Drinks
such as champagne are associated with weddings. Most guests will enjoy
at least one glass of champagne, if just only to toast the bride and
groom after each speech. Generally speaking champagne comes from a
region in France and anything else labeled champagne and not from that
region is just sparkling wine.
What you serve your guests is really your choice and what your budget
will allow. It is worth asking the advice of an expert, this could be
someone from your venue, or a wine merchant. Before making your final
choice on wine try a few samples of the recommendations that they make.
Listed below are some terms that you will come across if you are
considering offering alcohol at your reception.
Limited bar means there is a limit
to what is served to your
guests. It is your choice. If you only choose to offer wine and
something non-alcoholic this is fine.
image by thomas milne
Open bar means a bar containing hard
liquor for mixed beverages, plus beer and wine and maybe an after
dinner drink.
Cash bar if you offer a cash bar your
guests will have to pay
for their own liquid refreshments. You may choose to offer wine and
soft drink, and then if the guest would like some liquor, they pay for
it themselves. Many people feel that a cash bar may offend their guest,
so it is really up to how you feel about doing this.
Tips on Wedding Beverages
Buy your wines well in advance if you can.
Try to buy when the sales are on.
If your budget doesn’t allow for champagne, buy
the best sparkling wine that you can afford.
Serve cocktails or an alcoholic punch, named
after the bride and groom this will help stretch the budget.
Serve
wines that your guests won’t recognize. If you serve well know brands
they may be able to work out how much you have spent on them.
Don’t feel ashamed or be afraid to buy
discounted wines.
Don’t serve a better wine at the bridal table.
The guests will notice and be offended.
Have the waiters refill the wine glasses only
when requested.
Don’t be afraid to organize a pay bar once the
formal part of the reception is over.
Have a limit on the amount of alcohol severed.
The more the guests consume, the more you will pay.
