Cocktail reception - open bar - no sit down meal

I would prefer a cocktail reception to be after dinner time (like 8 pm) personally. Between lunch and dinner just cuts the entire day up. You will also still need to provide seats for every butt even if it isn't a sit down meal. People want to put their purses/jacket/shoes somewhere and set down their plate/drink while they eat.

The dance floor should be a specific area with a dance floor. The people passing apps won't go on the dance floor.

1) I went to a cocktail party reception at 2pm and it was fine. It was small, and instead of passed appetizers, appetizers were layer out on a table. We each grabbed a plate, piled it with apps, grabbed a glass of wine, and roamed around and socialized (but we also had tables we could sit at). I don't recall anyone complaining.

2) As it was an afternoon wedding with apps, no one really danced. When I think of cocktail receptions, I don't think of them as long events with dancing. I think of more of background music and conversation because it's a short affair. The bride and groom did have their dance and the other traditional dances, but people mingled more than danced. And it was fine. It was still a nice event. You're not going to have a lot of people letting down their hair at 3pm and 4pm, so I'd honestly choose either live or DJ - but even then live is probably better.

Edited to add: There were maybe 60 guests.

My advice (simply as a guest) would be...

-have tables to sit at or some other form of seating arrangements so people can socialize comfortably

-have good quality appetizers

-make sure it's very clear that there is no meal

-don't expect people to dance: not that some won't but I've been to a LOT of weddings and dancing requires 2 things that will not happen before 6 pm- at least a semi decent amount of drinking and darkness!

-also don't expect it to last 5-6 hours like a traditional reception

I think an after dinner cocktail would work better of you have dancing as guest would stay longer. Being before dinner I would be thinking about leaving to go get dinner.

If you don't want a formal sit down meal, but want it at that time, why don't you consider getting a food truck! Those are becoming popular for weddings at the end, when guest are tired of dancing and are hungry again. Maybe you can somehow fit that in so you can get a good timeline and a nice cocktail reception with the option of your guests having a meal! it might work if you don't want a sit down meal due to costs? I don't know your story, so Im just throwing suggestions out there. I was on a wedding blog and a couple had an "In n Out" truck for their wedding! It was a full on ceremony, cocktail hour, and then dinner was so casual. People ate and danced and honestly it looked like a blast in those photos! I wouldn't mind doing that if I had to invite a lot of people and still wanted a nice wedding, but couldn't afford to have a formal sit down meal or even buffet. Luckily, I'm having a smaller 75ish guests, so I don't have to worry about feeding people a $100 plate that I dont know and most likely dont know me or FH! Lol.

Thank you for your input. We will have low standard wedding tables for 50% of the guests and high 'stand up' for others... We also have a huge balcony with tables and chairs. I've been to daytime weddings where everyone dances and evening ones where no one did so it probably depends on the crowd and DJ. We have a pool and do a lot of morning-afternoon parties and you're right...after a few drinks everyone dances.

Thanks again... I may rethink the sit down but have plenty of time to decide. ?

Thanks Future Mrs Chang. A food truck would be kind of funny... I've read about them at events. ? Money is not the issue at all. As a matter of fact, having 15 apps per person, with a raw bar and cheese and such is quite a bit more money than a sit down lunch. And we are doing open bar. My nephew gets married a month before us... He's late 20s and having a traditional wedding set up. I just thought for us, being older, a cocktail party would be a good choice.

I love them. The cocktail hour food is usually more interesting too.

I think what you have planned is great!