By Hunter Stiebel from The Broke Ass Bride

Gentlemen, congratulations on deciding to make the commitment of your life to your one true love! That is some manly s*#t you are pulling off. Since the moment you got down on bended knee, I bet you’ve had a bunch of  Conversations with your girlfriend, ahem pardon me, Fiancée, about the wedding. While your wife may be
transfixed as to how every detail must be perfectly beautiful, your top priority is more likely “How can we make this the funnest damn party I ever did throw?”

If that’s not the case, WAKE UP BROTHA!!! If this is going to be the most cash you’ve ever thrown down on a party, don’t you think it should be the most fun party humanly possible? Right. So, how do you make sure your wedding is a blast? Two simple words my friends: Food and Booze. A well-fed and buzzed wedding guest is an ecstatic, loving guest. As I write this I’m stuffed but sober, so lets focus on booze.

This groom knows that booze is important even before the wedding - photo Shannon Lee Images

“But Hunter” you say, “I’m trying to have a budget wedding.” Fear not my friend, the wedding that only serves pizza, wine and beer will beat out the tea tolling wedding where diamonds are hung from every corner any day of the week. But As the old saying goes, “Ya want booze? Cash you’re gonna loose.” Hmmm I’m not sure that’s a saying, but the one thing I do know is that when it comes to a wedding, couples are taken off guard by how much the holy spirits of the party end up costing them.  So here are some tips so you don’t get caught in the money pit behind the boozy curtain.

1) Location Location Location. Its sad how many times I’ve heard a couple think they’ve found the perfect location at the perfect price with no knowledge of the numbers they are soon to see. The rental was a steal, they even put down the deposit but then they found out that no outside liquor was allowed and the bar cost up to tens of thousands of dollars.  One of the first questions you want to ask a location is what is your catering/liquor policy. Some are flexible others are not.

2) The best way to pull off a cheap wedding bar will always be to bring in your own booze. Some locations will charge you to do this rather than use their services. Pop out the calculator and see if it’s worth it. Most likely it is. Sometimes it’s an insurance issue. See if your caterer or your planner has insurance that will cover you doing your own bar.

3) If the facility has no lee way on their bar policies, an easy way to save is by closing the bar after cocktail hour and serving only wine and beer with dinner.

4) Another route is to nix the full bar and go with a few signature cocktails plus wine and beer. We did a pear martini and called it… wait for it… “The Perfect Pear”.  Have a cocktail with the taste preferences of the bride and one of the grooms. Folks will love this bit of wedding inspiration and by drink two they’ll be everyone’s favorite.

5) Still trying to save a few more dollars? Doing just wine and beer is just fine and don’t let nobody tell ya different. No matter what your guests are into, they should be cool with one or the other. Consider tapping a keg to keep costs down, and don’t be afraid to cleverly re-label your cheap neighborhood wine and suddenly two buck chuck is a unique wedding vino.

Going one of these routes should make everyone happy. If someone isn’t happy with those choices, then that’s their problem and they were going to find something to complain about no matter what. Why did you invite that person anyway…? Oh right, they’re your third cousin. Yeah, third cousins are the worst… unless they are the person you happen to be marrying. If that’s the case may you live happily ever, and may I be the first to make a toast to your future children with lovely large chins.

Cheers!

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Hunter Stiebel A.K.A The Fresh Hubby is president of Broke-Ass Media and regular contributor and editor of the award winning The Broke-Ass Bride. The Broke-Ass Bride website inspires and empowers readers to make the most of what they have by using creative, outside-the-box ideas rooted in practical advice to have a bad-ass wedding on any budget. Also, The Broke-Ass Bride has non-stop weekly giveaways and deals… it’s kind of nuts.

Guest Blogger Profile: Simon Daykin

I will never forget this day.  We are in Ireland for a wedding, my wife walks up to the bar and asks the barman if the bar is “open”.  Of course thinking, it’s a wedding, it must be free drinks.  And hey, we’re in bloody Ireland right?  Well, this little Irish fella turns to my wife, a mildly puzzled look on his face and says “Of course the bar is open my dear.”  So we order a couple pints and turn to leave…where upon he exclaims…”That’ll be 10 pounds  50 please.”  The bar was technically “open” but it meant something different in Ireland.

Everyone loves an open bar, but there are plenty of other options for the bride and groom.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

There are many choices of what type of bar you can have at your wedding, the open or free bar, the loony or toony bar, or the regular full price bar.  All of these could be paired with complimentary wine and champagne or just an open cocktail hour.  It’s really up to your wedding planning plans, your bride, the budget and what is important to you.  If you really want an open bar, maybe you have to reallocate some of the wedding budget from elsewhere.

Yes, This Bar Is Open

If you choose to go with the open bar, you want to know what you as the host will be paying for each drink.  Because someone has to pay.  Check if you can bring in your own supply of liquor and then check what the corkage fee will be per person.  Make sure the barkeep only opens bottles on a need to basis, that way you could return any unused bottles after the wedding.  But in truth you know you’ll just be taking it home.  To cut down on costs, have the staff serve wine at dinner instead of just putting bottles on the table.  I would also suggest closing the bars during dinner and speeches so people stay in their seats.  If a guest wants a drink from the bar this time…beer or spirits not usually served during dinner then have one of the wait staff fetch it for them.

Spare Change Anyone?

Loony and Toony bars are quite popular.  This will offset the cost to you on the liquor bill.  I have clients who are having a loony bar at their wedding, but have decided to donate all cash made via the bar to their favorite charity.  This is a great idea also.  It’s always nice to give back whenever possible.  It’s not too much to ask your guests to pony up a buck or two for a drink.  If you decide to do this you can always offer a free signature drink for the cocktail hour, complimentary wine with dinner and champagne for the speeches.  Also, I have found if you charge for the drinks, it cuts done on the one sip and left on the table problems.  And people seem not to go overboard if they have to pay for a drink.  But really?  A dollar or two ain’t that much to ask.

Just A Regular Bar With Regular Prices

You may decide to go with a regular bar and regular prices.  There may be numerous reasons for this.  Your guests may not be big drinkers and alcohol isn’t that important.  I attended a wedding for a couple in recovery, so most people were on the pop and coffee.  The few people drinking of course knew this so it wasn’t a big deal.  It really comes down to what is important to you and your budget.  If you have drinkers in the crowd but can’t do an open or discounted bar, offer other choices.  A complimentary signature drink or glass of champagne upon arrival is great.  Free wine at dinner is good, but have the wait staff serve it so your guests don’t pound through the bottles.  Offer complimentary juice, pop, sparkling water, coffees and tea.  You could also offer a free “special” coffee menu for after dinner or a port with dessert.  This will cut down the overall bar cost but the guests will also feel well taken care of.

Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice

There are many ways to regulate drink consumption at a wedding so don’t be afraid to get creative.  I would always suggest shutting down the bars during dinner and if not that…for sure during speeches.  It’s hard enough to speak in front of a large crowd without people constantly getting up and distracting you.

Don’t be afraid of what other people think, you don’t want to go into debt just so you can have an open bar at your wedding.  If it’s really important to you that the booze be flowin’ have a look at your budget and see where you can get the money from.  A planner comes in really handy to help re-allocate funds.

Signature drinks are great, you know what’s in them, you know how much alcohol you need to make them and when they’re gone, they’re gone.  You can have lots of fun experimenting with recipes to come up with the perfect one for you and your bride.  I was re-watching Casino Royale last week. During the poker game, Bond orders a martini, which he later christens “The Vesper” and it’s a damn fine drink.  Thought I’d leave you the recipe to start you off.

Bond's signature drink is the Vesper Martini

Vesper Martini Recipe

Ingredients (brands listed are my personal fav’s)

* 6 Parts Gordon’s Gin
* 2 Parts Smirnoff Vodka
* 1 Part Lillet blanc
* Lemon Twist

Mixing Instructions
Shake gin, vodka and Lillet with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with lemon twist.

Enjoy!!!!

Photo by Marco Veringa

In lieu of having an open bar at your wedding you can serve beer, wine and a signature cocktail. Signature cocktails are not only cost effective but they can also help add a more festive mood to your wedding. We found a delicious drink for every season, rename it to fit your wedding theme and you’ll be all set. So if you grooms out there really want to impress your fiancé, run some of these signature cocktails by her. Cheers!

Summer Wedding – Lucky Pears Faux-jito
2 oz. Cabana Cachaça
2 oz. Pineapple juice
Splash of club soda

Directions:
In an ice-filled glass, add equal parts cabana Cachaça and pineapple juice, add a splash of club soda and stir. If desired, add passion fruit puree.

This drink recipe was created and submitted by Cabana Cachaca.

Fall Wedding  – Pumpkin Martini Recipe
If you can, try to track down some pumpkin-infused vodka. If not, try a blend of 2 1/2 ounces cinnamon vodka and 1/2 ounce Bols Pumpkin Smash Liqueur.

3 ounces Infused Spiced Pumpkin Vodka
1 ounce Amaretto
Toasted pumpkin seeds for garnish

Directions:
Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice.
Stir gently and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Recipe created by Felix Albano, The bar at Fifty Seven Fifty Seven, NY

Winter Wedding  -  Winter Wonderland Peppermintini
1 1/2 oz. (3 tbsp.) 80-proof vodka Winter Cocktails: Peppermintin
2 tsp. Coffee-mate Sugar Free French Vanilla powdered creamer
1 no-calorie sweetener packet (like Splenda)
1/4 tsp. peppermint extract
Optional Garnish: 1 small candy cane

Directions:
Place powdered creamer and sweetener in a glass. Add 1/4 cup warm water and stir to dissolve.

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes. Add creamer mixture, vodka, and peppermint extract. Cover and shake well, until mixture is cold.
Strain into a martini glass. If you like, garnish with a candy cane leaning jauntily on the rim. This one is even low in calories!

Recipe from Hungry-girl.com

Spring Wedding – Lavendar Sapphire Collins
3/4-ounce fresh lemon juice
1/2-ounce lavender syrup
1-1/2 ounce Bombay Sapphire gin
3 ounces club soda

Directions:
Squeeze half a lemon into a Collins glass, add lavender syrup and gin. Stir and fill with ice. Top with club soda and garnish with a lemon wedge.

Recipe from Sheknows.com

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Thanks to Susan from BravoBride.com for this guest post

Also worth checking out – The Man Registry’s Bachelor Party Cocktail Ideas