Cocktail reception is a stylish alternative to a formal wedding dinner

Q: I want to have a cocktail reception. What are some ideas for making it special enough for a wedding?

A: The cocktail reception offers couples a stylish way to entertain without the formality of a sit-down dinner. Because beverages will be the focus, your first concern should be a well-thought-out bar or multiple bars, to keep long lines from forming.

You might pick a signature drink (or a few of them) and let it dictate your menu; if you choose margaritas, for example, stock the bar with ingredients for some variations, and serve hors d'oeuvres with Mexican or Southwestern flavor.

Offer your drink of choice along with wine and beer. If money is tight, choosing just a few mixed drinks will cut costs and make the event seem more cohesive. If you can think of some nonalcoholic drinks to go along with your theme, all the better.

Make sure the food is substantial enough to satisfy appetites and that there are plenty of tables and chairs (enough to seat roughly half of your guests), so people don't have to be on their feet for hours.

To encourage guests to move around and to provide opportunities for mingling, consider having a few food stations in addition to roving waiters. And since at a cocktail reception guests are so mobile, it's the natural place to include a "live" cooking element, such as a grill where servers make kabobs to order.

A final point: To tip off guests that the hors d'oeuvres will be the full menu and not a prelude to a meal, indicate "cocktail reception to follow" on your invitation. Or, if you're serving all desserts, then you might say, "Champagne, desserts and dancing to follow."

Martha Stewart is the founder of Martha Stewart Weddings. Questions may be sent to mslletters@marthastewart.com or Ask Martha, care of Letters Department, Martha Stewart Living, 11 W. 42nd Street, New York, N.Y. 10036. Sorry, no personal replies.