The Ultimate Guide to Your Wedding Reception Bar
Because we’d like to think that we know exactly what goes into the perfect bar to get the party started!
We know that one of the biggest components of a great wedding celebration–besides the great company, delicious food, and a DJ who knows what the people want–is the bar! Spoiling your guests with a great setup intertwined with personal details is one of our favorite points to a reception design, so here’s our ultimate guide to holding the best wedding bar, ever!
What type of reception bar styles are there?
Open bar
One of the most popular bar styles for weddings where the host pays a flat rate, and your guests have drinks coming all night long!
Consumption bar
Similar to an open bar, your guests will be able to enjoy as many drinks as they want, but the host will pay per drink at the end of the night.
Cash bar
This option requires guests to pay for their own drinks throughout the evening–ideal for couples who are looking to stick to a strict budget. Ensure that your guests know you’re having a cash bar ahead of time so they can plan accordingly!
Dry bar
If you would prefer to have a dry wedding, you can opt for a dry bar! Include a mixture of sodas juices, flavored waters, or any other non-alcoholic beverage of your choice.
Talking numbers
Keep in mind that on average, each guest will have one drink per hour of your reception (considering some might drink more or less). For example, if you have a 5-hour cocktail hour/ reception with 100 guests, you can expect to provide enough alcohol for 500 drinks for the evening.
Consider the following standard volume-to-quantity calculations:
-1 bottle of one (750ml) is equal to 5 glasses
-1 bottle of champagne (750ml) is equal to 8 flutes
-1 bottle of liquor (750ml) is equal to 18 cocktails
-1 keg (15.5 gallons) is equal to 124 pints
If you want to be more thorough with your alcohol purchases, you can go through your list of guests and note what type of alcohol each guest will probably have–then adjust the percentages from there. Just know that it’s always better to have a little more than needed than a little less!
Inspired by you–signature cocktails!
One of our favorite ways to personalize your wedding bar is to include signature cocktails that speak to you and you love’s personal tastes! Consider the type of liquor or base or flavor profile you are always drawn to, and think of a couple of cocktails that you’d love to include in your bar menu! Oh! And don’t forget to think of fun cocktail names that are inspired by you two.
Bar Logistics
If you know that you will have a larger wedding (or a really spread out reception area) consider having two bars so your guests maximize their time mingling and dancing, and not waiting in line for a drink. As a general guideline, consider having more than one bar if your guest list is over 50.
Style points at the bar
Your bar can definitely be a design point for your reception space! Think about a cute sign on your bar front, a styled menu, and bar top décor (blooms, mementos, a cute acrylic cut out of your new last name together, you name it!).
Wedding bar checklist
While we always suggest hiring a full-service bar so you don’t have to worry about everything that goes into stocking a full bar, but we do have a handy Wedding Bar Checklist if you do opt to stock it yourselves!
