If You Want To Serve Booze At Your Wedding Without Burning A Hole In Your Wallet, Here’s How To Save On Alcohol Costs
Let’s be honest: booze is one of the best parts of a wedding reception.
When I go to a wedding, I know that I not only look forward to celebrating the happy couple but also grabbing a drink from the open bar and dancing the night away with loved ones.
Having a solid drink selection, whether that includes a big open bar or creatively crafted cocktails at your wedding, can take the night to the next level, as drinking and celebrating often go hand in hand for many people.
However, it’s no secret that bringing out the bar for your wedding can get very expensive and add up rather quickly.
So, if you’re planning your dream wedding but don’t want to allocate too much of your wedding budget to alcohol, here are some ways to save money on it and still have a good time.
Supply your own
When choosing your reception venue, try to find a place that allows you to supply your own alcohol so you don’t have to worry about settling for your venue’s high prices. Then, you can go off on your own and find the best bulk deals on your favorite drinks.
Make a drink menu
When you have an open bar and allow people to order whatever they wish, it’s a great thing to have, but it’s also expensive. Try to narrow down your guests’ options just a little bit by creating a set drink menu for them to choose from. You can create fun ‘His’ and ‘Hers’ signature cocktails, include a few classic cocktails and a few basic wine and beer options, and leave it at that.
Oleksandr Blishch – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual people
This way, you won’t have to worry about your bar being stocked with all kinds of other liquors and mixers, as you’ll only have to supply the things needed for the drinks on your special menu.
Adjust your time windows
The couples who keep their full open bar operating through all hours of the reception are the ones who rack up the biggest bills. One thing you could do to shorten the amount of time you serve liquor without making your guests feel cheated out of drinks is to only serve liquor and cocktails during your cocktail hour, then switch to only beer and wine for the rest of the night.
Skip the champagne toast
A lot of couples feel the need to have a cute champagne toast, where each guest gets a glass of champagne on top of what they’re already drinking to toast to the happy couple. While it can be a really cute moment, it also means you’ll have to pay for a bunch of extra champagne.
So, if you’re not super attached to the idea of a champagne toast, consider skipping it. Everyone can toast you with the drinks they already have!
Don’t give the option of drinks before the ceremony
While some people like to “pre-game” a wedding, you don’t have to be the person supplying them with the booze for it. If you’re serving any drinks to anyone before your wedding, give them non-alcoholic options.
If you’re the bride or groom and want just a little something before the ceremony, your bridesmaids or grooms should be getting it for you!
There are a lot of people who believe wedding celebrations are incomplete without adult drinks. If you’re supplying it, just remember to do your research and don’t let anyone take advantage of you or trick you into buying expensive drinks you don’t need. And above all else, have fun!
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
More About:Weddings