My wedding reception site has no bar-any ideas for setting up a simple bar with just wine and beer?
My wedding reception site has no bar, but we would like to serve wine and beer. My fiance thinks a plain keg is too "redneck". Any ideas for creating a bar with beer and wine without a bartender? Can we rent a draft machine or something like that? We are having a champagne fountain but we want to offer other options. Thanks for any input!
Tagged with: bartender • champagne fountain • fiance • keg • redneck • wedding reception • wine
Filed under: All Things Wine
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Contact your local rental company. They would have all of the equipment to setup a bar. You can also purchase the alcohol from a place like Costco or Smart & Final. It will be inexpensive and you will more than likely be able to return the unopened bottle with no problem.
I would suggest a "Kegerator" (fridge with a draft top that holds the keg) and then a table covered with linens with glasses and your wine. I would suggest stacking the glasses in a pretty pattern. Have the white on one side, cold of course, and the red on the other. Or have a signature drink pre-made in pitchers that guests can pour into glasses.
If it is a sit down dinner you may request that the servers keep a bottle of wine on each table and a pitcher of beer. That way the servers are responsible for replenishing empty bottles and pitchers.
If it is not a sit down dinner, you may want to consider hiring someone to serve as a bartender. That is if the venue would allow this.
I’m sure you have some friends or family members that can go to your local hardward store & get some folks to help you create the "bar" look…you can paint it and if they are good it’ll look like you’ve would have bought it…
At most wedding rental companies, you can rent a portable bar. Leave it like it is or decorate it in your decorations. You can hire a bartender for an hour or so to serve drinks. If you do not want a bartender…that is tricky. A machine for beer that is portable is like a keg, really no difference. Plus a lot of people do not know how to pour beer and a lot will be wasted and a mess. I say find a nice server you know…maybe from one of your fav restaurants and ask them if they would like to bartend for a couple of hours. I used to bartend and I made $300-500 a night, but servers make far less, they would be happy with $150 for a couple of hours. Belive me it makes a difference…much nicer, cleaner and guests do not feel they are at a self serve wedding.