Almost as well-known as the enormous cakes served at weddings are the wild stories about drinking that often accompany them. It's often anticipated and may become a contentious issue if you choose not to serve alcohol at your wedding. However, each pair must decide about hosting a dry wedding for themselves.
There are many reasons for choosing a dry wedding. Whether it’s about the budget, religious reasons, or even the safety of their guests, whether to provide alcohol or not is a complex decision that requires careful consideration of many factors.
Here are some pros and cons of a dry wedding, as well as ideas for throwing a wild and enjoyable party at your reception, even if you don't want to serve alcohol.
Why do people decide to host a dry wedding?
Many couples choose not to provide alcohol because it is a personal choice. But there are a plethora of other, perhaps more important, reasons. For example, because they want a kid-friendly wedding, some couples prefer that everyone stay sober throughout the festivities. Some individuals prefer not to offer alcohol due to religious beliefs, while others do so out of a desire to save money. Couples may choose to forego alcoholic beverages if one or both partners are sobering up or if some of their guests are currently in recovery.
The pros
The pros of hosting a dry wedding can prove worthwhile and beneficial to your special day.
Pro #1 - Hosting a dry wedding costs less money
It might cost a lot to buy enough booze for all of the guests at a wedding. Alcohol is by no means cheap, but that’s not all. The big money loss goes on the fact that you have to provide the alcohol, whether or not your guests drink it all. So, many couples opt to forego the booze during the wedding.
When you start calculating the cost of alcohol, you’ll want to switch to hosting a dry wedding!
Photo by Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash
Pro #2 -It helps avoid bad situations
While a few drinks at a party may certainly amp up the excitement, too much can quickly turn into a chaotic situation. Some people's worse traits may be brought out by drinking. A dry wedding, or at least not choosing an open bar, is an option for couples who are worried that their guests may drink too much during their celebration.
Pro #3- No alcohol allows for an alternative wedding
The modern wedding reception is often held in the late evening or at night. This is the period when alcoholic beverages are most often consumed. But did you know that traditionally, dawn was the most popular time for weddings? The couple may explore other wedding options, including a morning breakfast or an afternoon tea if they opt for hosting a dry wedding. These are times of day when alcohol use is socially frowned upon, so you won't miss it as much.
Pro #4- Guests will get home safely
With a dry wedding, you won't have to worry about your guests for a second after the party. This will make planning the wedding less stressful because you won't have to plan the logistics of their departure. In addition to leaving entirely sober, you can know that guests will also return home unharmed. All's well that ends well!
The cons
Hosting a dry wedding is definitely not the norm, so naturally, there are some cons to this approach. Let’s explore some of them.
Con #1 - People will expect alcohol
In all honesty, many people would agree that a wedding celebration isn't complete without alcohol. This can lead some of the guests to criticize the newlywed’s decision. In order to avoid this, the couple should inform their guests of the no alcohol rule in advance.
Some guests could be disappointed by the lack of alcohol, so make sure to inform them in advance.
Photo by Maria Avdeeva via Unsplash
Con #2- Chances are higher for a dead dance floor
Removing alcoholic beverages from a reception increases the possibility that the atmosphere will be less vibrant than intended. However, this is not always the case, and a really joyful environment may still be achieved. Just make sure you can provide some type of entertainment or depend on a vibrant group of individuals to get on the dance floor and elevate the mood for others to join.
Con #3 - Guests may sneak in alcohol
Although you've decided to have a dry wedding, there's always the chance that your guests may smuggle alcohol in or partake in some pre-party. Yes, it sounds like rebellious high-schoolers rather than wedding guests, but you should still expect this. Don't try to police these guests too much, though! It could ruin your special day.
If you're genuinely concerned about this, ask your guests before the wedding not to consume alcohol before or during the reception. You can do this through a wedding website, phone calls, or text messaging.
How to go about hosting a dry wedding to remember
Now that you know about the pros and cons of hosting a dry wedding, you might be wondering how to actually make it work. Here are some ways in which you can make your guests forget about the alcohol and enjoy your party.
Provide good entertainment
You may consider adding additional activities if you're having a sober wedding. Throwing a sober wedding reception can still mean having fun on the big day! Try to avoid limiting yourself and instead think of creative solutions.
If you want your guests to have a good time at your wedding, you should anticipate that they could be less inclined to dance, interact, and amuse themselves if they haven't had anything to drink. So, if you want the party to keep going strong, you must have a superb DJ. Good tunes and entertaining activities keep the party strong, even without booze. There will always be some who would rather not mingle, but with the appropriate music, it shouldn't be hard to get everyone on the dance floor.
Serve mocktails
You can still have fun with non-alcoholic drinks. Punches and mocktails are fun to entertain without the added expense or hangover the next day. Plus, you don't have to worry about how much alcohol you need for the wedding! Serve a variety of these so visitors can find whatever suits their tastes. Or come up with your special one to celebrate the occasion!
Mocktails can be pretty, tasty, and fun!
Photo by Rirri via Unsplash
Final words
If you’ve decided on hosting a dry wedding, congratulations! Take pride in your choice- after all, it is your special day. Do anything you want. However, if you’re not really into cutting off all alcohol, there are also choices for a cash bar or a restricted selection. Whichever choice you make, in the end, it’s important that you and your spouse are happy. Good luck!
This is a guest post. Risa James Events has no financial relationship with any companies that may be linked within.