Not Having Food During Cocktail Hour

That price point is a tough one to swallow, but I agree with everyone else -- food is crucial during the cocktail hour (even though your ceremony is short). I'm always starving by the time I sit down for the ceremony as a guest, because I'm always too busy getting ready to eat before we have to leave. I agree that having some sort of finger food makes socializing a little more interesting, and if you want people to drink, they need a little something to soak it up!

I like snacks :-D

What exactly is included if you still have to pay for appetizers?

Drinking on an empty stomach will give you two types of guests: 1. those who are drunk, and 2. those who are sick. Regardless, the option to nibble on some plated hors d'oeuvres or chips and salsa would go a long way to preventing either!

Are you referring to the entire package or just the cocktail hour? For the cocktail hour it is a one hour, unlimited open bar.

I'd almost go with a limited wine/beer/sig drink or sangria bar (which SHOULD be less) and put the $$ into food. If people have to be there at 4:15, they'll leave somewhere between 3:30ish, so they'll be starving.

Oh the open bar is included, that's nice! I like Celia's suggestion. Maybe try some negotiating.

I will say that of the weddings that I have attended, 2 of them did not have appetizers served during cocktail hour. The first one was kind of disappointing because the wait to be seated at the table was long, probably 1 1/2 hours. The other one was just one hour, but I had talked with a couple of my friends the whole time and pretty much pasted the time taking pictures with them and catching up.

So honestly, I don't think it's too much of a loss (plus for me, I wasn't drinking because I know I'll hurl if I drink on an empty stomach). But I would still recommend giving people something to nibble on. You never know how long you will really take, you don't know if the ceremony is really going to last as long as you hope it does. Plus, people will always enjoy a little to nibble on, and will be more likely take advantage of the open bar.

I know it is only for an hour, but it is not advised to serve alcohol without anything to eat at all. You don't know when the last time your guests ate, and you don't want them drinking on an empty stomach. It could make them sick, or they could get too tipsy before the reception. I am just having a cheese/cracker/fruit/veggie table type of thing to save money over passed h'orderves.

I know it is only for an hour, but it is not advised to serve alcohol without anything to eat at all. You don't know when the last time your guests ate, and you don't want them drinking on an empty stomach. It could make them sick, or they could get too tipsy before the reception. I am just having a cheese/cracker/fruit/veggie table type of thing to save money over passed h'orderves.

Our coordinator explained it to me before that limiting the types alcohol doesn't really make a difference. I don't remember why. I haven't been to a wedding in a long time. I'm young so people are just now starting to get engaged. The last wedding I went to we were only invited to the reception, so I'm not sure what they did. It also appeared to be a dry wedding because there was no alcohol when we got there..

If the $400 chips and salsa is hard to swallow, maybe upgrading just a bit would make you feel better. $500 for a cheese tray maybe?

I would have food or just skip the cocktail hour all together if that is an option.

Thank you for all of the input ladies. I was already leaning towards doing food, but you guys have made that definitely doing food.

I was in your shoes. I initially made the decision not to serve any appetizers to save money. Our venue provides everything, but it isn't really a package, you just choose what you want. After thinking about it I decided we definitely needed food. I didn't want people hungry, or drinking on an empty stomach. My main concern, however, was that I have a lot of older relatives who might feel quite ill without food, especially those who need to take medication at a certain time.

Patricia, yes get the food. However, maybe see if you can get food for a fraction of guests. Perhaps, only count the adults. I say this because a lot of my friends' younger kids barely eat so it would be wasteful to order a full serving for kids. I don't think that would greatly reduce your cost but at least it's something, depending on how many kids you will have in attendance.

Also, I love how concerned you a re about your guests' well being. Sometimes it seems women--not on WW--are more concerned about "the production" of the wedding and being a princess for a day than their guests' comfort.

I think that it is a must. People expect that there will be something small at least to nibble on as they have drinks and wait for you guys to finish your pictures. Please read the post about the Black Tie Wedding that was posted. It will give you good insight on why it should be served.

Can you do your own cocktail hour? Im assuming the 400 is using your venue to serve for the cocktail hour?

My DOC said it was a must but said we could just bring in the snacks ourselves since our venue is extremely laid back. We are ordering some cheese/meat/cracker trays and having bowls of mixed nuts on the cocktail tables.

An hour to drink on an empty stomach? One beer will get me plenty tipsy with no food.

Even if it's light apps, having SOME kind of food should be necessary.

Thanks Sunni the production means nothing if my guests don't enjoy it. Carebear, I'm not sure what the $400 is, I just know it's $400 to add chips and salsa. I cannot bring in my own food or alcohol.

It's important, especially if you're going to go straight from cocktail hour into the first dance, speeches, blessing, etc, then food. If you go from cocktail hour straight into dinner then I don't see it being as big of a deal, especially if you have salad (or whatever first course) already plated and on the table as guests are getting seated for dinner.