The Perfect Party: Sample Timeline for Cocktail Hour and Reception

After you say “I do,“ you and your guests will be SO excited to celebrate this new chapter of your lives with some bubbly, pūpū, and dancing! Hereʻs our little guide to creating that perfect cocktail hour + reception timeline (with a sample timeline to start your planning off with!).

Your cocktail hour + wedding reception is where the fun really begins–so fitting in time to mingle, enjoy food and drink, and capture your newlywed bliss is all essential for a complete post-ceremony celebration.

We love that every cocktail hour + reception will look a little different depending on your preferences. For example, we know that some couples will put more emphasis on the couple portraits (30 minutes+ for a little time alone and epic photos is always ideal!) while some will want to spend more time mingling (and having more candid photos taken!). For the post-dinner program, we know that some couples can do without the garter + bouquet toss, while some might want to add in a surprise element for their guests (Choreographed dance? Couple’s trivia?).

Hereʻs a sample timeline for your cocktail hour + reception that we encourage you to personalize or grab inspiration from for your own special post-ceremony celebration!