If you two have a favorite libation—you're beer lovers or tequila aficionados—set up a tasting bar with different varieties. "Cocktail hour is the right time to include any activities that involve mixing, mingling, and active discussion. 

Food and beverage tastings, for example, work well during cocktails," Jackson says. "I have organized things like oyster tastings, whiskey tastings, and wine tastings to encourage interaction as well as to fill time if needed for a 'room flip.'"

Stock welcome baskets with a quiz that leads out-of-town guests on a scavenger hunt to your favorite haunts (the best little bakery, a scenic park). Another idea is to provide "a wedding welcome bag that includes everything you might need 

for the perfect cocktail hour or perfect day at the beach," Jackson says.

The sweetest ceremony backdrop? An oversized piece of parchment or linen boasting your favorite quote, book passage, or bible verse.

Love your little fur baby? Let him or her inspire your wedding décor. One couple dedicated their cocktail hour to Charlie the pug, creating an escort card with his silhouette on it and the phrase, “Life with you is like a walk in the park.”

Forget wedding cars! Pick an exit that best suits your style as a couple or wedding theme—a motorcycle for the edgy duo or a sleek tender jetting off into the blue for the chic and glam pair.

Having an outdoor wedding? Think about the weather and your guests’ needs. If it’s cold, offer blankets for them to snuggle up in. 

Likewise, provide parasols for shade if it’s sunny or umbrellas if rain is in the forecast.

Skip the first dance in favor of an activity that is more meaningful to you and your partner. One couple chose to do their first Twister game as husband and wife instead.

A round of mini golf could also be an entertaining and fun way to kick off this new chapter in life.

If you're having a destination wedding, fill welcome baskets with locally made crafts, food, and drinks that reflect the locale. "Consider guest hospitality in every possible way.

Nothing makes more of an impact than demonstrating to your guests how much you care about them," Jackson says.

A mobile bar will delight guests during cocktail hour because they won’t have to wait in line. Give the bubbly some wheels for a whimsical feel.

For guests who don't drink, consider having a sparkling lemonade stand or even a sorbet cart.

Help wedding guests get to know you and your partner better by creating a cute infographic of your relationship to display as a sign on welcome tables. Jackson also suggests incorporating a custom illustration into your save the date card that unfolds to tell the story 

of how you and your partner met, where you went on your first date, and where you became engaged.

For personal table runners, forget the linens and use a long piece of parchment with your vows written on it in calligraphy—très romantique.

Personalize the bridesmaids' bouquets by selecting flowers that pair with each girl's birth month. Stick to a single color (pink peonies, pink tulips, pink roses) or color scheme (jewel tones) to unify the look.

Your guests will have worked up an appetite from the dance floor by the time they leave for the night. Send them home with a midnight snack (anything from shoestring fries to popcorn) to eat in their hotel for a favor that will actually get used.

What guest doesn't appreciate a sweet treat? Jackson suggests surprising guests with a turndown service when they arrive back at their hotel following the rehearsal dinner.

"The turndown service included a special note from the bride and groom and their favorite local doughnuts to be enjoyed as a late-night snack or morning treat," Jackson says. Other confections to consider include a trio of macarons, a cupcake, a warm cookie, or gourmet chocolates.