Cocktail hour help!

[Jen_S]

We are a not serving apps, because I know this sounds strange but we are doing our cocktail hour after our dinner?? The reason we are doing this is we wanted to hire a Mariachi band but we also wanted to take photos/video with our guests and she thought it was kind of a waste if we were going to pull our guests away for picts. So we are now having our wedding from 3-3:30 then champagne on the beach as we take picts at 5:30 is our dinner 7:30 we will have mariachi band by the poolside and dj starting at 8:15.

[kerryjbrown]

My understanding (and this is what I have lived by for all of my cocktail parties at my house) is that you don't want people getting too drunk too fast so you provide them with snacks. Typically you find that they drink less as well if their tummy's are full.

 

We are doing a 1.5 hour cocktail hour so we can be with everyone and do our toast at sunset together before dinner for 30 min. I know my friends...they wouldn't make it to dinner, they would be hammered.

 

My chef automatically assumed appetizers at the coctail hours so I assumed this was normal, but I think it can be whatever you want it to be. You know your guests better than your caterer.

 

Ours is $20/hour for the first hour and $10/hour for each additional hour so $35/person that drinks (we have some non drinkers). Our cocktail menu is:

 

Parrot Fish Ceviche with Coconut, Lime and Serrano

Serrano Ham, Arugula and Ensenada Olive Tapenade

Crab Churros with Chipotle Aioli

Tuna Tartar with Pickled Jalapenos

Aguachile

Jicama and Mango Skewers with Tajin and Lime

Mar de Cortez Seafood Tostadas with Roasted Tomatoe

Mango Ceviche, Cilantro and Champagne

[lolkitteh]

Odd that your WC didn't think appetizers were necessary at a cocktail hour - maybe it's a language thing? Anyway, I can't imagine not having some kind of food at a cocktail hour - I think it's pretty much implied and expected, and the first thing guests make a beeline for after the ceremony! Heheh.

 

Anyway, I am having an hour of 6 passed canapes.

 

Wild Mushroom Risotto Balls

Parmesan Goat Cheese Basket

Gougère with Fontina and Speck Ham

Smoked Salmon Mille-Feuille

Croquette of Short Rib with Orange Confit

Jumbo Lump Crab in Cucumber Cup

[rach220]

Our wedding is so small (20ish guests) that we decided not to have a big reception. So instead, our cocktail hour will be our reception, and we are having it AFTER dinner. It would be silly to have appetizers after we've eaten, so instead we are having mini desserts, tea and coffee, and of course COCKTAILS.

[adales]

Our resort offers unlimited private functions if we have over 75 room nights booked for our wedding.  We have surpassed this so we are doing a welcome cocktail reception two days before our wedding.  We figure this will be a good way for our guests to get to know eachother before the festivities begin. 

 

I am thinking about calling it a "Cox-tail Hour" because our last name is Cox.  Is that too cheesy?

 

I just emailed the resort and asked for the liquor list so we can start creating our signature "cox-tails".  I am also having her send us the appetizer list.