Ideas

Can you get frozen appetizers from Costco to heat and serve? If not, then get basic meat, cheese and cracker platters from Costco and call it a day. What type of drinks are you serving? If you have alcohol, which is optional, you must serve substantial food, which is not optional. You are also legally responsible if anyone gets hurt at or after your wedding as a result of not enough food served. The bartenders know that this is a liability.


Is there anything you can cut out from the rest of your budget? If not, serve just the cheese and crackers.

Either take your photos before the ceremony or have something for people to eat while guests are drinking, even if it's something simple. If the venue won't allow you to bring in your own food, then unfortunately, you chose the wrong venue.

But if you are asking people to wait for the reception, you're obliged to provide some type of refreshments, and if you're serving alcohol, you need something for them to eat. Another option would be to forgo or limit the alcohol, perhaps to one butlered drink in order to make room in the budget for food.

Either cut something else from your budget to make sure you are able to provide food, or take your pictures before the ceremony and eliminate cocktail hour.

I agree with everyone else. It’s very inconsiderate and kind of rude to ask people to wait while you take photos and then not feed them. I would cut something else to budget for it or take pictures earlier and eliminate cocktail hour altogether

Depending on the type of venue/wedding you could always do some sort of yard games or activities for them to do while they mingle like corn hole, photo booth, horse shoes

View Quoted Comment That's a good idea

View Quoted Comment

Not really. You would still need to provide some type of refreshments. Also, keep in mind that while this may be fun for some, these are adults, dressed for a wedding. They may be a lot more interested in conversation and mingling than lawn games.

These comments... As a vet Bridesmaid (9 weddings under my belt as bridesmaid and/or hairdresser) people expect to wait for pictures. That's what cocktail hour is lol.

Personally, we will be providing non alcoholic drinks (b/c who needs alcohol that soon anyway) and setting out board games that we already own for the guests to play. For us, this is special because we enjoy playing games as a couple but I think it's simple and fun.

More real suggestions, Picture Scavenger Hunt (you just have to print the list or make a QR code to scan for the list of items), Couple's Trivia (give away a small bouquet or a centerpiece for the winner), Wedding Guest Bingo (Bingo about the guests not the couple), and there are so many other budget friendly, guest friendly cocktail hour activities.

No one has been rude. Games or no games, a cocktail hour that includes alcohol should have at least some food to go with it. That’s for safety.

View Quoted Comment Well like I said it's going to be non-alcoholic drinks

View Quoted Comment Your OP said “cocktail hour” and that you will be serving “drinks, of course.” That implied alcohol is being served. Even if you meant exclusively non-alcoholic drinks, I wouldn’t plan on leaving guests for an hour or more with nothing to eat. It doesn’t have to be expensive.

Usually guests drinking and socializing is enough. However they can also take this moment to sign your guest book, and/or you could provide a slideshow of photos from your relationship leading up to the big day that could be entertaining to watch. Honestly we were so worried about our guests being entertained that we had lounges set up with card games, etc, and everyone just had so much fun talking to each other than it wasn't necessary.

Hi! You can set up a polaroid camera for guests to take pictures of themselves during cocktail hour! Have a clothespin line set up for them to hang the pictures up. You can later use those pics in your wedding album. I'm setting up a photo guest book with polaroid for my guests to take pics of themselves and place the photo in the book along with markers to wish us well. Wedding album done by guests! Saves me time and money! Also something fun for guests to do while they wait for our grad entrance! Hope this helps. Good luck!

You can't afford any food at all for cocktail hour? In that case you should do your pictures another time. Like before the ceremony or next day.
If you have a small budget you cant serve light snacks like sandwiches, cheese platters, crudites, fruit and veggies, nachos, chips, a pop corn bar etc.