Joining the cocktail hour?

I've been to a lot of weddings where the bride & groom have gone to cocktail hour (my own wedding included). I think because first looks are becoming more common, so is this. It's not weird at all.

Most of the weddings I've been to the bride and groom came to the end of the cocktail hour. Not a big deal. The grand entrance is kind of silly to me. You can still be introduced and walk into the reception. It's fine if people have already seen you.

I've actually seen this at most weddings! It's whatever you want to do. Cocktail hours are so fun and elaborate, that couples don't want to miss them! Nobody is going to be offended. However one couple that did this did not visit tables. I wonder if they assumed they would be able to get everyone during cocktail hour? They didn't. I would want to make sure I say a quick hello to everyone when my day comes.

If you have time to visit your cocktail hour, go for it. Realize, however, that your presence will probably be marked by an announcement, and that will change the free style/social/mingling feel of the cocktail hour. Personally, I've rarely seen it done. The big entrance, including the parents, the BP, and the couple. typically happens at the reception. However, as long as you're hosting alcohol, plenty of apps, and a party vibe, I'm sure your guest will welcome you at the cocktail hour.

I'm doing a first look so we can enjoy and be apart of cocktail hour. I hear the wedding goes by so fast so i want to enjoy as much as possible. Go for it!

Best time to start socializing with guests

Thank you ladies!!!

We still want to do our grand entrance after the hour & go straight into our first dance. I just hope it doesn't look strange kind of leaving the cocktail hour so we can go make an entrance? Lol.

We are joining our cocktail hour after family pictures!

My DH and I took couple, family and BP photos right after the ceremony (we did NOT do a first look) but we both have small families so it didn't take too long. We entered the venue on the first floor (reception was on the 3rd floor) and our wedding coordinators had our first course with some of the cocktail reception appetizers for us to eat a little bit before we made our grand entrance. It worked out perfectly for us because we hadn't eaten all day and we didn't get a lot of time during the reception to actually eat either! So many people kept coming up to hug and congratulate us so it was nice to have a little bit of food in our stomachs before we entered the reception.

We joined cocktail hour (for at least 30 minutes of it!), and still had our entrance into the reception after our parents/siblings were announced and walked in. I loved being able to go to the cocktail hour for a few reasons:

1. we had a string quartet playing and I was able to hear them

2. I was STARVING at that point after being so anxious and not eating much because of it earlier in the day... and our cocktail food was delicious

3. we were able to spend time mingling with our friends, and take some pictures with groups of friends before dancing/reception started

I wish I could have been to cocktail hour of our wedding. We planned on taking the bulk of the photos before the wedding so we could, but it didn't work out. We barely had any time for photos before the wedding. Time will fly by on your big day.

Ana it won't look strange. Now that I think of it, that's exactly what one couple did. I didn't even notice or think twice about it since you made me think of it now.

ETA: I'm referring to also making a grand entrance when you've been at cocktail hour. Not weird at all.

Thank y'all so much!!!!!! I don't feel weird doing the cocktail hour & grand entrance thing anymore!!! Lol.

Joining cocktail hour is awesome! I really wanted to, unfortunately, our photographer wants to take all of our photos during that time as it will be a more flattering light! It's a great way to mingle with your guests!

I really love our cocktail hour spot (see pic) so we're totally gonna be at ours! I've never actually been to a wedding where the bride and groom were at the cocktail hour, and never would have thought of it if I hadn't read it on here.

We plan on doing this that way we can actually sit and enjoy our first meal together instead of having to get up every ten minutes to talk to another table.

We are definitely joining our cocktail hour! I can't wait to try our delicious appetizers again

We stopped in our cocktail hour so I could hear the string quartet I hired. But after 5 minutes, we left because we got bombarded and I hadn't eaten yet.

There's nothing weird about it. Do what you want.

I love when the bride and groom are at cocktail hour. It's such a nice touch to see them there. They would normally leave 10 min early to prepare for grand entrance

I wish we had had the time to attend our cocktail hour! I don't think it's weird, it's a great way to have more time to socialize with your guests off the dance floor.