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Self-serve bar suggestions

hcaldwelhcaldwel
in Wedding Reception Forum
We are planning a very small wedding with just our immediate families (it will be about 20 people, including us) in our yard.  For our "reception" we want to have a bar and don't want a bartender.  My main problem is that I am the "bartender" of the family and I don't want to be making drinks all night for everyone.  I want to have a way to make mixing drinks easy or a way to pre-make drinks for everyone.  We typically like slightly more complex drinks (mojitos, margaritas) and stay away from really sweet mixers.  What I have come up with so far is to have a few cocktails pre-made and in a vessel that dispenses it (a punch bowl or a beverage dispenser...you can see an example here) or have individual drinks pre-made in mason jars with a lid and sitting in a cooler of ice.  Another idea is to have the ingredients with a cute way to give instructions on how to make a few different drinks themselves (but I am afraid this will be too much of a hassel for everyone).  We will also have some basic mixers, alcohol, and garnishes for those who want to make their own drinks.  Does anyone have any suggestions on another way I can do this, or does anyone like one idea over the other.  I am a pretty casual person and we just want an easy and fun day to celebrate.  I am open for design suggestions, but just realize that a fancy and traditional wedding is just not our style.
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Re: Self-serve bar suggestions

  • manateehuggermanateehugger member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its Third Anniversary 5 Answers
    Since you're having such an intimate wedding, it is probably not an issue, but be sure you check your local and state social host laws to make sure you don't need any licensing or insurance to serve liquor in your yard. 

    I would veer away from having people make their own drinks, unless you'd think your families would like it (you know them better than I do!). I love mixing drinks, but at a wedding, I'd prefer to spend my time socializing. So I'd pre-mix a couple drinks and have them sitting in pretty coolers. I do think a separate garnish tray could be fun though. 

    Have you looked into renting a margarita machine? They aren't the prettiest thing in the world, but they're a lot of fun. 


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  • MyNameIsNotMyNameIsNot member
    Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    I would go with the dispensers.  They're very pretty, especially with colorful drinks inside.  You can make a couple of batches and just refill them a couple of times.  With 20 people, it should work fine.  
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  • Jen4948Jen4948 member
    Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 25 Answers
    PDKH said:
    Since you're having such an intimate wedding, it is probably not an issue, but be sure you check your local and state social host laws to make sure you don't need any licensing or insurance to serve liquor in your yard. 

    I would veer away from having people make their own drinks, unless you'd think your families would like it (you know them better than I do!). I love mixing drinks, but at a wedding, I'd prefer to spend my time socializing. So I'd pre-mix a couple drinks and have them sitting in pretty coolers. I do think a separate garnish tray could be fun though. 

    Have you looked into renting a margarita machine? They aren't the prettiest thing in the world, but they're a lot of fun. 


    I was thinking the same thing.  Aside from the legal issues, though, people who've never mixed their own drinks might take too much or mix them in the wrong proportions and get really drunk or sick.  So I'd be very careful about any kind of "self-service bar."  I'd try to at least get someone experienced at bartending to do it-and pay them if I have to.
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  • Jen4948Jen4948 member
    Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 25 Answers
    Jen4948 said:
    PDKH said:
    Since you're having such an intimate wedding, it is probably not an issue, but be sure you check your local and state social host laws to make sure you don't need any licensing or insurance to serve liquor in your yard. 

    I would veer away from having people make their own drinks, unless you'd think your families would like it (you know them better than I do!). I love mixing drinks, but at a wedding, I'd prefer to spend my time socializing. So I'd pre-mix a couple drinks and have them sitting in pretty coolers. I do think a separate garnish tray could be fun though. 

    Have you looked into renting a margarita machine? They aren't the prettiest thing in the world, but they're a lot of fun. 


    I was thinking the same thing.  Aside from the legal issues, though, people who've never mixed their own drinks might take too much or mix them in the wrong proportions and get really drunk or sick.  So I'd be very careful about any kind of "self-service bar."  I'd try to at least get someone experienced at bartending to do it-and pay them if I have to.
    These.  I wouldn't do self-serve bartending-I'd play it safe and arrange for someone experienced to do it.  In addition to the legal concerns, I wouldn't want to run the risk that someone makes themselves intoxicated or sick because they don't make their drink properly.
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