Cocktail Hours

There are several things to consider when planning your cocktail hour. Do you need a set time? How long will your guests be waiting for your reception entrance during that time? Will you provide entertainment? What about food? Is it necessary to do family and wedding party photos after the ceremony? Let us help you answer these questions you may have!

First off couples, you will want to decide if you are doing a first look together. First looks are encouraged at Berry Acres because of the ease of flow it provides to the reception timeline. This allows you and your wedding party to have an opportunity before the ceremony to check a large portion of photos off the photographer's “shot list”. You may even be able to get some family photos out of the way. If your family members are not able to arrive a couple of hours before the event for photos, you can always take some time after the ceremony to do so. In this case, you should only need 15-30 minutes of photos and therefore, not a whole “cocktail hour”.

Brett S Photography

If you are going the traditional route of seeing each other for the first time down the ceremony aisle, then you will need to determine how long to take photos afterwards. If you have a large family and/or wedding party, you may need to mention that when planning your timeline with the in-house Berry Acres coordinator and your photographer. A small or medium sized group for photos should only take about 45 minutes with an efficient, organized photographer capturing your photos. A larger group may take the whole hour.

Whether you are doing a first look or not, it is always a good idea to consider saving the majority of your couple portraits for sunset time around here at Berry Acres. We typically have incredible sunsets!! It’s fun for the couples to sneak off during the event to enjoy some intimate photo time with just the photographer. Doing this allows for a shorter period of photo time right after the first look or during the cocktail hour.

Next you will want to figure out if you are going to provide hors d’oeuvres/appetizers, simple snacks and/or entertainment during the cocktail hour. If your cocktail hour will be anywhere from 45 minutes or more, it is considerate to provide some sort of food option for your guests. You can go as simple as bringing pre-packaged snacks yourself to allowing Berry Acres’ catering to serve passed or stationed hors d’oeuvres.

When determining if you will need a form of entertainment for your guests, think about some things that you and your significant other enjoy together. Berry Acres has great cocktail hour amenities for you and your guests to enjoy. If the weather allows, our firepit area is conveniently located right outside our north reception doors and surrounded by rock seating. Do you like s’mores? Berry Acres offers a great s’mores bar that you can enjoy with the fire pit!

Pond Photography

Another weather-permitting idea is to bring in yard games for your guests. Berry Acres offers corn hole and connect four in-house. Other options might be giant Jenga or yard Yatzee.

Do you want to add a fancy touch to your big day? Consider having an ice sculpture brought in, sculpted into something to match your personality or show off your last initial. Pair it with shrimp cocktail for your guests to enjoy.

If music is a passion you both hold, you could hire a band or a musician to play during your cocktail hour.

Elegancia Violin Duet

Take the money that you would have spent towards some favors for your guests and offer larger money prizes as an incentive for the winner of a couple bingo games.

At Berry Acres, we create a slideshow (including engagement pictures, growing up/family memories and your photos together as a couple) to be displayed throughout the evening. Showing this slideshow during the cocktail hour is a great way to involve your guests in your love story.

Kansas City vendors have gotten so inventive when it comes to entertainment for wedding guests. Photo booths, cotton candy vendors and signature coffee stands have quickly become popular around here at Berry Acres. 

Phase 2 Coffee Co

Couples are loving the trend going around of these beautifully arranged charcuterie boards filled with bite sized foods! Hire a professional vendor to either put an entire charcuterie board display together or arrange personalized charcuterie containers for each guest to take for themselves. Your guests will enjoy munching on the variety of fresh and dried fruits and vegetables, nuts, meats and cheeses. Remember to leave a few for your vegetarian friends by foregoing the meat and cheese. The little portions make for the perfect appetizer or snack during cocktail hour while guests anticipate the grand entrance of the couple. Because it truly is a quick grab, guests can find their table and be seated in a more timely manner, also avoiding long lines.

Beloved Images Photography

Think outside the box a little and make it a memorable experience for you and your friends and family. When you book at Berry Acres, you are not just getting a venue, but also an experience that your guests will never forget! Feel free to ask us if a cocktail hour will suit your wedding day. We’ll help you begin the process of deciding all the details that would make your day a reflection of you and your fiance’s personality and future together!

Stay tuned as we share more fun and unique wedding ideas.