[[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","name":"When it starts","text":"Cocktail hour typically starts right after your ceremony if your ceremony and reception are held at the same venue. If you\u2019re getting married at your house of worship or at an off-site ceremony location, cocktail hour at your reception venue usually starts between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. or just before dinner starts.","@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Answer"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","name":"How long it lasts","text":"The standard cocktail hour is 60 minutes. Some couples extend this to 90 minutes so that they can take family photos and still be back in time to attend the cocktail hour. Or if the venue needs to \u201cflip\u201d the room and add dining tables and chairs to where the ceremony was held. If you just love the idea of cocktail hour and want to extend it even more, consider a cocktail-style reception, where it\u2019s just one big cocktail hour all night long. You can also shorten cocktail hour if that works better with your timeline or if the cocktail area is outside and you have a fall or winter wedding.","@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Answer1"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","text":"No, you don\u2019t need a cocktail hour, but it\u2019s a nice formal touch to add to the flow of your day. It gives your guests the opportunity to mingle with other guests they may not be sitting with. It gives you time to touch up, have more photos taken with your family or just to take a break if you\u2019re overwhelmed with the day. And it allows your venue to start preparing for dinner.","name":"Do I need it","@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Answer2"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","name":"Where it takes place","text":"Most venues have a separate area with tables and chairs, multiple bars, serving stations and access to an outdoor patio. This is handy if your ceremony and reception are in the same room. Guests move from the ceremony space to the cocktail room, while the team at your venue completely transforms the space into your reception area.","@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Answer3"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","name":"bride and groom attend","text":"It all depends on your timeline for the day and whether you\u2019ve taken family photos or not. Many couples are now doing a first look, which is when they get all of the images of just the two of them done before they ceremony. Family members and the bridal party can have photos taken at this point as well. If you\u2019re not doing a first look, your photos will typically be taken right after the ceremony. Your guests head to the cocktail hour while you, your bridal party and your family take photos.","@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Answer4"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","text":"You name it, you\u2019ll find it in NJ! Some cocktail hours consist of just a few passed hors d\u2019oevres along with a large charcuterie board. You\u2019ll want at least five passed appetizers along with two bites per guest. Other cocktail hours include some pretty incredible options. Massive seafood towers, caviar and Vodka luges, slider stations, carving stations, mashed potato station, bacon station, grilled cheese and tomato soup stations, sushi stations, Mac and cheese bars and taco bars are just a few. The cocktail hour can often be a larger meal than the actual dinner. Talk to your caterer about what they offer.","name":"types of food","@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Answer5"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","name":"types of drinks","text":"You can serve whatever you\u2019d like. While full open bars are pretty much the standard in New Jersey, it\u2019s perfectly acceptable if you just served beer, wine and a signature drink or two.","@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Answer6"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","name":"seating for all","text":"No, you don\u2019t need to include seating for everyone like you will for dinner, but it\u2019s courteous to provide some small tables and chairs along with high-tops. Your older guests will appreciate the seating.","@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Answer7"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","name":"how guests move","text":"Typically once the doors to the dining room open, everyone knows to move to the reception area. The team at your venue will guide them, either with a bell or politely ask everyone to take a seat for dinner. They do this all the time and know exactly how to best get everyone to the next room in an orderly manner.","@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Answer8"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","text":"Music sets the mood for your event, and the wedding cocktail hour is no exception. You can have a deejay, string quartet, guitarist, pianist, reggae band, mariachi band, a cappella singers\u2014whatever best suits your event and your personal style. You can arrange music for the cocktail hour with your band leader or deejay. They\u2019ll have ideas for you and access to almost anything you\u2019d want.","name":"music needed","@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Answer9"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"When should the cocktail hour start?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Answer"},"@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Question"},{"@type":"Question","name":"How long does a cocktail hour typically last?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Answer1"},"@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Question1"},{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need to have a cocktail hour?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Answer2"},"@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Question2"},{"@type":"Question","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Answer3"},"name":"Where does cocktail hour take place?","@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Question3"},{"@type":"Question","name":"Do the bride and groom attend the cocktail hour?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Answer4"},"@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Question4"},{"@type":"Question","name":"What type of foods are typically served?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Answer5"},"@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Question5"},{"@type":"Question","name":"What type of drinks should be served?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Answer6"},"@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Question6"},{"@type":"Question","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Answer7"},"name":"Do I need to have seating for everyone? ","@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Question7"},{"@type":"Question","name":"How do guests know to move from the cocktail hour into the dining room?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Answer8"},"@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Question8"},{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need music for cocktail hour?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Answer9"},"@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#Question9"}],"url":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/","name":"Best NJ Cocktail Hours FAQ","@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#FAQPage"}],{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"20 of NJ\u2019s Best Wedding Cocktail Hours","item":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/best-nj-cocktail-hours\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]