Food during a "mocktail" hour?

My venue doesn't allow any cocktail hour food. It's only dinner so our guest won't have anything to eat on but ours isn't that long. Maybe like 30 minutes IF we need to finish up pics. But idk...they may want something to snack on since its non alcoholic drinks

I'd be a little salty if there was nothing at all to munch on during the cocktail hour with your ceremony starting at what some people consider dinnertime. I think you should spend the money. I've never been to a dinner or party at a friends house where there wasn't food out before the wedding; you always serve cheese, crackers, and a veggie tray if dinner won't be ready to eat as soon as guests walk in the door. If you're making them wait for dinner, you should give them something to snack on.

An hour of nothing but (probably) sugary drinks and a photo booth would be rough. If there is nothing else to do, that puts 110 people in line for a photo booth or just sitting around drinking sweet drinks. How much are you spending on fake cocktails? Could you move that budget over to some food?

I find it odd your per-person price increases by almost 30% by just adding veggies and dip for a cocktail hour. Is this really all that is included? I am also doing budget-friendly catering, but my cocktail hour food of veggies/dip, cheese and crackers, and fruit only adds $2.50 per person ($16.50 is the per-person without).

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Agreed, I'd rather have cheese and crackers than a glass of sweet and sour mix without alcohol.

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$10 pp for a vegetable tray is unheard of when the entire rest of the food is only $20 pp.

I should have clarified; our food budget is already over the desired $2000, which is why we were hoping it would be okay to cut out the finger foods. The original price the caterer quoted me for was $3000ish, and when I asked for the most budget-friendly food she could serve during the cocktail hour, she suggested veggies and dip, which would reduce the cost per person by $2. So our total will still be about $2800 (including tip, payment for 5 workers, and tax). I do want our guests to be happy, and I see your points about needing something to snack on. The last thing we want is hangry guests!

Is it possible to do food INSTEAD of mocktails?

I know I would miss them...especially adding that you are not providing alcohol...

You absolutely need to serve something. I would be annoyed if I had to wait around for an hour at dinner time with nothing but a glass of juice and a photo booth.

View Quoted Comment If 110 people is out of your budget, have you considered cutting your guest list and hosting fewer people? Your guests will not be happy with carrot sticks and juice for cocktail hour. Will there be actual cocktails at the reception?

Probably they would be happier with the food than with the drinks. If there was a way of getting the trays of food yourself would it be feasible? Does the caterer need to do the finger food? Because buying some bulk crackers and finding some cheese would be cheaper for you. The guests won't know the difference.

As much as we wanted a photo booth, I wasn’t willing to cut my food or photography budget to make it happen. It’s an unnecessary expense. Food is way more important.

I’d rather have snacks than sugary drinks. I’d miss the hors d’ouevres, as would most guests.

Only serving veggies and dip isn't sufficient for cocktail or mocktail hour. Ditch the photo booth. Use that money for real food. Cut the guest list. Use that money for real food. Cut your flower budget. Cut back on decorations that no one will remember. There are ways to do this.

The photobooth is DIY so that in itself isn't expensive, and the decor and half of the flowers are DIY as well. And we are serving a full dinner after the cocktail hour. We both have rather large families and cutting the guest list may not be possible, but then again not everyone will be able to come. I definitely underestimated the cost of food. We will have to re-evaluate our budget and our guest list. Thanks everyone for your input!

I would try to find a way to serve some food, since dinner won't be until 7. People will be really hungry and expect food during cocktail hours.