OPEN BARS AT WEDDINGS ARE ALWAYS A DO :: BEER & WINE

Last week, to begin our series, we discussed signature drinks and how to best incorporate them into your wedding bar without breaking the bank. In case you missed it, you can catch up here , here and here.

The formula for deciding the amount of alcohol and liquor to purchase for your wedding is this :: Each guest will consume two drinks the first hour and one drink each hour after that. Also remember that not all of your guests will be drinkers. In the state of Tennessee, liquor laws seem to force you to include children in the total number of guests. This comes into play when giving your guest count to your vendor that is providing your bar. It also may come into play when you bring in your own alcohol and liquor for your venue to assess corkage fees, which we discussed last week. You may be able to negotiate with your venues on this point.

Today's suggestions are probably the easiest to incorporate. Simply serve beer and wine. But, what kind of beer and wine? Domestic brands will always cost less, both from your venue and at a store. So, when building your wedding bar, I suggest you purchase more domestic beer then imported beer. Do include some imported, however. Again, you are the host and you want to think of your guests' tastes more than your own. I will give a sample bar list at the end of today's post.

When it comes to wine there is a plethora of combinations you can choose from. When choosing wine for your wedding, you want to consider your meal first. If you are serving beef or steak in any way, you want to choose more red wine. Likewise, if you are planning to serve fish you want to choose more white wine. The great thing about serving wine at your wedding is that you can have so much fun tasting and picking your wines. Again, considering your guests' tastes, choose wines that range in dryness and in sweetness. It will be a lovely gesture to give your guests a choice of wine. You probably will not hit the nail on the head and pick your guests' favorite brands. That is okay. Do not give yourself a headache in this area. I encourage you to tune out anyone giving suggestions on brands of wine who are not writing checks for the cost of the reception. This is a great time to get with your wedding planner or wholesale liquor store manager and make great choices.

PURCHASE LIST FOR OPEN BAR AT A WEDDING

Beer and Wine

# of guests 200

200x85% = 170 (# of guests to purchase for)

Domestic Beer for 36 guests (25% of all drinkers - 15% of domestic drinkers)

4 cases (2.6 bottles per guest)

Imported Beer for 7 guests (% of remaining beer drinkers)

1 case (3.4 bottles per guest)

Beer drinkers may well drink wine also during the night. It is rare for a wine drinker to switch to beer during an event.

105 bottles of wine for remaining guests

In example beef is served as the meal at a four hour reception

58 bottles of red wine (various blends)

37 bottles of white wine (various blends)

10 bottles of sparkling wine or champagne

It takes a bit of breakdown to determine your needs for your open bar at your wedding, but it is not difficult. Also, you do have the ability to move the final numbers up or down as you see fit. Again, I suggest working with your wedding planner and/or your wholesale store manager to determine the best fit for you. In the Mid South wedding market, the above example will total around $2500 for mid-range cost product purchased from a wholesale store. With a larger guest list shown (this is average for my brides and grooms) this cost is moderate and reasonable.

Next week, stay tuned for the last part of our series on setting up a full bar at your wedding reception.

PARTY PERIPHERALS: BRIDAL SHOWERS PART II

Last week I began discussing bridal shower elements with a focus on themes, venues, timing and guest list. This week, I'll take it a step further and center on games, host duties, special touches, and favors.

Let the Games Begin

While games are not mandatory at a bridal shower, they can often be great ice-breakers, especially if many of the guests don't know each other. Below are a few ideas to get the party started:

• CLOTHESPIN GAME: Each guest receives three clothespins when they arrive to the party along with a list of words that cannot be said. Generally these words have to do with the couple, their honeymoon destination, weddings in general...you get the idea. Anytime someone catches a guest saying one of the forbidden words, she takes a clothespin from the culprit. Whoever has the most pins at the end of the shower wins a prize.

• MEMORY: Place 15-20 wedding related items on a tray and cover them with a lace napkin. Possible items would be a garter, wedding cake topper, rose petals, clear nail polish, or a votive candle. Place the tray in the center of your guests, and without telling them what the game is, uncover the tray for two minutes. Place the napkin back on the tray and ask the guests to write down as many items as they can remember. The person with the most recalled items wins a prize.

• AGE RANGE: Arrange several numbered pictures of the bride at different stages of her life on a board and provide pens and paper for the guests. Party-goers will attempt to guess her age in each picture. Additional points can be given if the answer includes where she was in the picture as well. This game can be played throughout the shower while guests are mingling.

• WORD PLAY: Give each guest a sheet containing the word "bridal" written vertically down the left margin with the word "shower" directly across from it on the right side. Once the timer begins (no longer than 5 minutes), the participants try to form words using each pair of letters as the beginning and end of the word. For example, the first word could be BouquetS. The second word could be RelinquisH. The longest word for each line is awarded one point, and if it pertains directly to a wedding or shower, the word is worth 2 points.

• PARTY POPPER: Place a strip of paper each containing a different message inside a balloon, blow it up, and tie it. Have each guest try to pop the balloon in any way they can. One strip of paper has the bride's name on it, but the rest of the strips have "Sorry, Try Again" messages. The guest who pops the balloon with the bride's name in it wins.

• WEDDING CHARADES OR PICTIONARY: Create cards with wedding related words before the shower. Have everyone take a card and try to act out or draw the word. Guests can be divided into teams.
  

Host Duties
The host duties do not just end with the planning of the party and sending out of the invitations. It's important for the host to greet all the guests, introduce them to others, and make everyone feel welcomed. The host should also take the lead when it comes to initiating the games. When it comes time for the bride to open gifts, the host should take charge of writing down each gift and its giver so the bride can easily write thank you notes in the near future. She should also delegate duties to others, most likely bridesmaids. Someone should be in charge of disposing of the wrapping paper while another person takes the reigns as the official repackaging queen...making sure all the gifts are put back in their respective boxes.

Special Touches

• SCRAPBOOK: There are two ways to present a scrapbook to the bride. Guests can send a memento to one of the bridesmaids from the past relating to the bride, i.e. a photo, ticket stub, or receipt, along with a written description of the item. The bridesmaid can then compile everything into a scrapbook. Another way to create the book is to give a page to each shower guest and have them personally decorate it with memorabilia. The pages are then assembled into the scrapbook.
  

• RECIPE BOX: Have each guest contribute a favorite recipe for the bride-to-be on a card. If the shower is a pot luck, it could be the recipe for whatever dish the guest brought. Each recipe is then put into a cute recipe box and is then presented to the bride.

• ADDY ADVANTAGE: As each guest enters the party, have her write her return address on an envelope. After the bride has opened her presents, stationary with the self-addressed envelopes are given to her, making her thank you card writing process that much easier.

• HONEYMOON TALK: As the bride opens her gifts, have a bridesmaid secretly write down the bride's verbal reactions to each present she opens. At the end of the gift-giving session, read aloud the comments as though they were what the bride would say the night of her honeymoon.
  

• BOW BOUQUET: Save all the bows and ribbons from the gifts and make them into a bouquet. Traditionally this crafty bundle of faux flowers is used as the bridal bouquet the night of the rehearsal.
  

Party Favors
Guests should never leave the shower empty-handed. It is important to show appreciation by giving a token. Suggestions are listed below:

• Candle
• Candy or Chocolate
• Baked Goods
• Picture Frame
• Small Book
• Gourmet Tea or Coffee
  
• Stationary
• Bath Soap, Bubble Bath, or Bath Crystals
• Flowers
• Hand and Body Lotion
  

Once the last gift is opened, the final game played, and all the commemorative favors have been relinquished, sit back, relax, and look forward to the bachelorette party!

*Photo Credit www.gcdspa.com/cardsfavors.jpg

OPEN BARS AT WEDDINGS ARE ALWAYS A DO :: SIGNATURE DRINKS II

As the host of the wedding, yes you are the host, you should consider your non-drinking guests. For them, you can create mocktails. The Sparkling Sally is easy to switch to a mocktail, just add sparkling cider in place of sparkling wine. Here are a couple additional mocktail recipes.

Tornado Twist

Recipe courtesy of All Recipes

12 oz. Cranberry-Raspberry Juice

12 oz. Lemon-Lime Carbonated Beverage

In a pitcher, mix juice and carbonated beverage. Serve over ice.

Sweet Sensation

Fresh Limes (use in wedges)

1/2 cup Watermelon Juice

1/4 cup Sparkling Apple Cider

1/4 cup Cold Green Tea

4 sprigs mint

Squeeze lime into shaker and add peel. Add other ingredients, shake and serve.

The recipes I chose to feature in this part of our series require minimal shopping on your part. They also require minimal setup on the part of your caterers. Many hotels are open to you bringing in recipes for your wedding. Just allow enough time for the bartenders to play around with your recipes to get them just right for your big day.

Next week, as a part of our series on open bars, we will discuss beer and wine.

OPEN BARS AT WEDDINGS ARE ALWAYS A DO :: SIGNATURE DRINKS I

Let us explore signature drinks. Siggys, as they are called, really came on the scene in the past few years. I love them because they are a wonderful way to satisfy many when building your bar. And for you gentlemen, do not feel left out. Siggys do not have to be frilly, girl things. I encourage my grooms to jump in and create a drink for themselves as well. In my opinion, there are a few simple rules to easy siggys.

1. Use a liquor with a long pour. A long pour means you get more cocktails from one bottle of liquor such as vodka or rum or whiskey.

2. Use a limited number of ingredients (three being best)

3. Remember to create for the masses and not only for your particular tastes

4. Come up with a great name for it

Incorporating signature drinks into your wedding reception can help cut your budget by limiting the amount of liquor you need to purchase. This goes for liquor purchased on your own and brought into your venue or liquor purchased through your venue/hotel. If you are allowed to bring liquor into a hotel-type venue, be prepared to pay corkage fees. A corkage fee is the cost these venues charge to handle your product and generally runs from $4-$8 per bottle in the MidSouth market. Work with your wedding planner and in-house catering manager to settle on a per person cost for signature drinks. That way, you know ahead of time what is expected of you financially and you do not have to fret over getting a liquor bill at the end of the night. You can also negotiate your signature drink timeframe. Have the hotel open your bar just after the meal is served and leave it open for two hours.

To further keep your budget in check, I suggest serving signature drinks with the meal only and not during cocktail hour and with the meal. Since most meals have some type of beverage (lemonade, tea) included in the meal price, your guests now have a wider array of beverage options, something they will be appreciative of and remember you for. I suggest creating a siggy that includes one type of liquor and no more than two mixers.

There are far too many ways to keep your liquor budget in check to ask your guests to pay for part of your party.

Now for the fun part! Let's make cocktails!

Brandon's Bomber

1.5 oz Whiskey

1 oz Cola

Combine ingredients one at a time into glass and serve over ice.

Okay, that was an easy one. But, like I said, it doesn't take sleepless nights to create Siggys, just a little humor.

The Simpson Simmer

1 oz. Orange Flavored Vodka

1 oz. Blue Curacao

2 oz. Orange Juice

1 oz. Pineapple Juice

Fill glass with ice, mix ingredients and stir. Garnish with orange peel.

Sparkling Sally

1 oz. Blood Orange Mixer

4 oz. Sparkling Wine

Pour in mixer, add sparkling wine and serve.

 Stay tuned for the remainder of today's post on creating mocktails. Be sure to leave us a comment letting us know your fave recipes for easy cocktails.

OPEN BARS AT WEDDINGS ARE ALWAYS A DO

Whether or not to have an open bar at a wedding is a question that comes up frequently to wedding planners. The first portion of my answer is always, "Yes, you should absolutely have an open bar at your wedding." Notice I said this is the first part of my answer. The subsequent part of the answer will come in our series this month, Open Bars At Weddings Are Always A Do. During this series we will explore the ways to develop the wedding bar that is right for you. You truly do not have to spend sleepless nights on whether or not to have an open bar at your wedding. When someone asks me whether or not they should have an open bar at their wedding I give them this scenario.


You invite guests into your home. You serve them a meal. When they ask for something to drink you go into your kitchen. You emerge with an ice, cold beer in one hand and a frosted pilsner in the other hand. You place them before your guest. You then hold your hand out and ask them for $5.

That would never happen in your home and it shouldn't happen at your wedding, either. I have heard the arguments for having a cash bar at weddings. Truly, they slide right out of the other ear. There should always be some form of etiquette that we hold to as the times change. And hosting a party and asking your guests to kick in on the cost should be a stopping point.

When it comes to having an open bar at your wedding, it is quite okay to do what is within your means or to do nothing at all.

Tomorrow, as a part of our series, we will discuss classic and non-alcoholic Signature Drinks.

PARTY PERIPHERALS :: BRIDAL SHOWERS

Many see the Bridal Shower as just another excuse for bestowing gifts upon the bride-to-be. And in all fairness, this is mostly true. But what bride wouldn't want more presents and what guest doesn't like a good party? Traditionally, the shower was held in order to prepare the bride for life as a wife and mother. Blenders and sewing kits and Tupperware, oh my! These days, however, since most women have lived on their own for quite some time before entering the world of wedded bliss, domesticated gifts and themes are less needed. This gives ample room for the host to get creative with the themes and details when planning the Bridal Shower.

Hostess with the Mostess

It is generally the responsibility of the Maid of Honor and fellow Bridesmaids to plan the shower, but it is acceptable for a close relative (outside the immediate family) or friend to play host.

Who's In?
Typically the Bridal Shower is meant for females only, but with a modern bride comes modern changes. Some showers include male friends of the bride. The themes for showers including men should reflect the choice to go co-ed. For instance, a lingerie bridal shower may not be the best idea for a group that includes guys.

Timing
The shower should be thrown about two months before the wedding day. The budget and theme will be determining factors for the time of day of the shower. If the host is working with a smaller budget, consider throwing a Tea Party at 3:00 pm on a Sunday and serve pastries and desserts. A Stock the Bar party thrown at 8:00 pm on a Saturday will warrant cocktails and hors d'oeuvres or even a full seated dinner, which will obviously hike up the price.

Location
Personally, I have found that holding a Bridal Shower in the comfort of someone's home is always special and intimate, but if this is not an option, the possibilities for the perfect venue are endless. Just a few ideas are below:

• Restaurant (especially a banquet or private dining room)
• Country Club
• Boat
• Rooftop of an Apartment Building
• Garden
• Public Park

Themes
While a theme is not necessary, it can definitely streamline the planning process and give direction to the guests on what kind of gift to buy the Bride. Below is a list of possible options for the Bridal Shower theme:

• FOUR SEASONS: Each guest is assigned a time of year and her gift reflects that particular season. For instance, a summer assignment may warrant a gift of a sangria pitcher and glasses. A guest with a winter season may offer a cozy, decorative throw blanket for those nights beside the fire.


• AROUND THE CLOCK: This party focuses on each hour of the day and the types of gifts reflect what the bride might be doing at that time. If a guest is assigned 8:00 am, he or she may bring a portable mp3 player so the bride can listen to her favorite songs on her commute to work (that is, if she lives in a city where she walks or takes public transportation). For a 7:00 pm guest, a martini shaker, glasses, and a book of cocktails would make the perfect gift for that after-work wind-down.


• LINGERIE PARTY: This party is exactly what it sounds like. Not every gift has to be risque, however. Perfectly acceptable gifts would also include bedroom slippers, bathrobes, nightgowns, sleeping masks, or flannel pajamas.


• ROOM TO GROW: This particular shower assigns a different room in the house to each guest. A kitchen gift could be a juicer. For the dining room, a timeless centerpiece would make a great gift. Egyptian cotton sheets for the bedroom are also a lovely choice.


• WORLD MATTERS: This can be a culturally aware party and let's the guests get creative with their assignment. Each guest is given a country, and their gift pays homage to a custom or fact relating to that particular part of the world. A sushi making kit and book would pair with Japan. A guest with France as her assignment can give a membership to a "wine of the month" club from the vineyards of the region. It's a gift that keeps on giving! An Italian gift could be a pasta maker.


• HONEYMOONER: For this party, the theme can focus on the destination of the honeymoon and all the details surrounding it. If the couple is going somewhere tropical, guests would bring beach towels, diving gear, or gift certificates for surfing lessons. If the newlyweds are hitting a romantic bed and breakfast in the country, guests could provide insect repellent, a smores-making kit, or cozy bathrobes to lounge around the cabin or room. Travel guides, luggage, and cameras are also good gifts for a Honeymoon Shower.

Stay tuned next week for the second installment of Bridal Showers where I will discuss games, host duties, special moments, and favors.

SITE DOWN

We are quite grumpy that our site is down right now. And because we have no site, we have no email. Although we have no explanation for it from our hosting service, we do know that it could, might be up by the end of the day. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

If you need contact me today email me at aalewisevents {at} yahoo {dot} com.

Thanks for your patience!
Andria

DIY BRIDES :: DON'T OVER DO-IT-YOURSELF IT :: FAVORS

DIY Projects by Krystal Montgomery Watkins;

Wedding Programs by Dawn Rodriquez of Beloved Designs

The final installment in our series on DIY projects is favors. I give DIY favors a thumbs-up. If you have missed the earlier part of the DIY series, you can read more about my thoughts on DIY invitations and my thoughts on DIY centerpieces.

Wedding favors are fun, final piece to the puzzle. Some times very little thought is put into the wedding favors. Other times, a bride-to-be may forgo a floral appointment to spend time on her favors. Everything with a wedding is individual, so the choice is definitely yours when it comes to favors.

There are a few lessons on favors that I'd like to share with you. First is the number of favors needed. You will never need as many favors as the number of guests you have attending your wedding. There is a simple formula for determining the number you will need. Be sure you count households and not individuals. Plan to have one favor per household. Then consider the number of children included in your guest list and remove that number from your count. Very few favors are geared towards children, i.e. a romantic CD of the couple's favorite tunes, votive candles, planting seeds. So, including them in your count guarantees that you will have leftover favors (read: you will waste money).

A former bride of mine, Krystal M., had a few DIY projects that she worked on for her day. I asked Krystal to give some advice on preparing DIY CD favors for your wedding and she graciously accepted.

Krystal Montgomery Watkins

Adding a DIY project to your wedding helps to personalize your day to reflect you and your future husband’s individuality. One example is through your wedding favors. A very easy wedding favor option is to make a CD compilation of your favorite love songs.

Here’s all you’ll need to get started:

- Blank CD-Rs (purchase at least 10 more CDs than you will actually need, for back-up purposes.

- Paperboard CD Cases can be purchased online at Bliss Weddings Marketing

- A computer with a CD burner

- Songs downloaded on your computer

- Paper, to include a thank you note to guests, and a song list (cut to fit inside the CD case)

- Square Labels; to include your monogram/names and wedding date

- Optional: Ribbon (for added décor)

The key to personalizing these favors is through the packaging. Many wedding supply websites carry white CD covers that you can decorate with a ribbon or a sticker with your names & wedding date. On the inside of the CD cover, you can include a “thank you” message to your guests. This keepsake is a way for your family and friends to remember your special day. And don’t be surprised if you get phone call after the wedding from guests telling you how much the love listening to your wedding CD.

Whatever DIY projects you choose for your wedding, have fun with them. Do not let them overwhelm you or become the biggest part of your life. Enjoy your planning time, enjoy your fiance, enjoy yourself.

{in the plans :: Wedding Bar Series}