The first thing your wedding guests will be eager to see is the bride’s dress. The second is where the bar is positioned and what’s on offer. So here are some tips on how to exceed their expectations by having a cocktail or novelty bar on top of your general one.
1. Pick a Theme
The idea of a cocktail or novelty bar may sound simple enough, but with so many different options on offer, it can become somewhat overwhelming… And pricy! To avoid all that, start by choosing which bar fits best with your wedding’s theme: a champagne or a gin-and-tonic bar is great for a garden wedding; a beer or cocktail bar will offer some much-needed refreshment for a beach wedding in the Maltese summer sun; and a bloody Mary bar will get your guests up and running during a morning affair. Of course, none of this is set in stone, but it’s a great place to start if you don’t know what you should opt for.
2. Choose Your Drinks
Cosmo, Sex on the Beach, Piña Colada… They’re classics and many will expect to see them on a cocktail bar menu – something you can avoid by choosing a wine or a bourbon bar instead, for example. Yet there are more important things to consider before giving the go-ahead on what will be served: Are all the cocktails simple enough for a bartender who’s being rushed (and is, quite possibly, inexperienced) to make? Do the cocktails include any strong liquors or heavy ingredients? These are all valid questions that may save you a lot of hassle on the actual day.
Of course, the company providing the bar should be able to help you with this, but it’s good to know what you need to ask. Moreover, there is one other point that needs to be made here: keep the menu simple and stick to a maximum of three to four options, including something ‘virgin’ for kids and non-drinkers.
3. Personalise It
From the colour palette to the accessories used, any bar can be individualised to fit your theme and preferences. You can also go a step further and rename the cocktails (think favourite love songs, cities, movies, firework factories, Dun Karm Psaila poem titles…). Some couples also choose to have their individual, best-loved alcoholic mix displayed on a small blackboard as ‘His/Her choice’, to entice guests to try it out. So, the possibilities here really are endless!
4. Think Outside The Box
A wedding – much like a night out in Paceville – does not need to be all about the alcohol. The cocktail bar, in fact, can be easily replaced with a hot chocolate, a coffee or a fresh lemonade bar. Each of those can offer various options to your wedding guests, and will definitely get them talking and drinking. Our advice, however, is not to replace the traditional bar with these… Lest you want a small mutiny on your hands!
5. Test It First
It’s obvious, we know, but it’s also the best part of the whole shebang. So, pick a time and place, and try out everything you’ll be serving! Think of your guests while doing this, and make sure that there is something for everyone to enjoy…
