Cocktail hour wording

I don't think it can be called anything but cocktail hour? From what you described above it sounds like a cocktail hour to me.

If you really don't feel comfortable with cocktail hour even though you are offering a drink AKA cocktail and foood. You could call it social hour.

What is the name of your signature drink? You could form the wording around it.

Another question, are you doing any protein or bread at the "cocktail" hour? You really should. Fruit and vegetables = not enough. IMHO.

Mock tail hour? Please join us for appetizers and refreshments. Mingle and munch? Just some other thoughts.

You could maybe say something along the lines of, "we invite everyone to gather for light apps and mingling at location after the ceremony."

Or, just call it cocktail hour. I don't think it is too confusing if you call it that...it pretty much suggests a place with apps and drinks and mingling with other guests before reception in my mind. It just gives you a nice place to spend time instead of awkwardly hanging outside of the hotel waiting for the start of the reception or having to find your own activity in a town you know nothing about.

Can I just say reception to follow ceremony...............Do guests have to be warned they will have to wait before the reception starts to go into the reception hall?

Eh I guess you could. But seriously you are having a cocktail hour so why call it anything else?

If there is an hour wait, once guests are at the reception site, you need to do something.

Do you expect guests to stand around and make small talk? If so, the talk will be "Why are we standing here with no food or drink?"

You have to do something, if guests are waiting an hour.

They will have food and drink....we are just unsure of the alochol right now...i need a wording for my invitations.

I'm trying to think of invitations that I have seen.

I honestly do not recall them specifying a cocktail hour after the ceremony. In my area it's pretty much assumed that there will be 1 hour that you are all doing one thing and the wedding party is taking pictures. Then immediately following that hour, the reception will commence.

I guess it depends on your area, but I've never seen anyone specifically point out their cocktail hour. It just kind of happens.

SHould I just put "Reception to follow" then give the name and address

That's what I would do.

Put "reception to follow". Cocktail hour is part of the reception. Basically the event that starts after the ceremony is the reception = cocktail hour, dinner, dancing etc.

I also just put reception to follow on the invitations. We are having a cocktail hour while we take photos, but I don't think anyone really needs to know the reception includes the cocktail hour. Like @Courtney R., I've never seen cocktail hour pointed out on the wedding invitation.

I would skip it. mine won't say anything about the cocktail hour. Just "food and fun to follow." It's not unusual to have to wait for the reception.

Thanks guys