Just a few simple ideas and suggestions to aid in your bar decisions. Better to have some ideas and be organized and not spend money where its not needed.
Common liquor
Vodka, rum, and gin are the "staple food" of your wedding. Tequila is also popular, though not as popular as the first three liquors. These are the liquors that you have to have to run a successful bar. Get them in medium-grade bottles - knowing how many people you've invited, your guests do not expect you to serve only Grey Goose or Bombay Sapphire, but don't opt for "generic" house liquor either.
Quantities
Prepare everything expecting each guest to consume on average about five drinks for an average wedding - that's not counting the champagne. Some people don't drink at all, some drink too much - over the course of the day, you'll average roughly at five cocktails per guest.
Ratios
Typically, for every two bottles of vodka you'd want to have roughly 1 bottle of rum, 1 bottle of gin, and if you feel your crowd likes tequila, 1 bottle of tequila.
Beer
Beer at the wedding is like a dump truck on a golf course - a bit out of place and a bit crude for the occasion. Yet some people just can't celebrate anything without a bottle of their favorite beverage. So get a few cases of beer - your choice, really, as anything works. (ALWAYS USE CANS)
Red and white wines
Random testing has shown that the brand of wine does not matter.
The only thing to watch out for is the sugar (sweet or dry - you want to be in between) and the fact that ratio between the number of bottles of red wine and the number of bottles of white wine should be roughly 2:1 for the wedding ceremony and 3:1 for the wedding reception dinner.
Signature Cocktails.
Go through the list of cocktails with your spouse-to-be and each of you pick a popular cocktail that you like the most. Call them your two signature cocktails. If you end up narrowing down on a single "signature" cocktail together, that's been even better for your guests - fewer choices is actually so much easier to deal with behind a bar!
As a matter of preference, most recommend Gin & Tonic - white, transparent liquors are the lightest on the hangover, the drink is appropriate for both genders and with sparkling bubbles look very wedding-appropriate and festive, and the drink is original enough to be served as a signature cocktail at a good wedding.
Next up are the non-signature popular cocktails that people just expect you to have.
Here are the most common wedding cocktails (they're popular and very easy to pour by the guests themselves at an open bar - no skills required):
Bloody Mary
Cosmopolitan (mostly favored by girls)
Dry Martini (mostly favored by guys)
Gin and Tonic
Pina Colada
Screwdriver
Sex on the beach
Sour Apple
Tequila Sunrise
Next: garnishing the drinks and non-alcoholic options.
Garnishes
You need a bunch of "standard" decorations for your bar. You can get them at any regular grocery store. Limes, lemons, and mint need to be bought a day or two before the wedding. Olives & red cherries are great for transparent drinks.
Straws, toothpicks are also easy to get in a local store.
Non-alcoholic options
This part is important and is often overlooked or under-invested by the hosts. Get this especially if you have any pregnant friends, small children or older family members coming, and ensure there are plenty of non-alcoholic options.
Your easiest bet is to have your caterer deliver fresh juices and sodas or pick them up yourself. Keep in mind that even your friends who drink a lot will also need to drink non-alcoholic options. Plus your juices and sodas will end up in all kinds of mixed alcoholic cocktails, so GET A TON of these.
Ice
Easy - bring a cooler, have your caterer pick up a few bags of fresh ice on the way. Have the ice cooler sit next to the bottles of alcohol. Smaller cubes are preferred to larger cubes. Have a scoop handy for people to get ice cubes for their drinks "on the rocks" (we've gotten a few questions on this before - "on the rocks" means "with whole pieces of ice").
Strainers, stirrers and special glasses
If you are in need of assistance for your wedding please feel free to reach out to us at www.jrayseventplanning.com/contact
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