Announcing Cocktail Hour On Your Wedding Invite

When it comes to wedding invites, it's essential to provide clear information about the schedule, especially when there's a cocktail hour before the ceremony. This is how you can ensure your guests arrive at the right time and don't miss any part of the celebration. While some prefer to keep the invitation wording traditional, others opt for a more detailed timeline. Ultimately, the key is to communicate the start time of the cocktail hour and ceremony effectively, whether on the invite, a separate card, or through word of mouth.

How to indicate a cocktail hour before the ceremony

If you're hosting a cocktail hour before the wedding ceremony, it's important to communicate this clearly to your guests. Here are some ways to indicate this on your wedding invitations:

Provide Clear Timing

One effective way to indicate the cocktail hour before the ceremony is to provide clear timing on the invitation. Specify the start time for cocktails, followed by the ceremony start time, and then mention any subsequent activities, such as hors d'oeuvres, dinner, or dancing. For example:

> "Please join us for cocktails at 5:00 p.m. Ceremony at 6:00 p.m.. Hors d’oeuvres and dancing to immediately follow."

Use Descriptive Wording

You can also use descriptive wording to indicate that the cocktail hour is part of the pre-ceremony activities. For instance:

> "Cocktail hour will begin at 3:30, with the ceremony beginning at 4:30 pm. Dinner will be served immediately after the ceremony."

> "3:30: Cocktails and slide show 4:00: Ceremony 4:30: Reception"

> "Meet & Greet begins at 10:30, followed by the ceremony, and then brunch!"

Include an Insert Card

If you want to provide more detailed information without cluttering your invitation, consider including a separate insert card with the invitation. This card can briefly outline the schedule of events, making it clear that the cocktail hour precedes the ceremony. For example:

> "We invite you to join us for cocktails immediately preceding the ceremony. Cocktail hour begins at 3:30 p.m."

Provide Additional Information on Your Wedding Website

If you have a wedding website, you can use it to provide more detailed information about the timeline of events, including the cocktail hour before the ceremony. This can be especially helpful if you're concerned about guests misunderstanding the invitation wording.

Spread the Word Through Close Friends and Family

Another way to ensure guests are aware of the cocktail hour is to enlist the help of close friends and family members. They can casually spread the word about the pre-ceremony cocktail hour, so guests know what to expect and can plan their arrival accordingly.

Wording ideas for cocktail hour before dinner

If you're hosting a cocktail hour before dinner at your wedding, it's important to communicate this clearly to your guests. Here are some wording ideas for your wedding invitations to ensure your guests arrive at the right time:

Clear Timing:

• "Cocktails at 5:00 p.m. Ceremony at 6:00 p.m. Hors d'oeuvres and dancing to follow."
• "Cocktails at [time]. Ceremony at [time]. Dinner reception to follow."
• "Cocktail hour begins at [time], with the ceremony beginning at [time]. Dinner will be served immediately after the ceremony."

Emphasising the Start Time:

• "Reception begins with cocktails at 5:00 p.m."
• "Please join us for cocktails at 5:00 p.m. Ceremony at 6:00 p.m."
• "Cocktails and slide show at 3:30. Ceremony at 4:00. Reception at 4:30."

Informal Wording:

• "Drinks, dinner, and dancing to follow."
• "Meet and Greet begins at 10:30, followed by the ceremony and then brunch!"

Additional Information:

You could also include an insert card with your invitation that provides a brief schedule of events, or direct guests to your wedding website for more details. This can help manage expectations and ensure guests don't feel misled about the "real" start time.

How to avoid guest confusion about start times

When it comes to wedding invites, it's important to be clear about the timeline of events to avoid guest confusion. Here are some tips to ensure your guests arrive at the right time:

Provide Clear Timing on the Invitation:

Communicate the start times for each part of the wedding, including the cocktail hour. You can include a separate enclosure card with a brief schedule or timeline of events. For example, "Cocktail hour begins at 5:00 pm, with the ceremony starting at 6:00 pm. Dinner will be served at 7:00 pm." This ensures guests understand the flow of the day and don't mistakenly assume that the ceremony or dinner will start earlier.

Be Explicit About the Cocktail Hour:

While some guests may be familiar with the concept of a cocktail hour, others may not. To avoid any uncertainty, explicitly mention the cocktail hour on your invitation. This can be done in a traditional way, such as "Reception to follow the ceremony, with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at 5:00 pm." Alternatively, for a less formal invitation, you could say, "Drinks, dinner, and dancing to follow." This gives a clear indication of the flow without a strict schedule.

Utilize a Wedding Website:

Consider creating a wedding website where you can provide more detailed information. This is especially useful if you don't want your invitation to include too much text. On the website, you can outline the schedule, explain any unique aspects of your wedding timeline, and even include fun extras like dress code suggestions or accommodation options.

Spread the Word Through Close Friends and Family:

Another way to ensure your guests are informed is by casually spreading the word through close friends and family members. They can act as informal ambassadors, letting guests know about the cocktail hour and any other unique aspects of your wedding timeline. This personal touch can be especially helpful for guests who may not be familiar with wedding traditions or who might appreciate a friendly reminder.

Consider On-Site Signage:

On the day of the wedding, clear signage at the venue can help guide guests to the right place at the right time. This is especially useful if your cocktail hour and ceremony are in different locations within the same venue. Signs can be both practical and decorative, adding to the ambiance while providing essential information.

By combining these strategies, you can effectively communicate the timing of your wedding events, including the cocktail hour, and ensure your guests arrive informed, relaxed, and ready to celebrate with you!

Whether to include a schedule of events

It is not necessary to include additional start times on your wedding invites (think: the cocktail hour and reception). If the events are all taking place on the same day and at the same location, simply stating "reception to follow" is enough. If your reception is at a different venue, you can include the location beneath the ceremony details or on a separate reception card depending on the space available.

For jam-packed wedding weekends, it's a good idea to have separate itinerary cards with the respective date, time, and location of each event. These can be sent out with your wedding invitations or included in wedding welcome bags.

If you're hosting a welcome party for your guests the night before the wedding, that information should be included with the invitation suite or posted on your wedding website after they're mailed out. You can also add RSVP information, such as who to contact (we recommend listing the phone number and/or email address for a trusted relative or wedding party member), the location, and dress code if applicable.

When you mail your wedding invitations, you should also share final details about your rehearsal dinner for anyone invited. This will typically include everyone in your wedding party, their plus-ones, your parents, and other close family members or friends.

If you're having a destination wedding, it's a good idea to give your wedding guests more time to block off their calendars, start budgeting for the trip, and make additional plans if they're going to spend time travelling before or after the wedding.

How to indicate a cocktail hour in a different room

If you're hosting a cocktail hour in a different room to the ceremony, it's a good idea to make this clear on your wedding invitations. This will ensure your guests know where to go and when. Here are some suggestions on how to indicate this on your invites:

Firstly, you don't need to include the start or end time of the cocktail hour on your invitations, as it's likely happening on the same day and at the same location as the ceremony and reception. However, if you want to encourage guests to arrive early and are serving food during the cocktail hour, it might be a good idea to include this timing information.

You could include a separate enclosure card with your invitations that says something like:

> "We invite you to join us for cocktails at [time]. The ceremony will begin at [time] in [room/area name], followed by dinner and dancing."

Alternatively, you could include a brief schedule of events on your invitations:

> "Cocktail hour will begin at [time], with the ceremony commencing at [time] in [room/area name]. Dinner and dancing will follow in [room/area name]."

If you don't want to include too many details on your invitations, you could simply state:

> "Cocktails, ceremony, dinner and dancing to follow."

And then include a more detailed timeline on your wedding website.

Another option is to include an insert card with a brief overview, such as:

> "Please join us for cocktails, ceremony, dinner and dancing. Visit our wedding website for more details and the full schedule of events."

Remember, it's important to give your guests a clear idea of what to expect, especially if you're doing something a little out of the ordinary. By providing clear information on your invitations, you can ensure your guests arrive at the right place at the right time and are able to fully enjoy the festivities.

Frequently asked questions