Tips for your New Jersey wedding can help you stay organized and inspired from ‘yes’ to ‘I do.’
Let’s talk cocktail hour—the ultimate pre-party before the big celebration kicks off. While you’re off getting those dreamy portraits, your guests are sipping, snacking, and vibing. It’s the perfect chance for everyone to catch up, loosen up, and get hyped for what’s to come. There are so many fun ways to make this part of your wedding feel unique and totally you, but here are a few of our favorite ideas to get the party started right.
Main photo credit: Bishop Farmstead/Mario Oliveto Photography
Cheers to tips on cocktail hour—because great drinks and small bites set the tone for an unforgettable celebration.
Cocktail Style Seating
Make sure your cocktail hour setup has a lot of options for guests to mingle. Think about your whole guest list—from the ones who need a seat after 10 minutes to the icons who can rock heels for hours without spilling their wine. Mix it up with standing tables, a few bar stools, and some classic-height tables and chairs. Bonus points for adding cozy lounge vibes—like cute armchairs or even hay bales and tree stumps if you’re going rustic.
Photo credit: Jeffrey Miller Catering/Katie Trauffer Photography
Food Options:
Cocktail hour is a time for guests to mingle, so consider food that make this easy. For example, finger foods that allow guests to snack without filling up before dinner. Traditional hors d’oeuvres can provide plenty of variety all by themselves, but there are a host of other great ideas, too. Consider something like a trail mix bar, a bar with fruit or veggies, or an olive bar. If you are having a themed wedding, request food to fit your theme – seafood for a beach wedding, for instance. Or if your wedding has a French theme, perhaps you could provide macaroons.
Photo credit: Audubon Weddings/New Pace Weddings
Cocktails & Beverages:
Signature drinks provided at cocktail hour are a great way to personalize your wedding. Even if you decide not to have alcohol at your wedding, you could make a signature drink mocktail or with coffee or tea. Signature drinks are great because it allows guests to try something new and gives them something to chat about.
Entertainment:
Set a mood at your cocktail hour by playing music in the background. It shouldn’t be so loud that it prevents guests from chatting, but music can help set the mood. If you’re hosting a themed wedding, you could play background music that fits the genre. For example, you could select jazz music for a Gatsby or 1920s-themed wedding or holiday music at a wedding over the holiday season. Ask your New Jersey wedding vendors for other ideas.
Lastly, when planning a cocktail hour, you want to keep in mind the guests who might feel a uncomfortable mingling with your other guests. You probably think that your favorite aunt is pretty fantastic, but your old friend from school might be feeling a little shy and uncomfortable breaking the ice with a bunch of people they don’t know. In this case, or even if you just want to give your guests something to do besides chat with each other, consider providing a space for games. While yard and carnival games are a great way to entertain your younger guests, it could also provide additional entertainment for your grown-up guests.
