There are some super fun parts of wedding planning, like going dress shopping, cake tasting, and pinning dreamy decor ideas for your venue. And then there’s the not so fun parts – wedding menu planning. It could just be me, but oh my gosh. Planning a wedding menu actually feels like work – trying to be accommodating for varying dietary restrictions of your guests, trying to stay within a reasonable budget for food, but then also trying to strike the balance between food you’ll actually love to eat and enjoy. It’s a tricky song and dance.

However, the cocktail hour can be the most exciting part of the celebration for most guests, which is why planning the cocktail menu items is a task that shouldn’t be ignored when you’re in the midst of your wedding plans. 

Today, I’m dedicating this post to talking about wedding cocktail hour foods you can serve to guests to make your wedding day pleasant and memorable for all.

Wedding Cocktail Hour Food

But before we dive right into different menu items you can try, let’s first make sure we’re on the same page in defining what exactly a wedding cocktail hour is. Knowing what a wedding cocktail hour is can help you decide which wedding appetizers to serve for your guests.

What Is A Wedding Cocktail Hour

A cocktail hour is a pre-wedding reception event that ideally lasts only one hour although sometimes can last up to two hours depending on if there is a venue change or if the couple needs extra time for other reasons. This is usually the interim (or intermission) time after the ceremony when the wedding party is off having their professional wedding photos taken and if the bride is doing a wardrobe change, this is usually the time for her to do that as well.

Meanwhile, during cocktail hour, the wedding guests have the opportunity to mix and mingle over light finger foods and wedding appetizers, signature cocktails, and participate in any interactive sections of the party like 360 photo booths, lawn games, live music, or just hang out in the lounge area for about an hour before the reception starts and being reunited with the newlyweds and the rest of the wedding party.

What To Serve For Cocktail Hour At A Wedding 

Salami Pickle Bites

Ingredients

12 oz Pickles, chip-cut - 0 calories

3 oz Salami - 312 calories

Instructions

Step 1

Wrap salami around pickles and spear with toothpick to hold together.

Step 2

Eat any extra salami or pickles on the side.

Shrimp Cucumber & Guac Bites

Ingredients

1 Cucumber, medium - 42 calories

5 oz Shrimp, fresh or frozen - 140 calories

¼ cup Guacamole - 105 calories

¼ tsp Salt - 0 calories

⅛ tsp Red pepper flakes - 0 calories

Instructions

Step 1

Spray a pan with an oil spray.

Step 2

Cook shrimp on medium heat ~6 minutes, drain any excess liquid if necessary. Also de-tail shrimp if necessary.

Step 3

Slice cucumber.

Step 4

Top cucumber slices with guac and shrimp.

Step 5

Season.

Bowtie Meatball Bites

Ingredients

½ cup Pasta, cooked - 100 calories

½ cup Leafy greens, lettuce, raw - 3 calories

3 oz Meatballs, turkey - 180 calories

Instructions

Step 1

Cook pasta (bowtie shapes preferably!) as instructed on package.

Step 2

Microwave meatballs from frozen.

Step 3

Spear with toothpicks as shown in picture.

Step 4

Gluten free? Use gluten-free pasta. No meat? Use a vegetarian meatball type, available at most stores.

Sushi Bites

Ingredients

1 Seaweed chips, 1 packet - 25 calories

½ Avocado, small - 117 calories

4 oz Smoked salmon - 133 calories

1 cup Carrots, shredded or julienned - 45 calories

1 Cucumber, medium - 42 calories

½ cup Rice, cooked - 110 calories

2 Tbsp Sesame seeds (Tbsp) - 100 calories

2 Tbsp Soy sauce (Tbsp) - 20 calories

Directions

Step 1

Cook rice as instructed on package.

Step 2

Slice cucumbers into small thin strips (matchsticks), 1/2 your avocado into thin strips, and dice the other 1/2 your avocado into.

Step 3

To make sushi bites: add rice, a little carrots/cucumber, the sliced avocado, and smoked salmon to each seaweed snack. Top with a little soy sauce and sesame seeds.

Step 4

To make the salad: combine the rest of your cucumbers, celery, diced avocado, soy sauce, and sesame seeds.

Peach & Prosciutto Bites

Ingredients

1 Peach - 59 calories

3 oz Prosciutto - 180 calories

Instructions

Step 1

Slice peach.

Step 2

Roll prosciutto around each peach slice, as shown in the picture.

Zucchini Pizza Bites

Ingredients

1 Zucchini, medium - 33 calories

¼ cup Tomatoes, canned, crushed - 13 calories

⅓ cup Cheese, shredded, mozzarella - 112 calories

2 Tbsp Cheese, Parmesan, grated (Tbsp) - 34 calories

Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 

Step 2

Slice zucchini into coin shapes.  

Step 3

Spray a pan with an oil spray.

Step 4

Stir fry zucchini for ~2 minutes.

Step 5

Remove from heat & add sauce and cheeses.

Step 6

Bake zucchini pizza bites for 4 minutes (alternatively you can use a toaster oven).

A cocktail hour menu isn’t complete without wedding drink menu ideas! Here are a few to help get your wheels turning in the right direction.

Cranberry Champagne

Ingredients

3 oz Prosecco (champagne, cava) - 68 calories

⅛ cup Cranberries, whole - 6 calories

2 oz Cranberry Juice Cocktail - 30 calories

Instructions

Step 1

Combine cranberry juice and Prosecco together in a glass

Step 2

Add in washed cranberries

Mimosa

If your wedding starts earlier in the day, a mimosa works as a great alcoholic drink option to serve during cocktail hour. Making it is simple.

Ingredients

4 oz Prosecco (champagne, cava) - 90 calories

2 oz Orange juice - 28 calories

Instructions

Step 1

Combine orange juice and prosecco.

Step 2

This drink is for those over 21 years.

Peppermint Champagne Cocktail

If your wedding is happening during the winter months, a festive drink option you can offer during your wedding cocktail hour is this peppermint champagne cocktail.

Ingredients

4 oz Prosecco (champagne, cava) - 90 calories

1 Rosemary, sprig - 0 calories

1 Candy Cane - 50 calories

Instructions

Step 1

Add prosecco to the glass

Step 2

Wash rosemary

Step 3

Add rosemary and candy cane to the glass

Red White & Blue Cocktail

While this one is great for summer weddings around the 4th of july or Memorial day, it’s also a great wedding cocktail option no matter the time of year.

Ingredients

4 oz Prosecco (champagne, cava) - 90 calories

2 oz Cranberry Juice Cocktail - 30 calories

⅛ cup Blueberries, fresh - 9 calories

Instructions

Step 1

Combine juice and prosecco. Spear blueberries on toothpick, add to drink.

Step 2

0.125 cups = 1/8 cup (2 Tbsp).

Step 3

This is for those over 21 years old.

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