Alcohol: A Multi-Faceted Issue

Deciding what type of drinks to serve at a wedding is a sticky situation for many people, especially if your and your hubby-to-be's parents come from different backgrounds. If anyone in your families have particular religious convictions against alcohol, but you want to have alcoholic drinks at your reception, this topic can create drama very quickly.

From experience, I can tell you that deciding whether to have alcohol at your wedding, and then what types of drinks to serve, is no easy task. A bar can be the most expensive part of a wedding.

Here is one rule of thumb: it is your event! You and your hubby-to-be should sit down, determine what you really want on your wedding day, and do what you want.

If you decide to have alcohol, and you want to save a little on the bar tab without looking cheap, try cutting back on the options you offer at the bar. One new trend at weddings is serving a few speciality drinks - especially serving ones that match your wedding colors. For instance, if you are going with a blue color, check out http://absolutdrinks.com/drinks/blue-drinks.aspx. Decide on one type of red and white wine, and one or two types of beer. Having a limited bar will cut down on your final wedding expenses.

If you are able to bring in your own alcohol, buy wine when it is on sale. Buying direct from a winery can also save you some dough. Also, hiring your own bartenders can save you some cash if you go about it in the right way. I had a friend who recently got married and hired some people from her college who were taking bartending classes to serve drinks at her wedding. It was a very smart idea.

You can also always do a complete cash bar, but in my personal opinion, it is not very nice to expect your guests to pay for their own drinks, especially if they have driven a long way to get there.

Do not, and I repeat, DO NOT decide to only serve 1 or 2 drinks per person for a four hour reception. You want your guests to be comfortable and have a good time, and if they have nothing to drink at all, they will want to leave.

Good luck with your decisions.