Stocking your Wedding Reception Bar

Hattiesburg, MS

There is one thing you do not want to run out of at your wedding reception – the alcohol. Nothing can crash your reception faster than not having enough cocktails or wine to go around. Lincoln Road Package Store has some great tips to help you plan for your wedding reception by stocking the bar with the essentials.

Planning

Are you planning to stock the bar yourself or is this something that the venue is taking care of for you? If you are doing it yourself, be sure to ask the venue whether they charge a corkage fee because this may be an added cost in your budget. While it may be difficult to gauge how much guests will drink, a good estimate is to assume that guests will consume one drink each, per hour. Make sure to include a range of liquors and wine. Popular liquors include whiskey, bourbon, gin, scotch, rum, tequila, and the most popular – vodka. Remember that some guests may prefer champagne or wine.

Remember the Mixers

Don’t forget the mixers! Tonic, club soda, fruit juices, ginger ale, triple sec, Diet Coke, Coke, and even bottled water are all necessities when stocking a bar for your wedding reception. Keep in mind that some people will not want to drink alcohol at all, and even those that are taking part in the libations may also want water to help remain hydrated.

How much?

It may be difficult to know how many liters of each liquor to buy, or how many cases of wine and champagne you will need but keep these points in mind.

• A bottle of champagne should fill six to eight glasses.
• A bottle of wine will fill five glasses.
• A liter of liquor should make about 18 drinks.

If you are not such how many of each alcoholic beverage you need to purchase, then we invite you to speak with the experts at Lincoln Road Package Store. Provide us with the number of guests you are expecting, and we can help break it down for you, providing you with enough alcohol so that you do not run out during your reception!

Decide on the Bar Type

By this, we mean what type of bar will you have? An open bar is when you pre-pay for all drinks that your guests will consume. This way, no guest has to worry about paying for their drinks. While this approach is nice, it also is the most costly way to serve drinks at your wedding reception.

A limited bar is more middle ground in that you may choose to limit the number of drinks available at the bar. For instance, you may only offer champagne during the toast, and have a couple of signature cocktails available for everyone. That way, you save money by not having to purchase various types of mixes and liquors. With a limited bar, you may even want to close the bar itself down before the end of the reception. If you do this, be sure that you still have water and soda available for guests until the end of the party.

While a cash bar may seem like a good money saver, it really is not the most advisable way to go at your wedding reception. A cash bar means that all guests pay for their own drinks. While it saves you money, it can be seen as controversial. After all, you wouldn’t invite guests to your house for dinner and then expect them to pay for their own butter.

When you are planning your wedding reception, the details of the bar can seem overwhelming, especially if this is the first time you have hosted an event like this one. Instead, contact us at Lincoln Road Package Store and allow us to help you stock your reception bar.

Wedding Reception Planning – Hattiesburg

Remember to visit Lincoln Road Package Store for all of your adult beverage needs. Want to learn more? Contact Lincoln Road Package Store by calling (601) 268-3677 or send an email to jamiefarris@gmail.com. Or, visit our location at 2800 Lincoln Road, Suite A, in Hattiesburg, MS. A member of our knowledgeable and courteous staff will be glad to assist you.

Lincoln Road Package Store is proud to serve the adult beverage needs of Hattiesburg, MS.