5 cocktail hour tips to keep your guests happy
Keeping your wedding guests happy is always a good idea on your wedding day. If you ensure they have a good time, your wedding day will be memorable for them for all the right reasons! As a wedding photographer in Nottingham, I have a few cocktail hour tips for you to help you make your guests beam with joy, not boredom.
Be Around
This might seem simple, but it’s something that couples generally forget to do because they are so busy wrapped up in other things on the day. So many couples that I’ve spoken to have been to weddings where the couple has disappeared for an hour because they are busy having photos taken. Your guests are there to have a good time, but primarily to celebrate the two of you! Follow my top tips for getting your group photos done quickly here, and make sure you choose a wedding photographer who’s not going to keep you away from the party for more than 10 minutes for your ‘couple time’ photos.
Get Your Game On
Games always make for some lighthearted rivalry and a lot of fun for you and your wedding guests. Whether this be traditional lawn games, interactive activities, a photo booth or a casino hour. People will chat to people they wouldn’t necessarily chat to, and it will bring a collective vibe to your cocktail hour. The photo below was taken at a wedding at Whatton House
Live Entertainment
Live entertainment creates an atmosphere that cannot be rivalled on your wedding day. From a solo singer to a jazz band or string quartet, decide on the type of vibe you want to entertain you and your wedding guests and choose your music accordingly. This helps set the mood and keep the energy up too! Having a magician as live entertainment is a great option too.
Signature Drinks
The perfect cocktail hour wouldn’t be complete without your own signature cocktail and drinks are always a good way to keep your guests refreshed and happy. It will get them perusing over which new drink they would like to try and have them chatting about how tasty it is afterwards too! Create special cocktails that reflect your personality and the theme of your wedding. Don’t forget to include non-alcoholic ones too!
Add Personalised Touches
Adding personal touches makes your wedding day yours and these can extend to keeping your wedding guests happy too! Think about creating a picture wall or slideshow of your love story so far with photography of the two of you. Include photographic memories of you with your family and friends who have come to celebrate with you too. It’s great to look back and reminisce over the good times you’ve all had together.
By incorporating these ideas and personalising them to you and your wedding theme, you will create a memorable and enjoyable cocktail hour for your wedding guests to remember for years to come and you’ll get some great wedding photography in the process too!
Enjoyed these cocktail hour tips? Want more tips and advice for your wedding day? Check out the rest of my articles over on the blog, and if you want to chat about your relaxed wedding photography with me, get in touch!
I shoot weddings in Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire as well as across the UK.