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In Good Spirits A successful drinks reception is all in the mix…
Weddings have been closely associated with wine and spirits since the Middle Ages when wedding feasts were known as bride-ales (the origin of the word bridal). In those days the drinking of ale or beer could go on for days, so today's toasting seems moderate in comparison. That said, the wedding reception is still a much-celebrated occasion where a tipple can often turn into a lot!
BAR BASICS
Your choice of location will factor into your bar and alcohol options. If your reception is at a hotel, catering facility, private club or restaurant, your venue will most likely be your supplier. In this situation you'll have to decide whether you are going to have an open bar or a restricted bar. In an open bar situation you are accepting to pay the bar bill for the whole evening, or you can elect to have an open bar for a limited period of time, for example the first hour of the re ception. You can also choose whether you would like a ‘house bar' or standard bar which would include house brands or lower priced name brands, or a ‘premium bar' which features higher end deluxe brands.
If you chose a restricted bar you agree a figure with the venue (e.g. £1,000) that you will pay towards drinks, after which the open bar is lifted and guests pay for their own beverages.
You could also elect only to have a certain type of drink served complimentary to your guests - such as wine and beer or a cocktail - and again this can be either for a limited time, or for the entire evening.
If your reception is being held at an off-site location were you can bring in your own caterer, depending on the rules of the venue you may have the advantage of being able to purchase your own alcohol. The retail price of a bottle of wine is often one-third to one-fourth of the price charged by a hotel or club - plus you should be able to negotiate a further discount for buying by the case.
You'll have the freedom to structure the bar any way you like, offering three types of vodka and five brands of single malt if that's what makes your crowd happy.
The caterer should be able to provide bartenders and the bar set up or you can hire the services or mobile bar tenders.
SPECIALITY BARS
Want to go one step further than a standard bar? A speciality bar can be a wonderful touch that will make your wedding reception stand apart from the rest. One note of caution: think long and hard before setting up a shot bar or any bar where people are downing a high proof alcohol at a rapid rate. You don't want your guests legless before they even get to the reception!
A martini bar is one elegant option; appease guests who aren't seasoned martini drinkers by featuring an array of flavours, from apple to chocolate. For a tropical flavour try a margarita or daiquiri bar. Or set up a wine bar with six different varieties and tasting notes by the bottles. For non-alcoholic options, try a hot chocolate or coffee bar.
THE SIGNATURE COCKTAIL
A couture cocktail has become a staple of many a modern wedding. They make a statement about your style, become part of the wedding ambience and give you an opportunity to share something about yourself or your love story with your guests. They can even be something of a conversation starter (imagine the reaction caused if you serve up Sex on the Beach).
Contact your catering director or bartender to brainwave some ideas for a special drink. You might adapt your favourite cocktail, bring the location or the colour scheme into the concoction or choose a variation of a drink with a meaningful name. Make sure you sample the result before the wedding to make sure the combination works.
You can further personalise the drink by rimming the glass with coloured sugar or salt, adding a striking flower or fruit garnish, or using candy sticks or lollipops as stirrers.
Don't forget to give that signature cocktail a name and feature it on a card at the bar. wj
How much will they drink?
• At a typical wedding, figure that each guest - minus children - will consume two
cocktails and two and a half glasses of wine. It can be difficult to estimate the
exact quantity they are likely to consume but another approach is to allow one
drink per guest per hour.
• For a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres wedding reception, which typically lasts two to
three hours, estimate four drinks per person, although there is more focus on
drinking, it's counteracted by the fact that the reception doesn't last as long as a
full dinner.
• In terms of yield you'll get five glasses of wine from a 750ml bottle, and five and a
half to eight glasses of champagne from a standard bottle, and eighteen to
twenty cocktails from a one-litre bottle of liquor.
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Reception 
Meeting up with the lovely Kirstie McMurray from Cool FM, our compare for The Wedding Journal Reader Awards on Monday!
