How's a Cocktail Reception Defined?

A cocktail wedding reception can begin as early as 4 p.m. but no later than 6 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres are passed by tray, served buffet-style, or some combination of both. Typically, the event wraps up around 7:30, when most guests begin to think about dinner.

Traditional menus include a variety of delicious hot and cold appetizers, as well as fine cheeses, breads, fruits, and crudites. For Wolfgang Puck’s cocktail menu ideas, click here.

Couples may offer a traditional bar with an assortment of hard liquor, mixers, wine, champagne, and soft drinks. They may also serve a signature cocktail -- like a mint julep or cosmopolitan -- or choose a favorite drink, like a martini or margarita, and give guests their choice of sweet or savory variations.

The cost of a cocktail reception depends primarily on selection of liquors offered, but generally falls between $20 to $40 a person.