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If you ask most couples what their guests talked about after the wedding, the answer is rarely the centerpiece arrangements. It’s the cocktail hour, that window right after the ceremony, when the energy is high, and everyone is together for the first time, that sets the tone for everything that follows. At The Waterfall we’ve made our cocktail hour to be something your guests won’t stop talking about.
The Waterfall’s cocktail hour stands out because it combines a visually striking space, extensive food offerings, and coordinated service into one seamless experience. Guests enter through a dramatic rotunda and cocktail room, then enjoy more than 30 passed hors d’oeuvres, a full Toscano table, and multiple live culinary stations, all supported by a top-shelf open bar. With a dedicated team managing timing and flow, the entire hour feels effortless while delivering the kind of variety and atmosphere guests remember long after the wedding.
A Room That Makes an Impression Before the First Bite
Guests don’t walk into a holding area. They walk into a rotunda anchored by a handmade blown glass chandelier, then into a cocktail room with 18-foot ceilings, an endless skylight, and a glowing onyx stone wall behind the bar. Before a single hors d’oeuvre reaches them, the room has already earned a reaction.
Over 30 Passed Hors d’Oeuvres and Live Culinary Stations
This is where The Waterfall separates itself from other Delaware wedding venues. Our all-inclusive wedding packages include more than 30 different butlered hors d’oeuvres passed tableside throughout the hour. Baby lamb chops, scallops wrapped in bacon, mushroom stuffed with crabmeat, shrimp scampi skewers, and two dozen more options keep circulating, so no guest is left waiting or going back empty-handed.
At the same time, a full Toscano Table runs alongside the passed bites. Consisting of an artisan meat board, fresh seafood salad, assorted cheese board, caprese salad, grilled vegetables, and a fresh fruit board, all available at once. Then come the live attended culinary stations. Couples select from options including pasta, Pan Asian, Caribbean, Korean Barbecue, Smokehouse, Mediterranean Gyro, South of the Border, Slider, Vegan, Taste of India, Taste of Africa stations, and more.
For couples celebrating with specific cultural traditions, including Indian weddings and other niche culinary backgrounds, we also welcome outside caterers. Reach out to our team directly to discuss what that looks like for your event.
A Top Shelf Bar Running From the First Toast
Top-shelf open bar options are included in our wedding packages. That onyx stone bar isn’t just a visual element. It’s fully operational from the moment your guests arrive.
No one is hunting for a drink or standing in line while the cocktail hour moves around them. It’s one of those details that guests notice without knowing why the hour felt so easy.
The Team Behind Every Smooth Moment
A great cocktail hour doesn’t happen on its own. Our event coordinators work on your wedding from start to finish. During the cocktail hour, a bridal attendant stays with the couple, captains keep service moving, and everything between the kitchen, bar, and floor is coordinated out of sight.
Couples regularly call out specific staff members by name in their reviews, which tells us the team genuinely makes an impression.
From the Cocktail Room Into the Ballroom
When the cocktail hour wraps, guests move naturally into your chosen ballroom. The Grand Ballroom holds up to 500 guests under 14-foot ceilings, Roman Corinthian marble columns, crystal chandeliers, and a marble dance floor with customizable intelligent lighting. The Cascade Ballroom, with its hand-carved oval marble dance floor, natural light through custom arched French doors, and Tiffany accents, accommodates up to 325 guests.
Dinner is a four-course gourmet meal. Some of our most popular entree selections include Champagne Chicken with Boursin cheese, Beef Short Ribs braised with roasted garlic, and Cedar Plank Jerk Style Salmon. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are available throughout. The evening closes with a staffed dessert display featuring a Viennese Table, Flambe Station, Belgian Waffle and Ice Cream Sundae station, Chocolate Fountain, Cheesecake Bar, and International Coffee Bar. Your handcrafted wedding cake is coordinated through our partner bakeries.
Ceremony Options That Fit Any Weather
The outdoor gardens feature marble water fountains, columns, a gazebo, and a bridge, all suited for ceremonies and wedding photography. The Grand Ballroom Patio with our signature waterfall is included with that space. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we can host your ceremony indoors in the reception space so your day stays on schedule, no matter what.
Couples travel to The Waterfall from across Delaware, Wilmington, the Philadelphia area, South Jersey, and Maryland because the experience here is hard to replicate. The cocktail hour is one reason. The full picture, from the ceremony through the last dance, is another.
Conclusion
The cocktail hour at The Waterfall isn’t something guests forget quickly. From the handmade blown glass chandelier in the rotunda to the onyx stone bar, the staffed culinary stations, and the team keeping everything running smoothly, every detail is designed to make the hour feel effortless for you and genuinely impressive for your guests. If this is the experience you’ve been looking for in a Delaware wedding venue, we’d love to show you around.
Ready to see it for yourself? Download our wedding pricing guide or call us at 302.792.2600. We’re located at 3416 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, DE 19703, and our team is ready to walk you through every detail.
FAQs
What is included in the cocktail hour at The Waterfall?
Our all-inclusive wedding packages include more than 30 butlered hors d’oeuvres passed tableside, a fully staffed Toscano Table, your choice of attended culinary stations, and top-shelf open bar options.
Does The Waterfall accommodate dietary restrictions?
Yes. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are available throughout the cocktail hour and dinner. For couples celebrating with specific cultural traditions, including Indian weddings, outside caterers are also welcome.
Can we hold our ceremony at The Waterfall if the weather is bad?
Absolutely, if the weather becomes an issue, we can host your ceremony indoors in the reception space and flip it back during your cocktail hour so your day stays on schedule without any disruption.
How far in advance should we book our wedding?
We recommend reaching out as early as possible, especially for peak season dates. For your wedding cake, our partner bakeries ask that you contact them a minimum of four months before your wedding date to allow time for your tasting and design consultation.