It's no secret that planning a wedding is a daunting task. Every detail matters, from the guest list to the menu, including your beer and wine selections. Fortunately, setting up the perfect wedding bar is one of the easier tasks to check off your list thanks to this handy guide. Use this cheat sheet to work out the details, but feel free to put your spin on it to match your tastes. After all, it's your big day, and you want the first chapter in your love story to be perfect.
Selecting the Right Wine
The first rule of choosing wine is that it's your wedding, so choose your favorite styles. Once you select a few favorites, you can select other varieties to match your menu.
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Chicken: Choose a light to medium white wine such as Chardonnay or Riesling, or a light to medium red such as Zinfandel or Pinot Noir. A Rosé is also a fine choice.
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Fish: Light whites such as Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling are ideal.
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Beef: Opt for a red such as a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Shiraz.
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Pork: Serve a juicy, light-bodied red such as a Grenache, Pinot noir, or Zinfandel, or a high-acidity white such as a Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling.
Make sure you store your wine at the proper temperature. Whites and Rosés should be refrigerated for a few hours before serving, so they're around 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Refrigerate reds for about 15 minutes in advance so they're served at 60 to 65 degrees. Keep sparkling whites and Champagne refrigerated beforehand, and store them on ice between pours, so they stay around 45 degrees.
Top Champagne for Weddings
A wedding isn't a wedding without the bubbly — raise a glass to your union with mouthwatering Champagne. Toast to your bridal party and surprise your guests with mini Champagne bottles as a special take-home treat. These options are delicious and time-tested so that you can stock your wedding bar with confidence.
Top Sparkling Wines for Weddings
Red & White Wines for Weddings
Our curated selection of well-loved reds and whites removes the stress, which puts the fun back into wine-list planning. Find a few of your favorites, add variety to please different palates, and get ready to enjoy your big day.
4+ Star Rated Reds & Whites
Selecting the Right Beer
Your goal when choosing a beer is to keep everyone happy. A good rule of thumb is to offer five or six beer types. Make sure you have at least two staple domestics and one local or craft brew for the more adventurous beer enthusiasts. You may also want to consider a seasonal option and a cider.
One additional category of beer you may want to include is non-alcoholic beers. Whether you are hosting teetotalers at your wedding or guests wanting to try something different, NA beers are an excellent option to have at your bar. From IPAs to lagers, there are a variety of non-alcoholic beer styles that mimic traditional beers and are just as enjoyable.
Session beers are great for weddings, as they're lower in alcohol and can be consumed over a few hours. You may also want one light beer, a hoppy beer such as an IPA or pale ale, and a darker beer such as a porter or a stout to cover both ends of the spectrum. Finally, you really can't go wrong with a Belgian white. Belgian beers tend to appeal to casual sippers and beer snobs alike.
Classic and Craft Beer Kegs
Whether your guests are into classic beers or specialty craft brews, kegs are a great way to keep the party going. Opt for barrels and half barrels of crowd-pleasing favorites, and introduce your funkier choices with quarter or slim-quarter barrels.
Top Beers by the Bottle
Elevate your beer selection — and impress guests with refined palates — with bottled craft beers. With these light lagers, balanced ambers, and intense IPAs, it's a breeze to find a variety to suit everyone, from newbies to craft beer enthusiasts.
Top Beers for Weddings
Planning for Bartenders
You don't necessarily need bartenders if you have DIY drink stations, but it can help to add a touch of class to the affair. The general consensus is that there should be one bartender for every 75 guests. If you're running a full bar, make it one bartender for every 50 guests.
How to Save on Open Bar Costs
Open bars are fun, but they get expensive fast. Cut down on the open bar cost by only keeping it open during certain times. For example, you could have a cocktail hour during your wedding reception and then switch to beer and wine during dinner. Or you could set up a DIY drink station where people can make their cocktails or pour their own wine or beer. Another way to reduce open bar costs is to ask friends and family members to take turns tending the bar rather than hiring a professional bartender.
Buying the Proper Amount of Alcohol
One of the biggest challenges of wedding planning is stocking the bar. It's important to have enough to keep your guests happy but not so much that it breaks your budget — or leaves you with a huge surplus the next day.
No matter the size of your wedding, it's a good idea to plan for one drink per person per hour; naturally, that varies based on your guests' drinking styles and preferences. A fantastic drink menu pairs well with your food menu, enhances your theme, and suits the overall vibe of your big day.
There are few things more tragic than a drink shortage at a wedding. Use this handy drink calculator to determine the right amount of wine, beer, and spirits for your wedding. To be safe, go a bit higher than the wedding calculator in case the party lasts longer than expected.
The cost of alcohol varies widely depending on your selections, and if possible, avoid the cheap stuff. This is your special day, and quality wine and beer go a long way in creating a festive environment. As long as you provide a substantial variety of nice beers and wines, your guests will be happy. Try not to obsess over the details too much. Choose beers and wines that you and your sweetheart genuinely enjoy; it's your special day, after all.
Make sure to have plenty of glassware and recycling containers readily available, and have someone check on your stock regularly so it never runs dry. Work out the details in advance to focus on celebrating this wonderful first step on your new journey together.
