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Wedding
Reception Drinks and Cocktails
When you are planning your wedding and reception, the topic inevitably
surfaces regarding alcoholic drinks. Then the questions begin. Do you
serve wine and beer only? Do you serve cocktails? Do you go with a
theme? What type of bar should you have? There are so many decisions and
choices! So take a breath (it is important during this time that you
remember to breathe!) and review these options.
Open Bar
It is most courteous to go with this approach because your guests should
not have to pay for anything at a wedding. Unfortunately, this is also
the most expensive approach. Your guests can order any drink that they
want, as much as they want, and leave you with the usually pricey tab.
Limited Bar
This is the most popular choice because you can have your wedding cake
and eat it too. In other words, you can have your bar, but you control
it, including costs. With this type of bar you offer your guests a
selection of beverages such as beer, wine and perhaps some mixed drinks
like vodka drinks or rum drinks. You can even specify certain times that
the bar is open. Another option is to have a wait staff that circulates
through the crowd and serves the drinks on trays instead of having a bar
that people walk up to, but while you will save money on the alcohol,
the wait staff will cost you.
Cash Bar
This is just not a very good idea and not very polite. You don't invite
people to celebrate your wedding with you and then make them pay for
anything. If you want to cut corners, then just don't have a bar at all.
Dry House
If you don't drink or your families don't drink, or you just don't want
to have alcohol at your reception then it is perfectly fine to skip the
bar altogether. Serve punch, soda and non alcoholic mixed drinks
instead. If you want something for toasting, then you can serve some
champagne, or opt for sparkling cider or sparkling grape juice.
Informal
At an informal wedding and reception, anything pretty much goes. You can
have an open bar, limited bar or a dry house. Another thing that you may
want to consider is to have a dry house and then you and your groom go
out with some friends after the reception. Many couples are opting for
this choice and it works out well.
Formal
A formal wedding and reception usually involves dinner so you want
something a little more upscale. You can have any type of bar, but you
may want to have waiters circulate through the guests and serve the
alcoholic drinks. Wine is also a nice choice for a formal wedding. You
can serve wine and maybe beer, then serve champagne for toasting.
Planning a wedding is stressful, there is no doubt. But when you apply
some simple rules and weigh out your choices, the solution should be
much easier to decide. Then you are better able to enjoy your big day.
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