25 Cocktail Hour Ideas from Real Weddings

The ceremony went off without a hitch, you're officially married, and now it's time to celebrate! The party portion of the day kicks off with cocktail hour—a chance for guests to mingle, sip on signature drinks and Champagne, and snack on yummy hors d'oeuvres. This part of your big day is all about the guests, since you, your new spouse, and your wedding party are likely busy taking photographs. All the more reason to make sure that this interlude is full of creative sips, treats, and activities.

To help you make the time between the ceremony and reception as fun as possible, we rounded up a selection of unique cocktail hour ideas from real weddings. From monogrammed napkins and a fresh pretzel station to a living wall and a live artist, these inspired concepts will definitely get the party started. While food and drink are obviously the main part of the pre-reception festivities, décor and presentation are just as important. We particularly loved how one couple incorporated their adorable pups into their cocktail hour by illustrating their likenesses onto signature cocktail signs. Another standout? The prettiest globe display, which invited an adventurous couple's guests to share their travel recommendations.

Ultimately, when it comes to dressing up your cocktail hour, it's the little touches that count. Present mismatched glasses behind the open bar—this doubles as both your bartender's stock and a colorful bar display. Don't forget to prepare your guests for the rest of the evening, though. As the hour comes to a close, be sure to guide guests to a creative seating chart (we loved how one couple used polaroid photos instead of escort cards!). Ready to see our full list of ideas for yourself? Click through for all the cocktail hour inspiration you could ever need.