A Couple’s Seamless Guide to Wedding Bars

Often overlooked, a robust wedding bar is one of the most crucial parts of the best night of your life. As a harbinger of joy at your wedding, a well-run bar is large component of the recipe for a dazzling event that will leave your guests happy, mingling, and dancing the night away.

Unbeknownst to many couples, you have options when it comes to your wedding bar. Depending upon your venue or caterer, you may be allowed to host your own bar – you don’t necessarily have to employ the expensive bar service that’s tacked onto your venue, and doing your own DIY wedding bar can be a fun way to save some extra money as well as wow your guests with added personal touch. On the other hand, opting for a venue or caterer-run bar can alleviate some serious big-day stress.

So where to start? What kind of bar suits your wedding and your budget? First, let’s get down to the nitty gritty of wedding bars with a little help from my friend, Amber, at Tonic & Lime.

What types of wedding bars are there?

Cash Bars

A cash bar means your guest will be paying for alcoholic beverages out of their own pocket. Fully providing liquor can an expensive addition to your big day, which is why some couples opt for this service. One item I do want to caution you on is to consider all the time and money your guests have spent to be with you on your special day and I personally think there is no better way to thank them then with a complimentary bar.

Full Bar

A full bar covers your guests with most or all types of alcoholic drinks from inception to completion. This means more cost for you, but more appealing perks for your guests.

Hosted

Some venues or caterers offer the option of hosting a bar, where the couple can pay for a set amount – and when that amount runs out, it becomes a cash bar. With a hosted bar, you can alternatively choose to only cover certain alcohols like beer and wine, leaving liquor as a purchase option for your guests.

Different ways to go about your bar

Hire Away!

In hiring out, the venue, caterer, or bar service company does it all. From the garnishes to the glassware, all you have to worry about is the price. This is by far the most effortless route, with the highest price tag.

Best of Both Worlds

With a mix of DIY and hired staff, you’ll use your bar service provider to take care of aspects such as serving, set-up, and cutting garnishes, while you take on others like purchasing alcohol. Procuring your own liquor is a good way to keep your budget in check, and having extra help of your bar provider eases laborious wedding day tasks.

Straight DIY

Setup, purchasing alcohol and mixers, getting glassware, and hiring a licensed (liquor liability insurance plus TIP and TAM certified) bartender is a small part of the list you’re looking at with a DIY option. Apart from a big agenda, a DIY bar can be an exciting addition to your planning experience, as you’ll have the freedom to design your bar down to the little details – like fresh cherries or bamboo straws.

Building your wedding bar – what to expect

If you have the time and stamina for it, building your wedding bar can be a creative dream! There’s lots to think about if you go this route – prepare to put on your organizational cap if you host your own bar. Here’s a few questions to ask yourself when putting together your checklist.

• How much alcohol do you need?
• What type of alcohol do your guests normally drink? Are they predominantly beer or wine drinkers?
• Do you want wine service with dinner?
• How about a champagne toast?
• How much ice will you need/where will you store it?
• Waste and recycling: where will it go and who will you coordinate waste with?

And a few helpful facts

• Weddings usually go 40% liquor, 40% wine, and 20% beer.
• Guests that are typically beer or wine drinkers will tend to have mixed drinks at a wedding for the sake of celebration! Make sure to factor that in with your liquor purchases.
• A typical consumption rate is 1 drink/person/hour.

We wish you a breathtaking, smooth wedding flowing with drinks, laughter, and happily-ever-afters.

Have any questions for Amber or myself? Shoot use a message below!