4 cardinal sins of a boozy wedding—and how to avoid committing them
By Casey Hendrickson
It’s engagement season, and you know what that means…more weddings to come! And lots of wedding planning.
I’m a wedding photographer. Translation: I’ve seen it all. (And I capture it as blackmail/fun photos to send to thousands in a newsletter.) And though I’m not an official wedding planner, I can tell you a thing or two about planning based on what I’ve seen—and heard—at hundreds of weddings. So in preparation for the season of love, here are four common mistakes to avoid with your wedding bar. And if you’re not getting married, no fear. Don’t break these cardinal rules when hosting dinner parties either.
Cardinal Sin No. 1: No Transportation
If you are having alcohol, people will get drunk. Crazy concept, I know. But many forget that their guests may not make arrangements for themselves to get home safely. I highly recommend having a shuttle or designated drivers to come at the end of the night to take these lovely folks home. Uber even allows you to plan ahead for this and purchase rides for your guests.
Cardinal Sin No. 2: Not Enough Drinks and/or Stations
Hell hath no fury like that of a line waiting for liquid courage. To prevent a never-ending wait time, have multiple bar sites or at least multiple bartenders. I also suggest having the water, tea, and other non-alcoholic drinks set aside somewhere else so those that simply need to slip in for a refill can do so without having to fight the crowds.
Cardinal Sin No. 3: Forgetting About the Guests’
Preferences
Keep your guests in mind when picking your drinks of choice. Simple concept, but many fail at this. If the majority of your guests usually prefer beer, don’t serve only wine. If they’re a craft-brew kind of crowd, don’t serve only Bud Heavy. Have a variety on hand to appease everyone—especially when it comes to wine choices. Consider having a pinot noir, riesling, chardonnay, and possibly a cabernet for guests to choose from.
Cardinal Sin No. 4: Not Going All the Way with Your Signature Cocktail
If you are having specialty cocktails on hand, make sure you have enough to supply everyone. I’ve seen many a bride and groom craft a drink—while naming it something adorable, of course—but find many guests scouring the place to find the last of these babies early into the night. Yes, a lot of guests will get other cocktails, but if you are offering it as your choice, expect everyone to at least try one.
Photographer:Casey Dimples Hendr
All this being said, don’t forget to relax and enjoy your big day. So much time goes into planning everything, and you deserve to dance the night away with your lifelong partner-in-crime.
Sip Charlotte is a weekly email newsletter for beer, wine, and cocktail enthusiasts across the region. Click here to subscribe. Have a story idea? Feedback? Connect with editor Caroline Portillo atcportillo@charlotteobserver.com. Cheers!
