You may only think of cocktail hour as a precursor to the rest of the wedding reception, but it’s actually an important event that sets the tone for the rest of the wedding. Plus, it’s a great way for family and friends to relax before dinner. Guests have the opportunity to mix, mingle, and transition between the ceremony and the party at the reception. Your cocktail hour doesn’t have to be complicated, but you do want it to be special and show some thoughtfulness and creativity. Here are our seven best tips for a killer cocktail hour before your wedding reception.
1. Create Stations to Prevent Long Lines
Instead of creating a long line of thirsty wedding guests at cocktail hour, create several stations so that traffic can filter out and guests can move around the room or space easily. One idea for creating stations is to have a signature cocktail at each, along with choices of wine or beer if they aren’t interested in spirits. At each station you can also place out appetizers that pair with the drinks or ask your caterer to have servers passing them out to hungry guests. 2. Get Crafty With a Create-Your-Own Cocktail Bar

Sure, you could order a drink from a bartender, but a way to make cocktail hour more personalized and fun is to have a create-your-own cocktail bar. Provide your guests with all the spirits, liquors, and garnishes like cherries, olives, or fresh mint so that they can create a DIY concoction. Another alternative to keep it simple (...