Cocktail wedding theme ideas

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Cocktail wedding receptions are different from traditional affairs. They are more intimate events where guests mix and mingle with each other in a type of "cocktail hour" rather than sit down to a four or five-course dinner. Keep your guests happy and enjoy a memorable wedding day with signature drinks, bite-sized appetizers and entertainment. This will keep both the young and old engaged during the event.

1. Signature Drinks

   • Hire a bar tender to create signature drinks for the wedding reception. Name cocktails after the bride and groom, where they first met and even have drinks named after members of the wedding party. You can choose from classic champagne cocktails to more adventurous drinks like cucumber-mint gimlets and cranberry cider, made from the bride and groom's favorite liquors. For those who don't drink alcohol, consider frappes or homemade sodas to serve as signature drinks.

   Food

   • Serve finger-food at the reception to fit in with the cocktail theme. Guests can enjoy hors d'oeuvres such as seafood cocktails, tapas plates, small pastries, dumplings and caviar, if you are planning an elaborate spread. Plates of assorted cheeses, skewers and even fruit platters are bite-sized treats that guests can nibble on. Cocktail food can be gourmet or simple and rustic. Always make sure you have enough of a food selection to keep your guests happy- the website I Do suggests 10 hot and 10 cold hors d'oeuvres for a three-hour cocktail reception.

   Music

   • To give the venue an elegant ambiance, consider hiring a string quartet to play during the cocktail wedding reception. A pianist or solo classical guitar player can also do the trick, bringing a sophisticated feel to the event. If you're planning a more casual affair, a mariachi band might be an option, with romantic ballads dedicated to the bride and groom. If space is tight and there is no room for a band, play songs the newlyweds enjoy on a small stereo.

   Entertainment

   • Try entertaining your guests throughout the reception with a slide show of the married couple. Set photographs to favorite songs so guests can enjoy images the newlyweds on a large screen in a corner of the reception venue. If children are invited to the reception, hire a performer--such as a clown or magician--who can keep the little ones entertained for a couple of hours while the adults mingle with one another.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: bride groom, signature drinks, your guests, Cocktail wedding, Cocktail wedding theme