If you’re planning to host your ceremony and reception at the same venue, you’ll need to consider ways to keep your guests entertained during cocktail hour as you head off for photos. To ensure your pre-reception party is a fun-filled affair, we’ve compiled a list of killer cocktail hour ideas worth checking out.
While cocktail hour provides a nice breather between the formalities of your ceremony and reception, it’s also a great way to wow your guests with unique, personalised touches and fun activities. If you’re planning to slip away for wedding photos after your ceremony, you’ll want to make sure your guests are entertained in your absence as they enjoy pre-dinner drinks and nibbles.
To help you make the time between the ceremony and reception as fun as possible for your guests, we’ve rounded up 32 of the best cocktail hour ideas. From tasty treats and creative cocktails to showstopping entertainment and interactive games, there are plenty of ways to put a unique twist on the classic cocktail hour.
If you need a hand finding a gorgeous all-in-one wedding venue that can host your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, our amazing venue specialists are here to help. After a quick chat about your wedding plans, they’ll match you with a hand-picked list of stunning venues to check out.
get help finding your dream venueKeep your wedding guests entertained with these fabulous cocktail hour ideas:
Live Painters
This creative cocktail hour idea will leave guests in awe as they watch a professional artist at work while they paint the scene of your wedding day in real time. Hot tip: Make sure your live painter is set up in a prime spot so guests can wander over and observe as they work their magic on the canvas.
Audio Guest Books
To keep your guests busy during cocktail hour, we love the idea of putting a unique spin on the classic guest book with a retro telephone that records audio messages. Not only will your guests have endless amounts of fun while recording personal messages of congratulations, but you’ll also have heartfelt voice notes to play back and treasure long after the wedding is over.
Lawn Games
A no-brainer for outdoor weddings, lawn games will provide wholesome entertainment for your guests as they split into teams to play a round or two of croquet, giant Jenga, cornhole or giant Connect Four. You can rent these games, DIY your own, or buy customised versions that double as a lovely wedding keepsake. Hot tip: For a personalised touch, have guests write their messages of congratulations on the giant Jenga tiles!
Gelato Carts
If you’re hosting a wedding in the warmer months, why not hire an adorable vintage gelato cart so guests can enjoy a delicious icy treat during cocktail hour? Many gelato cart suppliers cater to an array of dietary requirements with their tasty handmade gelato and sorbet, including dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan options, so no one has to miss out!
Adult Jumping Castles
A playful and unique addition to cocktail hour, an adult jumping castle will be a big hit with any guests who are young at heart. Your photographer will have a ball as they capture action shots of your guests jumping for joy in the bounce house! Hot tip: Ask your jumping castle supplier to decorate the front of the castle with a beautiful balloon garland in your wedding colours, so it looks even more fabulous in photos.
Live Musicians
Finding talented musicians for your wedding will allow you to create the perfect atmosphere for cocktail hour as your guests mingle, sip cocktails, and enjoy tasty canapés. If you’re looking to dazzle your guests with showstopping live musicians, consider hiring surprise singers, a roaming band, or even a string quartet to play during cocktail hour.
Photo Booths
Photo booths are always a hit with guests and are a surefire way to keep everyone entertained during cocktail hour. For a fun twist on the classic enclosed photo booth, why not opt for a fabulous open-air booth or even a state-of-the-art 360° video booth that spins around your guests as they bust a move? Hot tip: Ask your photo booth supplier about their customised props and backgrounds if you’re after a personalised experience.
Interactive Food Stations
While canapés are a given for cocktail hour, live cooking stations and bountiful grazing tables are a fun and interactive way to wow your guests with an extra special dining experience before the main dinner. Consider a seafood bar with a chef freshly shucking oysters or a charcuterie station piled high with delicious cured meats, cheese, and all the accompaniments.
Kombi Bars
For a fun alternative to the classic mobile bar, we love the idea of hiring a vintage VW Kombi that doubles as a pop-up bar. With self-serve taps on the outside of the Kombi, guests can pour their own drinks during cocktail hour for a fun and interactive experience.
Magicians
A roving magician will dazzle during cocktail hour as they mingle with guests to perform engaging, interactive, and mind-blowing magic tricks up close. This fun wedding entertainment idea is sure to leave everyone spellbound, with a versatile array of performance options to suit guests of all ages.
More fun cocktail hour ideas to wow your wedding guests:
- Hire an entertainer to host a live interactive game show
- Guide guests through a spirits tasting at a pop-up bar
- Play wedding bingo with customised bingo cards
- Set up a floral arranging station
- Serve signature cocktails
- Hire a cartoonist or caricaturist to draw your guests
- Set up a Polaroid station
- Have roaming lamas as a cute addition to cocktail hour
- Plan a photo scavenger hunt for your guests
- Create a boozy hot chocolate bar for winter weddings
- Organise tarot card reading or fortune telling
- Set up a fairy floss cart
- Hire a champagne hostess to serve glasses of bubbly
- Have guests tee off in a game of mini golf
- Create fun and interactive cocktail displays using ladders or walls
- Hire professional dancers to put on a show for your guests
- Set up a fire pit with a smores station for winter weddings
- Create a comfy lounge area for guests to relax after the ceremony
- Set up a DIY cocktail bar for guests to mix their own creations
- Dazzle guests with roaming fire twirlers
- Set up giant light-up letters for photo opportunities
