Putting the spark in your Canape Time! – The Wedding + Event Creators

Canape and pre dinner drinks time is fast becoming the best part of a wedding!

The bride and groom have said their i’do’s and now its time for a champagne and to socialise with family and friends. With so many couple’s now choosing a venue that does it all on site- ceremony, canape time and reception- it now means there is no need to have to wait for hours at the local pub for the reception to start.

As wedding planners, often we find couple’s are choosing to put the wow factor into their pre dinner drinks time, while they opt to go take some photos and then head back to join their friends before the reception starts. Canape time can last anywhere from 30 minutes up to about 2 1/2 hours so making some key decisions that keep your guests entertained ensures it sets the mood for the rest of the night to come!

Here are a few suggestions below;

Drink Station; Choosing a fantastic drinks station, with plenty of options for your guests to enjoy from non alcoholic mocktails, or a signature cocktail, plus be sure to add the staples of beer, wine and champagne and some water.

Photo; The Evoke Company

Choose a unique way of serving your drinks, maybe a vintage bath or old wheelbarrow, leave a few bottle openers and guests can help themselves.

Photo;Brides.com

Have your drink station semi-interactive! Have your guests add their own garnish or fruit to their cocktail or champagne.

Photo; Style Me Pretty

Games! Still very popular is the trend to have a selection of lawn games at pre dinner drinks time. You may choose just one or two or a variety for guests to choose from from croquet, cricket, boules, noughts and crosses,ring toss and giant jenga.

As wedding planners we find guests of all ages, young and old, get into the lawn games, especially with a few champagnes under their belt!

Jenga (pictured below); always a crowd favourite!

Photo; Henry Paul Photography. Game from The Wedding and Event Creators

Photo; Wedding Party

Photo; Rock My Wedding

Food; Apart from the drinks and entertainment, the food is what everyone is after! Often people haven’t eaten lunch, too busy getting ready for the wedding so are very keen to get some grub in their bellies post ceremony. Teamed with a bar at canape time, it is very important to start your food at the same time as drink service to ensure all your guests are drinking safely and happy!

A grazing or antipasto table is always popular for canape time- guests can grab a plate and help themselves from a range of bikkies, dried fruit, cheeses, meats and fruits. There are some fantastic catering companies out there that do a wonderful grazing station, styled with props, using lovely bamboo plates and cutlery and is a masterpiece itself!

Photo; Colin Cowie Weddings

Having a unique and interesting way of serving your canapes really creates a fun talking point at your canape time among guests. Chat to your catering about their serving options of food, have a look on pinterest and in galleries of your potential catering site and see what takes your fancy.

Photo; The Tomkat Studio

Photo; The Little White Dress

A hanging canape anyone?

Photo; Unknown

A very unique serving option!

Photo; Inside Weddings

We hope some of these tips have given you a bit of inspiration and you may look to encorporate a few ideas into your canape and pre dinner drinks time!

Cheers for now,

Vanessa

The Wedding And Event Creators

weddingandeventcreators.com.au