How to only serve wine and beer at your wedding. Craft the ultimate wine and beer perfect for your wedding celebration. Why wine and beer will save you wedding money and get your guests to have fun. Tips and tricks for a successful wine and beer wedding reception bar.
This site contains affiliate links. For more info, please see our full disclosure.
Planning a wedding involves countless decisions, from choosing the perfect venue to selecting the menu, which can take a toll on you. Among these decisions is one that can significantly impact your celebration’s ambiance, budget, and overall experience: the beverage selection.
While the allure of a full bar stocked with an array of spirits may be tempting, many couples are opting for a more streamlined approach by serving only wine and beer at their weddings.
In this guide, we’ll delve into the art of exclusively offering wine and beer, (instead of an open bar or a full bar) exploring the myriad benefits and considerations that come with this choice. From cost-effective elegance to the versatility of beverage options, discover how embracing simplicity can enhance your wedding celebration while ensuring a memorable experience for you and your guests.
Serving only wine and beer at your wedding is a great way to keep things simple and classy while still giving guests delicious drink options. Wine and beer tend to cater to a wide variety of tastes, so you can offer choices like red and white wine, craft beers, and even light or fruity varieties. Sticking to just these beverages can also help you save money on your bar costs since hard liquor can be more expensive. You won’t need a full bar setup, which simplifies the logistics and keeps things less complicated. This option is also ideal if you want to avoid any overly strong drinks, ensuring that your guests can enjoy them responsibly.
You can get creative with local or seasonal beer and wine selections, adding a personal touch to your beverage menu. Pairing specific wines and beers with your food menu can elevate the dining experience for your guests. Your bartenders will have an easier time serving, reducing the wait at the bar. It’s also a more relaxed vibe, which might match your wedding style perfectly. Ultimately, sticking to wine and beer keeps your reception fun, stylish, and stress-free.
Whether you’re drawn to the sophistication of fine wines or the conviviality of craft beers, join us on a journey to create a wedding reception that epitomizes refined simplicity and joyful celebration.
And, yes, serving only wine and beer at your wedding is perfectly acceptable and common. It can simplify the planning process and reduce costs compared to offering a full bar. Additionally, wine and beer are popular choices that cater to a wide range of tastes, ensuring that most guests will find something they enjoy.
As long as you communicate the beverage options clearly to your guests, they will likely appreciate the simplicity and focus on enjoying the celebration.
Before we get to the HOW, let’s dive quickly into the WHY it’s a good option to only serve wine and beer at your wedding.
〰️ COST EFFECTIVE. Offering only wine and beer can be more budget-friendly compared to providing a full bar with spirits. Wine and beer tend to be less expensive per serving, and you can often purchase them in bulk at a discounted rate.
〰️ SIMPLICITY. Simplifying your beverage options can streamline the planning process and reduce stress. With fewer choices to consider, you can focus your attention on other aspects of your wedding planning.
〰️ ELEGANCE. Wine and beer can add an air of sophistication to your wedding reception, especially if you choose high-quality selections. They are often associated with celebratory occasions and can contribute to the overall ambiance of your event.
〰️ BUDGET VERSATILITY. Wine and beer come in a variety of styles, flavors, and price points, allowing you to offer a range of options to suit different tastes and preferences. From light and refreshing beers to rich and complex wines, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
〰️ ENCOURAGED RESPONSIBILITY. Serving only wine and beer can help minimize the risk of overconsumption and excessive intoxication among guests. While alcohol consumption should always be monitored responsibly, limiting the options to wine and beer can make it easier to manage alcohol consumption levels.
〰️ SETUP EASE. Managing a wine and beer bar tends to be simpler than handling a full bar with a wide range of spirits. This can be especially beneficial if you’re organizing the wedding yourself or working with limited staffing resources.
How to only serve wine and beer at your wedding
Determine your budget
Decide how much you want to allocate for beverages at your wedding. Check your guest list and determine how many per per person you’d like to serve and start there. Serving only wine and beer can be cost-effective compared to offering a full bar with spirits, but costs can still vary based on the types and quantities of wine and beer you choose.
Select your wine & beer
Choose a selection of wines and beers that will appeal to a wide range of tastes. Consider offering a variety of options, such as red wine, white wine, and perhaps a sparkling wine or champagne for toasts. For beer, include a mix of styles such as lagers, ales, and perhaps some local or craft options.
The choices and selections will depend on the budget that you set as well.
PRO TIP: Serve a signature cocktail welcome drink (see how to do it here) so that your guests can have a drink during cocktail hour. This will help you save money since you are not opening the bar early on the night.
Calculate quantities
Estimate how much wine and beer you’ll need based on your guest count and the duration of your event. A general rule of thumb is to plan for each guest to consume about one drink per hour. Adjust this estimate based on your knowledge of your guests’ drinking habits and preferences.
If you opt, you can include on the menu that each guest can get 3 drinks for the night. This is obviously something that is not always common, but this will help ensure that each guests get the drinks so other people won’t overdrink.
You can also put up a sign on the bar. Start with the menu and you can include the note that each guest can have 3 drinks of their choice.
Find a vendor
Work with a reputable wine and beer vendor to purchase your selections in bulk. Many vendors offer bulk discounts for large orders, so be sure to inquire about pricing options.
Check out the local winery and beer factory and see what they can offer for bulk orders, especially for weddings.
Offer food pairing
Enhance the wine and beer experience by offering curated food pairings that complement the flavors of each beverage. From artisanal cheese and charcuterie boards to gourmet sliders and small bites, thoughtful food pairings can elevate the tasting experience and satisfy guests’ appetites.
Arrange for delivery or pick-up
Coordinate with your vendor to have the wine and beer delivered to your wedding venue or arrange for pickup if necessary. Make sure to schedule delivery or pickup for a time that allows you to set up the beverages before the wedding.
If you are hosting a small or intimate wedding, pick-up is a good option. However, if you are dealing with a larger amount of orders, getting the vendor to deliver the products will be a better option. Handling more than 5-6 boxes of alcohol requires skill. This is not the time to break these precious bottles.
Plan for serving
Decide how you’ll serve wine and beer at your wedding. You can set up a self-serve station with coolers or buckets filled with ice, or you can have servers pass out drinks to guests during the reception. Another option is to have a designated bartender or bartenders to pour drinks for guests
You can set up a bar with drink dispensers for guests for them to help themselves. Hiring a bartender to ensure that the supply is topped off at all times will be beneficial.
Remember that putting ice on the beverage will most likely water it down. Opt for drink dispensers that have the ice outside or around the drink itself to avoid watering it down.
What you’ll need to pull this off
Rent necessary equipment
If you’re serving wine, you’ll need appropriate glassware, such as wine glasses. For beer, consider renting or purchasing beer dispensers or kegs, as well as pint glasses or beer mugs.
There are of course disposable options that can still be classy and not tacky. Select the disposable products accordingly to keep the elegance throughout the wedding.
Create a beverage menu
Design a simple menu listing the wines and beers you’re serving. Display the menu at the bar or beverage station so guests know what options are available.
Remember how we also mentioned earlier that you can also add the note that each guest can have up to 3 drink choices? This is a great option to ensure that you don’t run out of drinks since you have already calculated it.
Generally, it is one drink per person per hour. If your reception is 5 hours, think about the 2 hours where there will be a program and dinner. Most likely, for the next 3 hours, they will be drinking and dancing.
Consider non-alcoholic drinks
While you’re focusing on wine and beer, don’t forget about guests who may prefer non-alcoholic beverages. Offer a selection of non-alcoholic options such as sparkling water, soda, juice, and iced tea.
These selections are usually available from your venue. However, you can also set up this station and rent out beverage dispensers and fill them up with juices and drinks from Costco or Walmart, if you want to save money.
Remember that having too much to set up and think about before the wedding can be overwhelming. If you can have the venue provide non-alcoholic beverages, you are still saving some money by serving the alcoholic drinks since the most markup is on the alcoholic drinks.
Communicate with guests
Let your guests know in advance that you’ll only be serving wine and beer at your wedding. This can help manage expectations and give guests the opportunity to plan accordingly.
You can add this information on your website and/or invitations (printed or digital) so that people are aware.
Stay responsible
Remember to encourage responsible drinking and provide options for guests who may need assistance getting home safely, such as arranging transportation services or designated drivers.
Remember that in certain areas and venues, you will need to purchase a liquor license in order to serve alcohol. Check with your local government to ensure you’re requirements are all up to standard.
Hard liquor or any alcoholic drinks should be managed accordingly at your event to ensure everyone’s safety. Have someone check around before everyone leaves if they are indeed safe enough to drive.
Enjoy your wedding
With your beverage plans in place, relax and enjoy your wedding day knowing that you’ve simplified the drink options for your guests while still offering a delightful selection of wine and beer. Cheers to a wonderful celebration!
Overall, serving only wine and beer at your wedding can offer a balanced and enjoyable beverage experience for you and your guests while keeping costs manageable and simplifying logistics.
Remember that when you opt to DIY serving wine and beer only, there is a level of work that needs to be done. You will most likely need help with purchasing and setting up. Choose your options wisely to ensure that you are not taking on too much work to the point that it’ll stress you out.
Hire a bartender or two who can help you set up and manage the bar on the day of the wedding to ensure that things flow smoothly.
Again, signage will help your guests understand what they are getting as well as how many they are “allowed” to get.
