Ways to Save on Alcohol

During your wedding reception, it's customary for your guests to enjoy some drinking and dancing - at your expense. If you're looking for some areas to save on your wedding, Alcohol is a great place to start.

Here are some suggestions on ways to save on Alcohol Costs for your reception:

1. If you are buying wine yourself... buy it by the case to save money. Try to make sure your savings aren't ruined by a corkage fee, which can be around $15.00 a bottle

2. Schedule a morning or early afternoon reception... and serve just one or two select drinks or cocktails, such as mimosas or wine. You could also hold your reception on a Sunday where guests are more likely to turn down drinks.

3. Know your guests... if lots of your friends and family are light drinkers, you could opt to have a by consumption bar - which means you will be charged by the amount of drinks that are poured. You could also have a per-head charge if the crowd is likely to consume a large amount of drinks before the night is over. An alternative to both is a cash bar - around $2.00 per drink - this will encourage people to drink their glass until its empty - not put it down and pour another one at your expense.

4. Skip the champagne toast... let people toast with whatever is in their glass - but make sure they aren't empty.

5. Talk to the catering staff... explain to them that you would like no bottles pre-opened, no drinks to be taken away if they are half full and to not automatically re-fill anyone's glass.

 

Wedding Cocktails

Having an open-bar at your wedding can get expensive, especially if you have a huge assortment of alcohol and liquors. Having a selection of pre-decided cocktails can help you budget for your wedding, without people noticing!

Here are some popular Wedding Cocktails:

Elegant Wedding Punch:
(Makes 16 cups)

1/2 cup Chambord raspberry
1 cup Triple Sec
1 cup Brandy
2 cups pineapple juice
1 liter of ginger ale
2 bottles dry champagne

The night before the wedding, chill the ginger ale and the dry champagne. Combine the Chambord, Triple Sec, brandy and pineapple juice in a bowl, cover, and chill overnight. When ready to serve, combine all ingredients and serve in a pretty bowl with ice cubes.

Traditional Wedding Punch:
(Makes 20 Cups)

2 cups vodka
4 cups unsweetened pineapple juice
4 cups unsweetened cranberry juice
64 oz ginger ale
2 cups sugar

Mix all ingredients together and serve in a large punch bowl with plenty of ice. Adjust vodka and sugar to your taste. If you are using sweetened juices, you may choose to forgo the sugar altogether.

Hot Romance:

1 1/2 oz rum
2 oz cranberry juice
2 oz orange juice

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail glass over ice. Stir and serve with an orange slice.