Is it tacky to be at the cocktail hour?

Everyone loves when the B&G show up for the cocktail hour.

Honey, do your own thing and don't worry about tacky! I say if you have the time, get your moneys worth out of the cocktail hour and have fun!

PErsonally, I think it's tacky to do that. I would instead- skip the cocktail hour and go straight to the reception. Then, give yourselves 15-20 minutes somewhere in private to just breathe and have some alone time. Allow guests to begin getting drinks (alcoholic or not) and maybe skip the appetizers. Have your MC announce you no later than 30 minutes after, then start straight into the reception.

Without the cocktail hour, you'll have more time at the reception to mingle with your guests...

Or, do a cocktail hour for your guests and you and the hubby slip off and have a private meal in a private room, if the venue can accomodate that! Then, you can eat!

Our venue will bring appetizers to my bridal room and so FH and I will be there munching on the food and the bridal party will go to cocktail hour.

I have been to weddings doing both, where they were they are where they werent.....do what you want, I wanna do what I can of the cocktail hour to see people so I can do more partying at my wedding lol

I don't really see the point of having a cocktail hour if you guys don't need it for photos.

I agree with Shellie, you may even be able to save money if you cut out the cocktail hour altogether, depending on your venue

Thanks everyone for your input! Shellie and Edith the cocktail hour is tied in with dinner regarding price and the woman we are working with at our reception hotel is amazing. She has been very helpful since day one! I look forward to mingling with everyone before dinner and dancing the night away!

I do not think that it is tacky. Heck Jimmy Buffet comes out on stage to play beach ball with the audience, and then goes off stage to to introduced. If he can do it, so can you.

My FH and i are discussing the same thing! i have been to weddings that have done both; while traditionally you don't see the b&g until they are introduced, i have actually liked seeing the b&g during the cocktail hour bc we had time to actually congratulate them on getting married!

i would say depending on how large your guest list is, you should consider coming out a little before the CH is over, just to get some of your thank yous out of the way

I don't necessarily think it's tacky, but what's the point if you're going to be there? We're using our cocktail hour as a time when guests can mingle, drink, and eat, while we take pictures. If you don't need the time for pictures, I would suggest maybe having some alone time with your new husband to to let everything sink in and enjoy the first few moments of being married just the two of you. You can show up for the later part of the hour, just long enough to show up before the hour ends.

I personally think it's fun when the b&g show up at cocktail hr. You get to walk around n mingle with guests in a fun relaxing environment.

The point of a cocktail hour is for something for your guests to do while you take pictures. So you don't have to have a cocktail hour if you don't need it for pics, you could just start your reception right away. But if you are afraid of people leaving right after dinner and that being really early then I don't see anything wrong with being at the cocktail hour. I saw one couple who stood in the doorway and greeted their guests as they arrived and once everyone was inside they were announced. It would be even better if you reception and cocktail hour could take place in different rooms.

I agree with Elizabeth in the second post .... do what YOU want. NO that's not tacky!!! It's a great way to mingle with your guests and it gives you extra time to thank people for being there. I'd be better off doing that then trying to go table - to -table trying to say hello during dinner. Enjoy your day to the fullest!!!

DEF not tacky..it's actually considerate of guests. imo the couple usually takes too long during the cocktail hour and guests get bored/antsy waiting for them to arrive..it would allow you to 1. actually eat the apps not have a cold plate set aside for you when you get there, go around welcoming everyone before dinner so you don't have to rush to eat..plus it's another hour to partay! I think describing that as tacky is way off base, if a guest thought that was tacky at my wedding (not that i'm doing that but I may get there before the hour is up), they can go home! lol

It's not tacky at all. Sounds like essentially you would get to the reception when the rests of your guests do, when drinks and cocktail hors d'oeuvres are being served. I'm not sure I understand how skipping it would make a difference - wouldn't the reception start with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres anyway? But maybe you can cut it down and save some money, but by all means, enjoy your own darn party!

I had never even heard of a cocktail hour until I came on WW. I know the last wedding I went to didn't have a formal one, just people went straight to the venue from the wedding and the wedding party took a ride on a haywagon before getting to the reception about 15 minutes after everyone else. Before that, there was mingling time before the reception started and the bride and groom showed up to that.

The guests are there to see you. The more of you they can see the better. I would say go to the cocktail hour unless you want it to be a very formal type of wedding.

Why not just have them do the introduction at cocktail hour? Even if you aren't needing an hour for pics after the ceremony, take a few mins just you and your FH to enjoy yourselves without the crowds around. You wont get another minute to slow down until the night is over.

Also, in some cultures it is even customary for the bride and groom to be the first one at the reception and welcome guests into the reception area.

It happens quite often in Chicagoland. Not 100%, but roughly 80%. I doubt anyone will think it odd.