Cocktail Wedding Receptions

Cocktail wedding receptions can be a successful event, and generally are much more cost effective than a typical wedding reception. The following will give you a good idea of cocktail wedding receptions so that you can decide on which type of wedding reception you would like to have.

Because the dinner at a wedding reception is the single largest cost and is usually more than fifty percent of the total cost of a wedding reception, cocktail receptions are great for a newlywed couple on a budget. You will usually want to keep the cocktail party reception shorter than the traditional style as most times there is also no dance involved. It is a good idea to have the reception shortly after lunch if your wedding ceremony is in the morning. That way your cocktail reception will be over before dinner time and your guests will not get hungry during it. If your wedding ceremony is later in the afternoon, you will want to have a late cocktail reception so the guests attending have time to eat before they arrive. It is still a good idea to have baking and other finger foods served during your reception so that people can have a snack while they visit with you and other guests.

You can still have speeches during a cocktail wedding reception, but be sure that they are limited to a short time and try not to have too many. If your reception is only three hours, you do not want to spend two and a half on speeches leaving only a half and hour for your guests to try and visit with everyone before they leave. Cocktail wedding receptions tend to be more successful with a small number of guests for this reason. A larger number of guests usually warrant a longer wedding reception so that they can have adequate time to visit and have a good time together.

Say you are not planning a cocktail wedding reception but instead have been invited to one and wonder what to wear to a cocktail reception. The way you dress to a cocktail party can be a little less extravagant than what you would wear to a formal wedding reception, but you still do not want to be underdressed. If you are concerned, it is always a good idea to ask other guests that you know will be attending to see how they plan to dress for the cocktail wedding reception.

If you decide to have a cocktail wedding reception or are still looking for more information before making your decision, look for cocktail reception ideas at wedding stores and bridal shows locally in your city.