to the reception. The hotel doesnt even offer 10 different appetizer options. I will talk to my planner about adding a few more.

Like a PP mentioned, we tend to do things really big in the Northeast..

Our cocktail hour will have the following:

Chilled seafood bar

10 passed hot hors d'oeuvres

Cheese table

Fruit table

Antipasto table

Swedish meatballs and gnocchi

Plus three hot stations (Mediterranean, pasta, and carving)

And all of this will be followed by a four-course dinner.

Kelly, here was my cocktail hour menu:

Passed apps:

- Shrimp Cocktail

- Thai Spring Rolls

- Crispy Porcini Ravioli

- Tomato Bruschetta

- Tuna Mango Crisps

- Stuffed Mushroom Caps

- Rice Croquettes Parmesan

- Petite Chicken Cordon Bleu

- Dim Sum

- Diver Scallops in Bacon

Chef Stations:

- Butcher Block: Virginia Ham, Herb Crusted Black Angus Eye Round

- Pasta a la Carte: Rigatoni alla Vodka, Farfalle Primavera

- Spanish Station: Seafood Paella, Arroz con Pollo, Beef Mallorca, Platanos

Gourmet Chafing Dishes:

- Fried Calamari

- Barbecued St. Louis Style Ribs

- Pork Cutlet Milanese

- Risotto Milanese

- Seafood Scampi

- Sesame Chicken

Don't worry about them getting too stuffed to not eat dinner. They're not paying for it, so who cares? EAT ALL THE FOOD - that's what it is there for. Don't worry about their stomachs, worry about your own LOL.