5 Cocktail Hour Trends to Try For A Summer Wedding

Nothing says cocktails like a summer wedding!

Cocktail hours can often be overlooked as the buffer between the ceremony and reception, where people have time to run a little behind while making their way to the reception venue. But, couples are starting to put more planning into the cocktail hour, shifting it from a time where you grab a few drinks and mingle to a full-on experience. Focusing on the details allows couples to make a cocktail hour more intimate and tailor it to accommodate their guests. The traditional days of a brief cocktail hour and multiple course meals for dinner are long gone. Expect a more interactive, personalized experience during the cocktail hour in the future. Whether you’re planning a summer wedding or even a wedding for next spring, you can use these trends as inspiration and they are even safe for a socially distant wedding. So, check below for a few trends that will help you get creative when planning your cocktail hour!

Food Trucks

Food trucks may be nothing new for weddings, they’re typically a go-to for late-night wedding snacks, but more and more couples are opting out of a sit-down meal for a more laid-back approach. Hiring one or two food trucks that stay through the cocktail hour and a few hours into the reception gives guests the option to eat on their terms. But, if you still want to have a full course meal at your reception, instead of passing around plates of hors d'oeuvres at the cocktail hour, have food trucks that are offering smaller snacks like mini sliders or ice cream. This would also make it easier to have individually packed food that is safer for guests to consume.

Action Stations

If you want to make sure your guests are moving around and mingling during the cocktail hour, create DIY stations throughout the space. Light snack stations like “building your own popcorn mix” station or a s’mores assembly line are fun and give guests a chance to customize what they’re eating. You can even put a twist on the “signature drink” trend and have a “create your own cocktail” station where you have chosen specific ingredients that your guests can throw together to make a concoction of their own with the ingredients they find the most appealing. If we’re still under social distancing precautions at the time of your wedding, it’s still possible to have an action station, but consider hiring someone to operate it or disinfect the handles after each use.

Classic Comeback

Less is more these days - and that applies to your bar choices as well! A lot of couples are opting out of the signature drinks, which can include a lot of ingredients, and instead are taking a turn towards simplicity. That means gin and tonics, mojitos, old fashions - and even a spiked seltzer or two! You’ll likely please more guests this way, and save a little money while you’re at it, which is always a plus. If you want to get a little creative with your classic drinks, add in personalized stamped ice cubes or edible flowers.

Going Mobile

As most weddings go, not every guest is going to be over the age of 21 or they simply aren’t alcohol drinkers. In this case, it has become popular to have mobile cart stations that are carrying coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or even ice cream for guests to enjoy. By wheeling the refreshment carts around the cocktail hour, guests will have more time to mingle with their tablemates because the drinks (or snacks) will come to them.

Locally Sourced Food

If you are having your wedding in a location that is special to you and your partner, but you don’t necessarily want to include the local cuisine in your dinner menu, the cocktail hour is a great place to sneak it in. You can create a local experience by providing stations of snack foods that are popular in the area. If you’re getting married in New Orleans, you can include crawfish or barbecue if you’ll be in Texas.