Quick Answer
What is a vin d'honneur at a Belgian wedding?
A vin d'honneur is the standing drinks-and-canapés reception held right after the ceremony (civil, or civil plus religious), before the seated evening dinner and dance. It's a French-origin convention that Belgium — especially French-speaking Wallonia — has fully adopted as its own, and it's honest to note the shared origin rather than call it uniquely Belgian.
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What is a vin d'honneur at a Belgian wedding?
Also called: huwelijksreceptie, the toast reception, drinks reception.
The vin d'honneur is the pressure valve of a Belgian wedding day: an hour or two of sparkling wine, canapés, and standing conversation between the formality of the ceremony and the choreography of the seated dinner. Wallonia and French-speaking Brussels use the French term directly; Flemish couples run the same kind of gathering but are just as likely to call it a receptie. Either way, it's often the point where the guest list quietly widens — friends and colleagues who weren't invited to dinner are welcome here.
How it's typically run
Held at the reception venue (or sometimes a separate location) straight after the ceremony, the vin d'honneur runs as a standing reception — no seating plan, no formal toasts, just circulating drinks and food while photos are taken and guests mingle. It typically lasts one to two hours before guests are called through to the seated dinner.
- •Sparkling wine (cava or crémant) is standard; some receptions offer a selection of Belgian beers alongside or instead.
- •Food is finger-food format — canapés, petits fours, sometimes a cheese or charcuterie table.
- •It doubles as the photo window — couple portraits and group shots typically happen during this stretch.
Planning notes
- •Decide early whether the vin d'honneur guest list is the same as the dinner list, or intentionally wider — this changes catering counts for two different moments in the same day.
- •Budget standing catering (canapés, drinks) separately from the seated dinner menu — caterers usually quote them as distinct line items.
- •Build in a clear transition cue (an announcement, music change, or the venue opening the dining room) so guests know when to move from standing drinks to seated dinner.
Keep every stage of the day on one timeline
From the town hall slot to the vin d'honneur to the evening dance, Weddingkart's checklist keeps every stage — and its own guest count — organized in one place.
Try the wedding checklist →Frequently Asked Questions
Is a vin d'honneur the same as the wedding reception?
No — it's a shorter standing reception with drinks and light bites, usually right after the ceremony, distinct from the seated dinner and evening dance that follows later. Couples often use it as a lower-cost way to include more guests than the dinner list allows.
Is this custom used in both Flanders and Wallonia?
The French term and format are most closely associated with Wallonia and French-speaking Brussels; Flemish couples hold an equivalent post-ceremony drinks reception but are more likely to call it a 'receptie' than use the French phrase.
What's typically served at a vin d'honneur?
Sparkling wine such as cava or crémant, or sometimes a selection of Belgian beers, alongside canapés or petits fours — a standing format that keeps the mood light before the more formal dinner.
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By Mayank JaiswalLast updated