Weddings are special days. There are a lot of details that go into planning the wedding and the reception. From the venues to the caterer and the decorations, the list of details to tend to can seem almost endless. One detail that you will regret ignoring, if you do, is the wedding liquor list. If you plan to serve alcohol at your wedding reception, there are things you can do to make it all work. Unfortunately, most of the time, serving booze at the reception is not as simple as heading to the local liquor store to stock up. Here are some tips to getting it right.
- Talk to your venue about their rules and regulations. Private venues are not immune from the liquor laws of the country. If you want to serve the hard stuff, you need to make sure they have the right license. That means if the place you are going only has a beer and wine license, that is all your wedding reception guests will get. No, you cannot bring it in from the local liquor store. One great option is to go for a place with no license at all. They will let you stock up at the liquor store and serve what you want to serve.
- Decide how much you want to spend. The quality of booze that you serve can be determined by how much you are willing to spend on the alcoholic portion of your catering. The higher end stuff will cost more. Of course, if you are going with a wedding reception in a home or a venue that allows you to bring in your own, you can probably afford to get higher end stuff that will not cost as much. When you work with a liquor store directly, you can get a discount. This will also depend on the number of people you plan to have at your wedding.
- Get selections that appeal to a wide variety of people. For beer, for example, you should have some beer that is widely recognized. It may be the lowest common denominator but people will drink it. Start with that. You should absolutely serve the drinks that you prefer such as your favorite beers or wines. That personalizes the event to your tastes. Have a variety of options for your guests and most of them will be happy with something you have.
- Work with a local liquor store. If you either have your reception at a private home or at a venue that will let you bring in your own booze, you can then contract with local liquor stores to provide everything. They can supply the beer, wine and liquor for your big day. You should ask if the liquor store if they will buy any unused and unopened bottles from you. That way, you can make sure you have enough but will not have a bunch of unused alcohol afterwards (unless you want that). You need to make sure this practice is legal in your state. You can have a great, personalized selection of alcohol for your day.
- Work on a signature cocktail. The standard celebratory drink for wedding receptions is champagne but maybe you want something special for your big day. Talk to the liquor store about working with you to create a personalized and fun cocktail that expresses your personality. Think about what the two of you like, not just in booze but general flavors and the time of year when you are getting married. If your wedding is in a warmer month, you will want something more refreshing than if you are having your wedding in the middle of the winter.
- Set a theme. If your wedding has a theme, and most do, the drinks you offer should reflect and mirror that theme. This can make it all a little more fun and a bit more tailored to your personality or preferences. This is something you can work on with either the caterer or the liquor store. Having a theme for your booze can be a lot of fun.
The food and booze that you have at your wedding reception can really make the event great.
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