Cocktail Receptions

mscally Posted: Sep 09, 2004 05:13 PM

Cocktail Receptions

We are really interested in doing a cocktail reception (cocktail hour stations served instead of a formal sit-down dinner) but are concerned that the cocktail hr. might not be enough food (fruit and cheese and cracker station, passed hor duerves and a raw bar). Just looking for anyone who has been to/is having a cocktail-style reception that can offer advice/feedback. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

nferrandi Posted: Sep 09, 2004 06:45 PM

Re: Cocktail Receptions

I haven't been to any cocktail receptions, but i can tell you that many weddings around here have enough food at the CH so that people would leave full. If you're looking to just cheese, fruit and crackers, some passed hors duerves and a raw bar, than that probably won't be enough. I would suggest having some stations of food that are more substantial and filling like a pasta station and/or a carving station. I personally love a raw bar at a wedding, but many people don't eat seafood and will definitley end up leaving hungry. Also, after people take a break from cocktail food, you may want to have a little dessert buffet too. It doesn't have to be an elaborate vienese or anything, but maybe something like wedding cake, some pastries and an icecream bar. If you do decide to go with a cocktail reception, just make people aware of it in the invitation so they know what to expect.

wc0143 Posted: Sep 09, 2004 06:46 PM

Re: Cocktail Receptions

Cluelessbride is having a cocktail reception ...

LuvMyMichael Posted: Sep 09, 2004 11:31 PM

Re: Cocktail Receptions

I've heard of the 'revolving cocktail hour'. I personally think its fabulous! I wanted to do it, but my FH and his family were so against it. You should go for it! Good Luck!

CaliforniaBride Posted: Sep 10, 2004 12:01 AM

Re: Cocktail Receptions

If the fruits, cheese/crackers, raw bar, & hor d'oeuvres are the only stations that you are planning on doing, then it may not be enough. Not everyone likes seafood so that would leave little. How about adding a filling station like a pasta station or something. I think cocktail receptions are great too.

I have been to two and the only problem was that one of them started at 6pm and we had no clue to people that it was only hor d'oeuvres and people were piling up there plates b/c they were starving then they ran out of food. So it may be best to do it in the middle of the afternoon or later at night.

SandraLynn Posted: Sep 10, 2004 08:15 AM

Re: Cocktail Receptions

We are doing a 6 hour rolling cocktail party. We are happy w/ our choice. There will be plenty of food too. Ours is not too far off from a sit down dinner. I know I enjoy the cocktail hours the best at weddings so we are doing something 'different'.

btrflygrl Posted: Sep 10, 2004 08:34 AM

Re: Cocktail Receptions

Posted by mscally

We are really interested in doing a cocktail reception (cocktail hour stations served instead of a formal sit-down dinner) but are concerned that the cocktail hr. might not be enough food (fruit and cheese and cracker station, passed hor duerves and a raw bar). Just looking for anyone who has been to/is having a cocktail-style reception that can offer advice/feedback. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

If the Cocktail Hr is the same as if would be at a sit down dinner at TP...THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF FOOD!! That's all I heard was how much food there was at my CH.....shhesh...I wish I would have gotten some!

snowprincess805 Posted: Sep 10, 2004 08:39 AM

Re: Cocktail Receptions

There should be plenty of food - only NY has the pick cocktail hour pretty mch

There will be pleenty of food for dinner - I think Searc is doing a cocktyial recpetion at the Bourne so it is imilar to Timber Point

The cocktail hour is supposed to be little munchies - if you have the carving stations, pastas, fish dishes, and other hings for dinner people will fill up

I love cocktail hour and thought about doing this - i think the best food is at cocktail hour - and the food at a NY cocktail hour can fill you up

Once they go inthe ballroom and have all the stations people will realize that is dinner and not to expect a sit down dinner )(might want to inform older guests)

sotm121097 Posted: Sep 10, 2004 09:19 AM

Re: Cocktail Receptions

We are having a cocktail reception. we are having hor d'oeuvres passed around, cheeses breads, veggies, friut, pasta station, wok station, spanish station caribean station, carving station. So i think it is definately more than enough food. We will have the food available for about 2 hours. After that they are taking it away and putting out a full viennese table for the rest of the time. It is going to last 4 hours. We will also be having a dj. If anyone else is doing this will you also be having music?

Backinneyork Posted: Sep 10, 2004 11:23 AM

Re: Cocktail Receptions

Make sure you specify on your invites that it is a cocktaill reception...There are a few wackos out there they hardly eat a thing during the cocktail hour bc they are waiting for the dinner - and the surprise! There is no dinner!!!

Bunnymonkey Posted: Sep 10, 2004 12:01 PM

Re: Cocktail Receptions

I am doing a cocktail reception as well. Very excited...i think it allows for a more social and relaxed atmosphere. Now if I can only ask Raphael to have the waiters wear anything but tuxedos, I will have my 'low key but elegant' affair!

mscally Posted: Sep 10, 2004 12:57 PM

Re: Cocktail Receptions

Thanks for your help...we are planning on doing cheese and crackers, passed hor duerves and the raw bar for the first hour. then when we move into the reception room and serve dinner - it will consist of all the stations a cocktail hr would have (pasta, entrees, salads, carving). My concern is that the first hour wont have enough food. I dont want to add too much and have everyone fill up because the next couple of hours all of the stations will be open. Do you think we should add on to the first hour? Any suggestions as to what we should add on?

dpli Posted: Sep 10, 2004 04:28 PM

Re: Cocktail Receptions

I just wanted to add that I went to a cocktail reception a few years ago, (not in the NY area.) The bride and groom were on a very tight budget and did it to save money. I was skeptical when I first heard of what they were doing, but it was a blast! It was at that wedding that I realized how much time you do spend at the table with one group of people at sit down dinners. The cocktail reception gave you more opportunities to mingle and eat a little more later on, if you wanted to.

It will be great and unique, don't worry at all about it, those of you who are doing it.

nov04LIbride Posted: Sep 10, 2004 04:30 PM

Re: Cocktail Receptions

How do cocktail receptions work? Are people assigned tables, or is it like cocktail-hour seating?

Karacg Posted: Sep 10, 2004 04:33 PM

Re: Cocktail Receptions

This is what we did --- 1 hr. passed hors d'ourves and mediterranean table, then a BUFFET. You should call it a buffet dinner if there will be seating for everyone and stations. Cocktail usually means only a few tables and chairs, while guest nibble and migle.

Ours worked out great -- people mingled, and ate and ate and ate....we had extra tables so people could move around too.

sotm121097 Posted: Sep 10, 2004 10:14 PM

Re: Cocktail Receptions

Did any of you girls have a dj or band for the cocktail reception? If so..when did they start playing?

Karacg Posted: Sep 11, 2004 12:02 PM

Re: Cocktail Receptions

I had a solo guitarrist for the cocktail hour -- backround music while people mingled. Then we had a DJ for the buffet, so people could dance.

Sassyz75 Posted: Sep 11, 2004 01:35 PM

Re: Cocktail Receptions

the only cocktail style receptions I've been too have been out of the tri-state area and they NEVER have enough food.

I also personally feel that these types of receptions interrupt the flow of the party- leaving people to constantly mill around..

because of this events like the parent dances, the bo-k toss and the cake cutting are missed or not as 'big of a deal'

mscally Posted: Sep 11, 2004 04:28 PM

Re: Cocktail Receptions

well since we are using lessings I don't think running out of food will be the problem.

We chose to have the cocktail reception to avoid slowing down the wedding for things like cutting of the cake. We plan to do that on the side but would rather have our guests dancinig than sitting down watching our photo op. We just thought the cocktail reception will give our guests the opportunity to eat whenever they feel like it but arent forced to be seated. We even extended our reception and band time an extra hour (5 hr reception)...i honestly dont think there will be much 'milling around'.

I do think the older guests might not like this non-traditional style - but truthfully - if they arent complaining about one thing it would be another!

But back to my question - do you think we should keep the first hour light (the past hor dourves, cheese, cracker and fruit station and the raw bar) or do you think we should add a few more stations. (I dont want our guests to be starving for the first hour but i dont want them to fill up b/c the next few hours will be an overabundance of food)

myasmom Posted: Sep 11, 2004 04:37 PM

Re: Cocktail Receptions

I like non traditional weddings. I think people are so used to the cookie cutter weddings that its refreshing..but depending on your guests its good to let them know its a cocktail reception.

Its true about the milling around. Not everyone who goes to a wedding likes all the planned festivites and events. Many want to dance..especailly at night. So do what works for you. As for cocktail foods..doa balance of food. Finger foods, raw bar etc and other filling foods) You will be fine.