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BANQUETS, RECEPTIONS, SHOWERS & PARTIES
28 | FALL & WINTER 2018
CHICAGO WEDDING & PARTY RESOURCE
CHICAGOWEDDINGRESOURCE.COMGood Libations
Drink up! Find the perfect recipe for a bar that keeps
the party going all night long
By Anna Sachse, CTW Features
From the cocktail hour to the Champagne
toast, drinks are a key component of most
modern weddings. They can make good food
great, and they warm strangers both to each
other and the dance floor.
The key elements of a wedding bar include
wine, beer, bubbly, cocktails - plus soda,
“mocktails” and other nonalcoholic drinks.
Determine which libations you want based on
these factors:
Fancy, formal affairs may offer premium
versions of all beverages all night long. But
couples with limited funds might prefer to
serve only carefully selected wines and
beer and perhaps a signature cocktail, says
Chris Tanghe, chief instructor at the Guild of
Sommeliers. You also can limit the full open
bar to just the cocktail hour, but be aware:
many members of the bridal world, from
editors to etiquette experts, say a cash bar is
the ultimate no-no.
If you’ve invited a gaggle of gourmands, you
may want to emphasize fine wine. A ton of
college friends? Perhaps (a lot of) cheap beer
is fine. “Or maybe spirits are a must because
the older generation only drinks gin martinis,”
Tanghe says.
Plan for one drink per person per hour of
the reception, says Toni Ketrenos, Oregon
state manager for The Winebow Group, a
collection of national import and distribution
houses that offer portfolios of wine and spirits
from around the world.
If serving a special sparkling wine for the
toast - perhaps a budget-friendly Spanish
Cava or Italian prosecco - allot one additional
glass per adult.
Traditional venues usually have set prices,
but you may be able to trim costs by paying
a nominal corkage fee to bring in your own
vino.
If your venue allows you to provide all alcohol
yourself, kegs are the more affordable beer
option at approximately $1 per 12-ounce
glass of craft beer or 63 cents per glass of
domestic, says Ketrenos. Smaller gatherings
are better off with bottles that can be
purchased
in quantities.
When it comes to wine, look for deals on
labels from an up-and-coming region like
South Africa, or ask about close-out prices
on the last few cases of a vintage. As for
liquor, a 750ml bottle contains about 17
drinks, making it a good deal, but remember
that you will also need ice, mixers and more
bartenders.
© CTW Features
Plan for one drink
per person, per hour
during the reception.