Cocktail Party Wedding Receptions

If you are like most brides and grooms, you want your wedding to be fun and unique. One of the big trends recently is to throw a wedding reception that feels more like a fabulous party or a family dinner than a traditional wedding reception. Check out these tips on how to have a fantastic cocktail party style wedding reception that your guests will truly enjoy. When planning a cocktail party wedding reception, you really want to channel a 1950s/1960s retro vibe. Imagine the days when people truly knew how to dress; the men were debonair and dashing, the women polished and glamorous, and everyone enjoyed a good martini or a g&t. You can capture that sophisticated aura for your wedding reception by using drinks, attire, and décor inspired by the mid-century. (Not so much the food, though – the 50s was not a time known for its culinary adventures, and your guests deserve something better than creamed chicken or tuna noodle casserole!) Start planning your cocktail reception by choosing a fab 1950s inspired gown. This will be a piece of cake, since the 50s were the biggest runway inspiration for bridal gown designers at the last bridal market. A strapless gown with a fitted waist and a flouncy skirt will look feminine and flattering. Tulle and organza are among the best fabrics for this style of wedding dress, and they are often accented with lace or embroidered embellishments. If you want a wedding gown with a sassy edge, choose tea length over the traditional floor length dress. Naturally, pearl bridal jewelry will be the perfect accessory for your retro cocktail party look. The great thing is that pearl bridal jewelry is so classic that the pieces you buy today will look absolutely appropriate with a vintage inspired gown, but will still look chic decades into the future. Then there is the food and drink menu to be considered. Classic cocktails like gin and tonics, Manhattans, sloe gin fizzes, and whiskey sours will hit the right note. It's always nice to have a few cocktails in fancy glasses, so to be sure to add martinis and Champagne cocktails to the bar menu. Put your own personal stamp on the reception with custom coasters and cocktail napkins to dress up the bar. A wedding reception just wouldn't be right without great food, and this is where a retro cocktail reception will deviate from the mid-century inspiration. Rather than a seated dinner, serve heavy hors d'oeuvres, which basically means that there will be enough appetizers that your guests will leave feeling satisfied. This is a trend which guests really like, because at most weddings, the appetizers are the most delicious part of the wedding anyway. Feature a wide variety of little bites, both passed and at stations to help your guests feel full (and to soak up the cocktails). When planning a reception with appetizers instead of a traditional menu, it is wise to plan it to start later, such as at 7 or 8pm, and to note on the invitation “Hors d'oeuvres reception (or cocktail reception) to follow”. This will alert your guests to eat dinner before the ceremony, if they are so inclined. Of course every great party has great music, and the music of the '50s and '60s is perfect for a wedding. Hire a big band or a quartet which specializes in standards and swing, and set up a play list heavy on Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, as well as modern crooners like Harry Connick, Jr. and John Pizzarelli. The right music will really establish the mood of your reception, not to mention, get people dancing. With all of the elements in place, you can be sure that your cocktail party wedding reception will be a night to remember