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Cocktail Hour / Interlude Songs
The Cocktail hour or Interlude is the section of time before the wedding reception and directly after the wedding ceremony. Guests generally have some beverages before they are invited into the reception venue during the cocktail hour.
The cocktail hour serves several functions at the reception. It gives the wait staff time to make the final preparations before everyone is seated and allows the guests to mingle a bit before taking their assigned seats.
Most Easy Listening styles are appropriate including Soft Jazz, Love Songs or the Bride and Grooms special songs.
Below are a few popular cocktail hour song suggestions...
| Title (Click for Song Lyrics & Info) | Artist | Year | Youtube |
| American Dream (Afterlife Mix) | Jakatta | 2001 | |
| At the River | Groove Armada | 1999 | |
| Clocks (Beuno Vista Version) | Coldplay | 2006 | |
| Gamble Everything for Love | Ben Lee | 2005 | |
| Give me one Reason | Tracy Chapman | 1997 | |
| Good People | Jack Johnson | 2005 | |
| I only have eyes for you | Jamie Cullum | 2005 | |
| I’ve got you under my skin | Frank Sinatra | 1956 | |
| It ain’t necessarily so | Jamie Cullum | 2002 | |
| No Other Way | Jack Johnson | 2005 | |
| The way you look tonight | Frank Sinatra | 1957 | |
| Something Stupid | Frank and Nancy Sinatra | 1967 | |
| Somewhere over Rainbow | Israel Kamakawiwole | 1962 | |
| Songbird | Eva Cassidy | 1998 | |
| True Tears of Joy | Hunters and Collectors | 1992 | |
| True Colours | Phil Collins | 1986 | |
| Turn your lights down low | Bob Marley | 1999 | |
| Wicked Game | Chris Issak | 1989 | |
| Wishing Well | Terence Trent Darby | 1988 | |
| With or Without you | U2 | 1987 |
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Planning a Wedding Reception? Check Out the Wedding Reception Kit for Unique Ideas!
More about the Interlude
When your guests arrive at the venue you’ve chosen for your wedding reception, you will probably have a cocktail hour or interlude before the meal is served.
The wedding party is often busy having formal wedding pictures taken while the guests are having their cocktails, so the guests are socializing without the bride and groom being with them. After the pictures are taken, the wedding party may take some time for a private toast in their limousine or a short drive before arriving at the reception.
Because the wedding party is missing for most or all of the cocktail hour, it’s essential to provide good food, beverages and music to keep the guests happy. At most cocktail hours, the guests are served their choice of beverages, including at least wine or beer, sometimes mixed drinks or even champagne. Usually hors d’oeuvres are an assortment of finger foods that can be eaten in one or two bites.
A choice of four or five different foods will ensure that everyone can find something they’ll like, but keep them simple and elegant. Keep in mind when you order your hors d’oeuvres that your guests will eat three to five each.
Interlude Entertainment
Do you need to provide any entertainment or activities for your guests during the cocktail hour or interlude? Not in most cases, since it is usually only between 45 minutes to an hour or a bit more in length. Many of the guests will enjoy simply socializing with friends they haven’t seen in a while and listening to the music you’ve chosen.
The music should be easy listening, jazz or something else that’s breezy, smooth and unobtrusive. Some couples choose primarily instrumental music for the interlude, but this certainly isn’t necessary. The key is to keep the volume at the right level to permit conversation without overpowering it.
Your music selection should reflect your happiness and bring smiles to the faces of your friends and relatives. Many couples choose sentimental favorites of their own as well as particular songs that have meaning to friends and family to play during the cocktail hour.
If you know a song that is meaningful to a couple who will be at the cocktail hour, consider adding it to the play list. They’ll be especially moved to hear it on your special day – everyone feels more romantic at a wedding!
If you really feel that you want to add a something to entertain your guests, put together some unforgettable photos of yourself and your fiancé as children as an oversized collage and display them on easels. On a third easel, display a collage of photos of the two of you together as a couple. Your guests will love looking at the old photos, particularly if you include a few embarrassing ones of each of you as well as a few cute baby pictures!
With some good food and drinks, soft background music and a few great pictures to look at, the cocktail hour will fly by and your guests will be delighted to realize you’ve arrived and its time for the reception!
If you are looking for more cocktail hour song ideas, make sure to check out the Top Wedding Songs list.