A cocktail reception wedding invitation must tell guests there's no seated dinner. Use a line like "Cocktails and heavy hors d'oeuvres to follow" or "Join us for a cocktail reception from 6 to 9 p.m." Include the ceremony time, reception venue, an end time, the dress code and the RSVP date, so guests know whether to eat beforehand.
Below is wording for a cocktail reception after the ceremony, a cocktail-hour-only wedding, a party after city hall and a late-night champagne celebration. For a full dinner reception, see our wedding reception invitation wording.
What to Include
- Names, date and ceremony time.
- The word "cocktail": "cocktail reception", "cocktails and hors d'oeuvres".
- Food: "heavy hors d'oeuvres", "food stations" or "small bites", so guests know how hungry to arrive.
- Start and end time. Cocktail receptions are often 2 to 3 hours.
- Venue, if it's different from the ceremony.
- Dress code: cocktail attire, black tie optional or festive.
- RSVP date.
Where the wording goes: print the full version or put it on your wedding site. For a video invitation, send the one-line version in the message with the link and mention the food and end time in your 15-second video message. Those are the two things guests ask about most.
Cocktail Reception After the Ceremony
Formal
- [Name] and [Name]
request the pleasure of your company
at their marriage
Saturday, the sixteenth of October, two thousand twenty-seven
at six o'clock in the evening
[Venue], [City]
Cocktail reception to follow · Cocktail attire - Together with their families
[Name] & [Name]
invite you to celebrate their wedding
[Date] · Ceremony at 5:30 p.m.
Cocktails and heavy hors d'oeuvres until 9 p.m.
Modern
- Vows at six. Champagne at six-fifteen.
[Name] & [Name] · [Date] · [Venue]
Small bites, big toasts and dancing until ten
Pair it with: Art Deco Noir. A black-and-gold art deco hall with a crystal chandelier and a champagne tower. Best for a glamorous evening cocktail reception. More designs in art deco wedding invitations.
Cocktail-Hour-Only Wedding
- No sit-down dinner. Just a short ceremony,
great drinks and the people we love.
[Name] & [Name] · Friday, [Date] · 6 to 9 p.m. · [Venue] - Please join us for a wedding ceremony
followed by cocktails and hors d'oeuvres
[Date] · 4 p.m. · [Venue]
A weekday or early-evening cocktail wedding often works well. Guests expect a shorter event, and a clear end time helps them plan dinner after.
Pair it with: Black Velvet. A black envelope, an ivory card with a pressed leaf and a black wax seal by candlelight. Best for a minimalist, black-tie-optional evening.
Cocktail Party After City Hall
- We got married at city hall this afternoon,
and now it's time for a drink.
Join [Name] & [Name] at [Bar] · [Date] · 6 p.m. - Married at 3. Cocktails at 6.
[Venue] · [Date] · Cocktail attire
Our courthouse wedding invitations guide has wording for the ceremony itself.
Late-Night Champagne or Dessert Reception
- Join us after the ceremony for champagne and dessert
[Venue] · [Date] · 8 to 11 p.m. - Cake, champagne and a dance floor.
[Name] & [Name]'s wedding reception · [Date] · 9 p.m.
If it's New Year's Eve, see New Year's Eve wedding invitations.
Pair it with: Champagne Lumiere. Champagne poured over a coupe tower in a white ballroom with mirrored tables. Best for a champagne toast or dessert reception.
Say it in your 15-second video message: "We're getting married on October 16! Ceremony at six, then cocktails and lots of food until ten. No sit-down dinner, so come hungry and ready to dance."
Tricky Lines
- Not a full meal: "Light bites will be served" (tells guests to eat beforehand).
- A real meal without tables: "Food stations and heavy hors d'oeuvres" (tells them not to).
- Open bar or not: keep it off the invitation; put bar details on your website if needed.
- Adults only: "This will be an adults-only evening."
Short Versions to Send by Text
- "We're getting married! Ceremony at 6, cocktail reception until 10. Details and RSVP here:"
- "Heads up: it's a cocktail reception, not a sit-down dinner, but there will be plenty of food."
- "Please RSVP by September 18."
When to Send
| Type | Send | RSVP by |
|---|---|---|
| Ceremony and cocktail reception | 6 to 8 weeks before | 3 to 4 weeks before |
| Weekday cocktail wedding | 6 weeks before | 3 weeks before |
| Cocktail party after city hall | 4 to 6 weeks before | 2 weeks before |
Sending It as a Video Invitation
- Pick a template in the TwistInvite app.
- Add your event details, plus your own photos, a clip or your song if you like.
- Hold to record a 15-second message about the plan: ceremony, cocktails, end time.
- Share the link by text. Guests open it in their browser and reply Going, Can't make it or Maybe without an app or account.
Get the TwistInvite app to make your cocktail wedding invitation.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Saying "reception to follow" without "cocktail". Guests will expect dinner.
- Leaving out the end time.
- Writing "light bites" when you mean a full meal, or the other way around.
- Skipping the dress code. "Cocktail attire" is one of the most useful lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say there's no dinner on a wedding invitation?
Use "cocktail reception to follow" or "cocktails and hors d'oeuvres" with an end time. Add "light bites" if guests should eat beforehand.
What does cocktail reception mean on a wedding invitation?
It means drinks and passed or station food, usually without assigned seats or a plated dinner, for about two to three hours.
What should guests wear to a cocktail reception wedding?
Cocktail attire: suits or dressy separates, and knee-length or midi dresses. Say "cocktail attire" on the invitation.
How long is a cocktail reception wedding?
Usually two to three hours after the ceremony. Put the end time on the invitation.
Is a cocktail reception cheaper than a dinner?
It can be, because there are fewer courses and less seating, but heavy hors d'oeuvres and an open bar can cost as much. Ask your caterer to compare.
Create it in the TwistInvite app
Download free on iPhone or Android, then share one link with your guests.