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Nicole
Dedicated October 2023

Cocktail Hour Ideas

Nicole, on July 21, 2022 at 7:00 PM Posted in Planning 4 17
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Hello All! So, my fiancé and I are getting married next year in October. And since starting and planning the process, the financial help we thought we’d have has diminished. Smiley sad so, we’ve been thinking of ways to make things affordable for both of us. The issue that we’re facing now is finding some gray offers cocktail hour services. I know you’re wondering why the caterer isn’t providing that service. Well our good friend is going to cook for the reception dinner which is going to be like a buffet style dinner. But we’re stumped on finding someone to cater the cocktail hour. Everyone we inquire with is telling us that they don’t do just the cocktail hour which is understandable, i guess we wouldn’t expect a company to come out for just an hour but boy we didn’t think it’ll be this difficult haha. If you all have any ideas on what to do that would be sooooo very much appreciated! Here’s some info if needed. Wedding Ceremony starts at 5:30PM so cocktail hour should begin around 6:30PM. We’ll take any suggestions at this point: we’d like to start saving for whatever we may need. Thanks all!-Z

17 Comments

Latest activity by Mrs.evans, on July 23, 2022 at 10:35 PM
  • Cece
    Rockstar October 2023
    Cece ·
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    I would look into a local grocer. We have Hy-Vee here, but I know some places have Kroger‘s, Publix, Schnucks, etc. They can create really elaborate charcuterie displays, along with other finger foods suitable for cocktail hour.
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  • Erin
    Super May 2022
    Erin ·
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    Do you have a Costco nearby? They make charcuterie platters that you could put in the fridge at your reception venue!
    You can’t go wrong with cheese, crackers, and maybe a bit of fruit. We hired the restaurant that owned our venue to do the catering, so we were able to get cocktail hour included, but even then we opted for cheese and crackers. They tried to steer us away into more expensive passed hors deurves but we had a budget to keep, so we insisted on the cheese and crackers (which they still made look beautiful on the platter). The guests got an AWESOME Italian buffet for their dinner, so no one complained about cheese and crackers for cocktail hour 😊
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  • R
    Rockstar
    Rosebud ·
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    Yes I agree with Cece , do you have a Costco near your they have a variety of platters. You can get cheese plates, fruit plates, veggie trays,sushi trays, wings, pasta salads, shrimp cocktail platters, assortments of breads, sweets and even breakfast food trays. Good luck!

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  • Nicole
    Dedicated October 2023
    Nicole ·
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    Oh wow okay we didn't think of this! We'll check ours out, thank you!

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  • Nicole
    Dedicated October 2023
    Nicole ·
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    Yes we do! We have Costco, BJs, and Sam's Club..we we'll definitely see what they're offering. Yeah we're thinking our guests and family will be eating quite well for the reception dinner so saving on the cocktail hour shouldn't be too bad haha. Thank you!

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  • Nicole
    Dedicated October 2023
    Nicole ·
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    Yes we do! This is great advice that we didn't even think about. We're so stressed about guests being judgey and having everything perfect that we didn't consider our local grocer or Costco. Thank you guys!

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  • R
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    Rosebud ·
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    As long as you are happy with it don't worry about what others think, people will always have opinions doesn't mean they are right. Do what works best for you and your partner and hopefully everyone will have a great time but if they don't thats on them. Best of luck to you!

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  • Nicole
    Dedicated October 2023
    Nicole ·
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    Smiley laugh Smiley heart Thank you so much

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  • Michelle
    Rockstar December 2022
    Michelle ·
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    Check out platters from the grocery store deli or Costco. Fruit or meat/cheese with crackers. It doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate. If you wanted something passed, you could get frozen quiches or egg rolls from Costco and have the friendor heat them in the oven.
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  • Bird
    Super June 2021
    Bird ·
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    I would also consider hiring a buser or some people to clean up used paper plates cups napkins. You don’t want to worry about taking out the garbage at your own wedding.



    I did take out the garbage at my own wedding but it was the following day. It was a backyard wedding in a family’s backyard. Our caterer took care of all the garbages the night of but they don’t dispose of them so we just had to bring all the garbages to the end of the street.
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  • Nicole
    Dedicated October 2023
    Nicole ·
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    Oh wow okay didn’t even think of this! I’ll be sure to look into this too
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  • Orianna
    Devoted December 2022
    Orianna ·
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    Definitely want to echo what everyone else is saying - use Costco and all those other types of stores that do prepared trays - they are lovely and yummy! We've personally used them for many parties.

    If you're serving drinks as well, you might want to look into hiring a bartender. You can get alcohol pretty cost effectively from places like Costco (as long as your state allows the sale in stores and isn't a State Liquor store state) and you can start gathering alcohol slowly and stock piling it to help spread the costs over the next year. Hard liquor will absolutely still be good next year. The bartender will just be there to help pour. Between that and some lovely boards and trays? You're golden!

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  • Nicole
    Dedicated October 2023
    Nicole ·
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    Yes! You all have been a lifesaver with the Costco recommendation. I don’t know how we didn’t think of it sooner. That will definitely alleviate some stress and save. Good thing is we have the bar tender and drinks covered haha. Do you know if Costco also does cakes? Haha. Thanks so much for feedback! I’ll be sure to keep you all posted
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  • Orianna
    Devoted December 2022
    Orianna ·
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    Costco does do cakes! And flowers! And honestly? Costco cake is delicious. Pretty much all Kirkland (the Costco in house brand) stuff is delicious. They literally have a goal to be better than the best name brand they carry so anything Kirkland is choice. I’m getting all the day of getting ready and after party foods and drinks from Costco. And my mother in law is getting most of the day after brunch stuff there!
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  • R
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    Rosebud ·
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    YES!!!!! Costco cakes are delicious! They do large sheet cakes and also have really delicious big cheesecakes, The cookie trays are awesome too. Costco pretty much does everything my brother got all his wedding flowers from Costco and they were gorgeous!

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  • Nicole
    Dedicated October 2023
    Nicole ·
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    Omg! Yes! This is Perfect News
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  • Mrs.evans
    VIP October 2022
    Mrs.evans ·
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    Hello we are getting married in October of this year and we will have an open bar that we providing some of the alcohol and so is our caterer. So it will be some variety of different beers and wines and cocktails. Thru out the cocktail hour and reception and our ceremony start at 5pm so cocktail hour starts at 6pm
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