A La Fête Exclusive: Mocktail Hour - The Best Way to Kick Off Your Party

Outside our little valley, the cocktail hour is a wedding staple — that golden window between other events and the reception where select guests mingle over drinks while the room finishes coming together. In Utah, that tradition isn’t much of a thing. And we think that the ambiance portion of it is missing.

So we partnered with a few of our favorite vendors and brought it back. Just Utah style.

Every wedding has a gap. Decorations are still being finished. The bridal party is finishing photos. Guests have arrived and are standing in a lobby, checking their phones, wondering when things start.

We built Mocktail Hour to close that gap.

What it actually is

You and a select set of guests arrive to a live pianist setting the tone, a curated soda bar pouring delicious mocktails, and a room that already feels like the celebration's begun. No setup on your end, no awkward holding pattern. While your team finishes the last details behind the scenes, your guests are already part of the day — mingling, sipping, settling in. Mocktails can be customized to fit your day, whether that's your wedding colors, a signature flavor, or your favorite drinks served to your favorite people.

It's not a separate event. It's the moment before the moment, done right.

Why it works

Cocktail hour exists everywhere else for a reason — it gives guests something to do, gives the room time to come together, and gives the day a natural transition rather than a hard stop-and-restart. Mocktail Hour brings the tradition back: guests still get the mingling, the music, and the drink in hand as they flow into the reception.

It also solves the practical problem every venue runs into. Your favorite guests show up early because they don't want to be late (or to help), and then they stand around with nothing to do until the doors open.

Mocktail Hour gives that dead time a purpose — and gives your day a softer, more elevated start than "please wait here."

What's included

• A Live pianist

• Curated, customizable mocktail bar from MobileMixersUtah

• Full setup and service handled by our team

Pricing

30 Guests - Limited$450/$600

50 Guests - Limited $650/Unlimited $900

Limited means up to two drinks per person. The mocktail bar is $10/guest for limited service, $15/guest for unlimited. Other guests count the same way — just ask.

Want to upgrade Mocktail Hour to full drink service? That's available too, as an add-on through our required bar partner, Mobile Mixers Utah.

‍Want to add Mocktail Hour to your day? Talk to your planner or reach out at info@lafetevenue.com.