Dry Wedding Tips: How To Plan An Alcohol-Free Wedding

Your wedding day will be one of the most important and exciting days of your life, so it should be planned exactly how you want it to be. If you don’t enjoy alcohol, live a sober lifestyle, or have a strict wedding budget, you may be considering having an alcohol-free wedding day, aka a ‘dry wedding’. At Cornman Farms, alcohol is available but isn’t included in our base package because we know not everyone wants to have a bar. Planning a dry wedding can be just as fun and memorable as any other, and here’s how to do it right.

What is a Dry Wedding?
A dry wedding is simply a wedding without alcohol. Couples may opt for a dry wedding for various reasons, including:

Living a sober lifestyle
Religious reasons
Accommodate guests who don’t drink
Don’t enjoy alcohol
Budget

Budgetary considerations often play a significant role in this decision, as alcohol can be a significant wedding expense. For example, for 100-200 guests, an open bar at a wedding can cost up to $8,000! Of course, if you eliminate top-shelf liquor and only serve beer or wine, that cost will likely be closer to $3,000.

Either way, there’s no getting around it, alcohol is expensive. By eliminating alcohol, you can use the extra cash to add more entertainment at your wedding, fund your honeymoon, or invest! Additionally, without alcohol, there’s less likelihood of any disruptive behavior, ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable celebration for everyone.

Do You Have To Inform Your Guests?
Alcohol is extremely common at big events and weddings, so it’s a courtesy to let your guests know that you won’t be serving alcohol.

You can include the information in your wedding invites or on your wedding website. You can also ask friends and family members to let others know about your choice not to have alcohol. Spreading the word beforehand will help manage expectations and avoid any surprises on the big day.

However, it’s just that: your wedding day. If you don’t feel it’s necessary to broadcast that your wedding will not have alcohol, then you don’t have to. But whether you choose to let your guests know beforehand or not, create your guest list intentionally. Is there a particular family member or friend that will cause a scene if there’s no alcohol? Are you worried about certain individuals sneaking in some booze? If so, you may consider not inviting them or having a private discussion with them prior to the wedding to ensure that they will respect your wishes.

What If Guests Get Upset That There Won’t Be Alcohol?
Remember, indulging in copious amounts of booze is not a requirement for having fun at any event. In fact, some guests may thank you the next morning for being hangover-free!

Despite that, you will likely have a few guests who get irked at the idea of not having an alcoholic drink at the wedding. If you encounter this situation with any guests, remain positive and highlight the many exciting activities and entertainment you have planned, and remind guests that the focus of the day is to celebrate your love and union.

Assure your guests that their enjoyment is a top priority, and there will be plenty of ways to celebrate and have a great time.

Alcohol Alternatives That Are Buzzworthy
Luckily for you and your guests, a dry wedding doesn’t have to mean boring drink options. You need to have the classics, of course, like coffee, water, tea, soft drinks, and juice. If you still want to toast with some bubbly, there are several options available, including sparkling cider, lemonade, or flavored seltzer. At Cornman Farms, we offer an iced tea bar with hand-made syrups utilizing fruits and herbs grown right here on farm!

If you want to take your beverages a step further, hire a bartender to make craft mocktails. That’s right—bartending isn’t just for alcoholic beverages. A well-crafted mocktail requires just as much creativity and expertise as cocktails!

Research bartenders who specialize in mocktails and work with them to create your own signature drinks. Mocktails get a bad reputation, but they are so much more than juice and soda—they can be incredibly creative and innovative. Take a Sparkling Strawberry cucumber mocktail, for instance. With strawberries, cucumber, simple syrup, and lemon seltzer, your guests will fall head over heels for this refreshing drink. Come up with your favorite flavors, and your mocktail bartender will be able to craft a delicious one-of-a-kind drink.

You can even make it a fun group activity and offer a “make-your-own” mocktail station! Complete the area with fresh fruit, syrups, garnishes, sodas, sparkling, herbs, shakers, and fancy glasses. Make sure to provide a variety of non-alcoholic beverages that can cater to different tastes and preferences to ensure all your guests have something they enjoy.

Connect With Your Venue and Caterers
Let your wedding team know that you’re not planning to serve alcohol. It’s especially important at venues where alcohol costs are commonly included in your contract. You don’t want to pay for something you won’t be using!
Discuss the specifics of your wedding vision with your venue and caterers to make sure everyone is aligned. This includes coordinating the timing and presentation of drinks, ensuring that servers are prepared to offer and explain the mocktails and other beverages, and making sure that the overall experience is everything you and your partner dreamed it to be. Clear communication and detailed planning with your vendors will help bring your vision to life and ensure a successful and memorable event.

Booze-Free Bash At Cornman Farms
Planning a dry wedding doesn’t have to be a headache. By informing your guests, offering delicious and creative drink alternatives, and working closely with your venue and caterers, you can ensure that your alcohol-free celebration is a memorable and joyous occasion for everyone involved.

At Zingerman’s Cornman Farms, we embrace the opportunity to celebrate your love in a way that reflects your values. Our experienced team will ensure that your wedding day is nothing short of perfection. Fill out the form to take a tour of our stunning barn wedding view in Ann Arbor.