Light refreshments are small snacks and drinks served in place of a full meal. Think fruit, cheese and crackers, finger sandwiches, cookies, coffee, lemonade, and punch. They are meant to hold guests over, not fill them up, and they are often eaten standing or mingling with just a small plate and a napkin.
If an invitation says “light refreshments will be served,” expect a snack table and something to drink, not dinner. This guide covers examples of light refreshments, how much to serve, and when to serve them at a wedding.
Examples of Light Refreshments
Most light refreshments are finger foods that need no cooking on site and no silverware. A good table mixes something savory, something sweet, and at least two drinks.
Savory
- Cheese and crackers
- Sliced meats such as salami and ham
- Vegetable tray with dip
- Finger sandwiches or pinwheels
- Chips with salsa or guacamole
- Olives, nuts, and pretzels
Sweet
- Fresh fruit: grapes, strawberries, melon
- Cookies and brownies
- Mini muffins or pastries
- Cupcakes or cake slices
- Chocolate-dipped strawberries
- A small candy table
Drinks
- Water and sparkling water
- Lemonade and iced tea
- Coffee and hot tea
- Punch
- Soft drinks
- Wine, beer, or a signature cocktail, if alcohol is served
Light Refreshments vs. Heavy Appetizers vs. a Meal
The wording on an invitation tells guests how hungry to arrive. Here is how the three most common phrases compare.
| Light refreshments | Heavy appetizers | Full meal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Snacks and drinks | Enough hot and cold appetizers to replace dinner | Buffet or plated dinner |
| Should guests eat first? | Yes, if it falls at a mealtime | No | No |
| Typical foods | Fruit, cheese, crackers, cookies, punch | Sliders, skewers, stuffed mushrooms, carving station | Salad, entree, sides, dessert |
| Best timing | Mid-morning, mid-afternoon, or between the ceremony and dinner | Cocktail-style receptions | Lunch or dinner hour |
| Seating | Standing and mingling | Mixed seating and cocktail tables | Assigned or open seating |
When to Serve Light Refreshments at a Wedding
Another great way to make your guests feel welcome is providing some light refreshments after the ceremony and before the dinner hour. I personally think it is a mistake not to provide something for your guests while they are waiting for the photographer to finish up the pictures before the dinner hour. Costco has trays prepared that are very reasonable, or you may want to have a catering company take care of this for you. Rivers Edge Catering provided these trays pictured to the right, with the utensils, plates, napkins, and other accompaniments.
Fruit, cheese, meat, and vegetable trays hold guests over until dinner.
That gap between the ceremony and dinner is the most common time for light refreshments at a wedding. Other good moments:
- Before the ceremony. Water, lemonade, or iced tea as guests arrive, especially for outdoor ceremonies in warm weather.
- Cocktail hour. Snacks and drinks while the couple takes photos.
- Ceremony-only weddings. A short reception with cake, punch, and a snack table in place of dinner. Schedule it between mealtimes, such as 2:00 pm, so guests do not expect a meal.
- Late in the evening. A small snack a few hours after dinner keeps guests dancing.
How Much to Serve
Caterers usually plan light refreshments by the bite and by the hour. These are common rules of thumb. Your caterer will adjust them for your guest count and menu.
- Before a full dinner: about 4 to 6 bites per guest for a one-hour cocktail hour.
- No meal to follow: 8 to 12 bites per guest for a two-hour event.
- Variety: 3 to 4 different items is enough for up to 50 guests. Add one or two more for larger groups.
- Drinks: a widely used planning rule is 2 drinks per guest in the first hour, then 1 per hour after that. Plan extra water for outdoor events.
One safety note for Arizona weddings: the CDC says to never leave perishable food out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour if it is exposed to temperatures above 90°F. For an outdoor summer cocktail hour, keep meat, cheese, and cut fruit chilled or indoors, and put them out in small batches.
Easy Light Refreshment Menu Ideas
- Classic: fruit tray, meat and cheese tray, crackers, lemonade, and iced tea.
- Southwest: chips with salsa and guacamole, mini quesadillas, fresh fruit with chile-lime seasoning, and agua fresca.
- Afternoon tea: finger sandwiches, scones, cookies, hot tea, and coffee.
- Dessert only: cake, cupcakes, a candy stand or Mexican candy table, coffee, and punch.
Light Refreshments at Saguaro Buttes
At Saguaro Buttes in Tucson, catering is included in our wedding packages, so you do not need to pick up trays the morning of your wedding.
- Our Platinum Package includes butler-passed hors d’oeuvres during cocktail hour, with your choice of three from Edge Catering.
- Our Ceremony with Patio Cocktails package includes appetizers and finger foods, with your choice of 2 appetizer options, plus coffee, iced tea and water service, and 2 hours of DJ and bar service on the private back patio.
Our Diamond luxury package adds a cocktail hour at the pond, beside a fire pit and saguaros, while guests wait between the ceremony and dinner.
See everything that is included on our wedding packages page.
Light Refreshments FAQs
What is considered light refreshments?
Snacks and drinks that do not add up to a meal: fruit, cheese and crackers, vegetables with dip, finger sandwiches, cookies, coffee, tea, lemonade, and punch.
What does “light refreshments will be served” mean on an invitation?
It means the host will offer snacks and drinks but not a full meal. If the event falls at lunch or dinner time, eat beforehand.
What is the difference between light refreshments and appetizers?
Appetizers lead into a meal. Light refreshments stand on their own and are usually simpler, such as trays, baked goods, and drinks, with no dinner promised afterward.
Do light refreshments include alcohol?
Not necessarily. The phrase usually means non-alcoholic drinks such as coffee, tea, lemonade, and punch. Hosts who are serving alcohol often say so, for example “cocktails and light refreshments.”
Is it okay to serve only light refreshments at a wedding?
Yes, as long as the timing and the invitation make it clear. Hold the reception between mealtimes and state that light refreshments will be served, so guests know what to expect.
What is another word for light refreshments?
Common alternatives are snacks, finger foods, nibbles, or “coffee and dessert.”
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