Wedding Reception Bar – From properly stocking your reception bar to selecting the overall style—there are endless tasks that go into bringing to life a cozy wedding reception, bar included. Let’s be honest, the reception bar is always one of the most popular elements of your wedding—for you and for your guests.
As a general rule, you should plan to allocate about 10 to 20% of your overall wedding budget for your reception bar. That includes all the bartenders, alcohol, mixers, garnishes, tools, fees, tips, and so on. Because the wedding reception bar will take up such a large portion of your budget, you’ll want to thoroughly research and price out your options before committing to one.
This reception planning resource will walk you through everything you need to know about planning for a wedding reception bar—taking into account your budget and wedding style.
Professional Bar or DIY Bar
There are a few different options to consider for your wedding reception bar, all of which will depend on your venue’s rules, requirements, and your allotted budget. If you’re looking for the most low-maintenance option, a professional bar that’s stocked and staffed by either the venue or a third-party full bar service is ideal. This typically includes marked-up alcohol prices and service fees, but it’s the perfect option for couples who don’t want the hassle of micro-managing their wedding reception bar.
For the DIY lovers looking to save on their wedding day budget, stocking a bar yourselves is a less expensive alternative. You’ll have to decide what types and quantities of alcohol to buy. It may seem daunting, but we’ve got you covered with the calculations below.
Keep in mind that, even with a DIY bar and wedding, you should hire a professional bartender to serve your drinks rather than have a self-serve bar. Depending on your state and venue’s rules and regulations, you may be required to have certified bartenders—be sure to do your research before getting too far down the DIY path.
Or Do Both Professional And DIY Reception Bar Options
For those in-between couples who just want to purchase the alcohol but don’t want to deal with anything else, a bartending service that provides a bartender, rentals, setup, and cleanup is also a great middle-ground option. Whichever type you choose, you’ll want to know which reception bar style you’re looking for before speaking with vendors.
Reception Bar Styles
Open Bar
An open bar is one of the most popular bar styles for weddings. It functions exactly as its name suggests—the host pays a flat rate and the guests can order as many drinks as they like.
Consumption Bar
A consumption bar is similar to an open bar. The only difference is that rather than paying a flat rate, a consumption bar requires the hosts to pay per drink at the end of the event.
Cash Bar
A cash bar requires guests to pay for their own drinks throughout the night—the hosts do not cover the cost. This isn’t a very common reception bar option but could be a solution for couples sticking to a strict budget. Make sure your guests know this ahead of time so they can cover their tabs.
Dry Bar
If you don’t drink, consider a dry bar instead. Simply provide a mix of sodas, juices, flavored waters, tea, and anything else you love—no alcohol required.
Set Up Logistics And Decor
Consider Guest Size and Room Layout
If you’re having a large wedding or your guests will be spread across a huge ballroom, consider having more than one bar. You want your guests to spend less time waiting in line and more time enjoying themselves. Plan for at least two separate bars if your guest list is over 50 people.
Don’t Forget to Add Décor
Now, let’s get to the fun stuff—reception bar decor. Instead of tucking your bar into a corner, make your bar a reception staple piece. Dress the bar in over-the-top floral arrangements or twinkly lights.
Reception Bar Stocking Checklist
This is where hiring a full-service bar rental company comes in handy. Hiring vendors takes the planning out of your hands and turns it over into a wedding planning dream. Stocking your own bar can be quite the task, but we’ve created a checklist to help you keep everything straight. From the basics to the alcohol, below is the ultimate checklist of what you’ll need to make sure your DIY bar is stocked and ready to go.
There is a lot that goes into the planning of a wedding reception. If you’re looking for more ways to add personalized and unique touches while still sticking to a budget, check out these budget-friendly reception decor items for your wedding.
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