Often an overlooked part of any wedding day, the cocktail hour is an opportunity for you to truly make your guests feel like they are wanted at your wedding, and you are grateful they are in attendance. The average cocktail hour features drinks and servers walking around with hors d’oeuvres. If you prefer to go the classic route, it is still an enjoyable time for your guests. But, consider this: your guests have likely been through several cocktail hours before. Spicing up the traditional cocktail hour with even just one special touch will help yours stand out from the rest and keep your guests occupied the entire time.
It’s not a secret that the only real reason for a cocktail hour is to give you and your wedding party time to take photos. Often times guests are just drinking, eating, and standing around, knowing that they are waiting on you. As a bride on her big day, you definitely don’t want to feel rushed (we only get one shot at those photos), but you also do not want your guests to be bored for the full length of time it takes you to get those candid’s.
Ready for the solution? Here are 5 unique ideas to keep your guests entertained during your cocktail hour:
1. Live Keepsakes
2 ideas here- 1 for brides who are already close to meeting their budget, 1 for brides who still have room to splurge!
(1) Purchase (or borrow from a friend) a polaroid camera and place it on a small table during your wedding with a sign that gives instructions for your guests to snap photos and print. Everyone will love the nostalgia of shaking those tiny prints to life and having a keepsake to add to their fridge photo collection when they get home. The bridal party usually misses out on anything happening during the cocktail hour, so consider keeping this out throughout the whole night so you and your groom, your girls, the boys, and your family can participate too!
(2) The slightly more costly option - Hire a professional artist to paint your guests and scenes from around the First Fruits Farm. Guests are sure to cherish their custom, one of a kind artwork from your wedding day.
Want to make this idea more affordable? - Provide canvases, easels, smocks, and washable paint for your guests to enjoy creating art themselves. Frame photos from around the venue to serve as inspiration pieces. With a wedding at Amazing Graze Barn, we recommend using photos of the outside of the barn featuring the cross window, a cute farm animal, a scene featuring one of our ponds, and the spot where you will be getting married. Get the photos by asking us for ones from previous weddings.
2. Outside Fire Pit Area
At Amazing Graze Barn we have a fire pit off to the side of the barn available for use during your wedding. We have seen time and time again how big of a hit sitting around a camp fire, chatting with friends, and hearing the sweet peaceful sounds of the farm are. Your guests will love the opportunity to cozy up and literally feel the warmth of you and your groom’s love. As an interactive element, consider adding the classic graham cracker, chocolate, marshmallow treats near the fire so that they roast and snack. This is an optimal place for guests to take photos too!
Budget friendly tip - Prepackage the graham cracker, chocolate, and marshmallow in a small clear bag with a tag that reads “S’more Love to take home”. This can double as your wedding favor! Guest are free to grab and enjoy while they have access to a fire, or take home if they want to save it for later.
3. Food Grazing Stations
We all know that food is a big part of any wedding, but that doesn't mean it has to be the same old thing. Consider setting up unique food stations with foods that maybe your guests haven't tried before or are very popular in your culture. Setting up grazing stations is a great way to cater towards those with food allergies, as you can have an option or two that is dietary friendly.
Think of this option as an appetizer for your guests. Making the station interactive gives the something to do and allows everyone to customize their portion to their liking.
Some different grazing stations you could include:
Cocktail foods like shrimp, crackers, cheeses, and other bite-sized charcuterie items.
Pizza or taco station
Build your own pasta station
Cookies and sweets
Ice cream and sundae-making stations
A salad or soup station
There's really no shortage of the food choices you can make. The goal is to fill your guest’s bellies through something fun to do while you and your bridal party are taking photos.
4. Designated Game Areas
Do you and your groom love playing games? Bring that love to cocktail hour! Place your favorite games on a few cocktail tables for your guests to enjoy too. Think of games that take anywhere from 5 minutes to 20 minutes to play, so that everyone can take turns, play several rounds, and finish the before you come back for the party. This gives guests who do not know each other an easy and natural way to mingle. Plus, image how cute the photos of your friends and family would turn out as they sit around cheering each other on to win Checkers!
Decide on indoor or outdoor games depending on how you venue space flows. At Amazing Graze Barn, you could easily do both! Indoor board games like Scrabble, Chutes and Ladders, and Yahtzee will fit perfectly in the upstairs or downstairs area. Large outdoor games like giant Jenga and cornhole would be best set up around the barn in the grass or under the covered patio. Silliness and laughter are sure to happen, and that looseness should carry over well into the rest of the evening's festivities.
Bonus Tip: Consider purchasing (or making) a giant puzzle out of you and your groom’s engagement photo.
5. Cater to the Children
If you have invited children to your wedding, this cocktail hour tip is for you! When it comes to cocktail hour, children aren’t exactly top of mind. But, there are little things you can do to occupy the the younger people at your party.
(1) Ask your bar tender to offer a non-alcoholic option using sparkling cider. Have them top it with something fun like cotton candy for an extra special touch. Serve the drink in a plastic champagne flute to make accidental drop clean ups much easier.
(2) Make a “kid’s table”. Have crayons, coloring pages, word searches, bubbles, “I Spy”, glow sticks, fun sunglasses, and even disposable cameras for the littles to play with.
(3) Offer a classic “kid-friendly food” like chicken nuggets or french-fries. Be sure your caterer brings plenty as you might be surprised at how many adults munch on these options too!
Conclusion
We know that as a bride, you want your big day to be special and unique, not just for you, but for all in attendance too. While you are pouring your time and effort into into your wedding ceremony and reception, we encourage you not to forget about the cocktail hour!
Your wedding day is all about you and your partner, but that doesn't mean you can't involve your guests in the fun! Cocktail hour is the perfect time to do just that. With a little bit of planning, you can make sure your cocktail hour keeps your guests engaged, full, and prepped for the night of celebrating to come!
Need more ideas for how to make your cocktail hour shine? Contact us today to set up a tour of our event space and pick our brains on how to make your wedding day unique and unforgettable for you and everyone who attends.