Etiquette for Cocktail Hour

I've been to many weddings where the cocktail hour was just drinks.

The only negative thing I've seen is that some people who did not eat before the wedding got drunk with no food in their stomachs during the cocktail hour and were kind of a mess during the reception.

Some type of food should be served. It can be really simple, like fruit, cheese, crackers and veggies on trays. Or warmed apps like the little mini quiches from costco. Those are always good.

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Depends what time of day, and if you are serving dinner as soon as the reception opens. I don't think food is necessary if it's at like 4 or 5 pm, but if it is at like 6 or 7 or 8pm then you should serve a little something, just cause guests who had to travel might not have eaten since noon and may be a bit peckish

We are having a cocktail hour with dinner immediately after but I still chose to have 2 appetizers passed around just in case dinner is delayed for any reason.

For our cocktail hour we are serving two signature alcoholic drinks (and other like soda, water, etc.) and will be serving finger foods (we are having a BBQ style dinner) so our finger foods are like wings, salads, etc. and then after all the dances (our first dance, mother/son, father/daughter, mother/daughter) we will be serving dinner!

Our cocktail hour is 130-230pm and lunch is served promptly at 3pm? What are thoughts knowing that.

Knowing that I would definitely serve some kind of finger foods. Assuming your wedding ceremony is at 12:30 or 1pm, some of your guests might have eaten earlier than usual so they have time to get dressed and get to your wedding. They'll probably be getting pretty hungry around 2pm.

My wedding is at 1pm and our cocktail hour starts at 1:30 - we are serving apps since the reception with lunch does not begin until 2:30.

You don't want people drinking on an empty stomach. Nothing fancy is needed, maybe some crackers and cheese, or even bowls of nuts. It is early so people might not be drinking as heavily as with a later reception.

...Umm... Fawn A....

How do we have the same user name????

Count me in as a 'me too' response. I agree..some sort of food should be served while guests are imbibing. We too have a cocktail hour/hor douerves offering right after the ceremony which gives us time to get those photographs we all want .

Hi Fawn - I noticed that too! My legal name is Fawn and my last name begins with an "A" as well. What are the chances...?

Sorry, I got distracted earlier.

Something light would be nice. The other ladies are right, by that time people will probably be hungry and drinking on an empty stomach, even during a daytime wedding, isn't a good thing.

@Fawn- Me too. I just though WW wouldn't let 2 accounts with the same username, that's all.

Wait, are there are really two people named Fawn A. on WW at the same time?

Llight snack, cheese, cracker, fruit, nuts, stuff like that, I would never drink on an empty stomach, but I also don't want to pig out before a meal is being served.

I would definitely serve some type of snack during cocktail hour as well. Even if it's cheese and crackers. You gotta give people something to nibble on if they are going to be drinking alcohol.

Well one says Fawn and the other is Fawn A which technically makes the two different user names lol

I am in the process of trying to figure this out myself. I am currently going to have a fruit platter station, spinach and artichoke station, and mini crab cakes. I think that should be enough for the 1 cocktail hour.

Or can I just really get away with 2 out of the 3 only? Mmmmm. Decisions.

You could get away with two out of the three, just as long as you serve something and those choices sound good.

We are having finger foods with the cocktail hour. Our guests will be coming from work and will definitely be hungry. I'm sure any small finger food would be greatly appreciated.