Make Your Alcohol-Free Wedding A Blast!

Planning a wedding without alcohol? It's true that some people associate weddings with drinking and may find it difficult to have a good time without it. But there are plenty of ways to make your wedding fun, even without the booze. Here are some tips to ensure your guests have a great time and don't miss the alcohol:

- Choose an interesting venue that doesn't allow alcohol, like a recreational park, nature preserve, beach, or public square.

- Schedule your ceremony at a time when people are less likely to drink, like the morning or early afternoon.

- Encourage conversation at tables with icebreakers, such as trivia questions or group games.

- Make it a kid-friendly wedding with activities that guests of all ages can enjoy, like face painting, karaoke, or games.

- Hire a good MC or DJ who can keep the atmosphere upbeat and interactive, and invest in high-quality entertainment to get people dancing.

- Serve mocktails and fun non-alcoholic drinks, like virgin cocktails, milkshakes, smoothies, or fancy coffee.

- Plan your wedding around a fun theme that excludes alcohol, like a waffle bar or a retro milkshake bar.

- Make a recreational hobby the centerpiece of entertainment, like rock climbing or miniature golf.

- Offer games, activities, and prizes to keep guests entertained and engaged.

- Get your guests laughing with a stand-up comedy routine or a fun Elvis impersonator.

Remember, it's your special day, and it's okay to do it your way. With a bit of creativity and planning, you can have a fun and memorable wedding, even without the alcohol.

Offer fun non-alcoholic drinks like mocktails, smoothies, juices, and milkshakes

Offering fun non-alcoholic drinks is a great way to make a no-alcohol wedding enjoyable for your guests. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Mocktails

Add some flair to your celebration with creative mocktails! Work with your caterer or bartender to create signature virgin drinks that will delight your guests. From pomegranate mojitos to apple, elderflower, and mint sparkles, there are endless possibilities to explore. You can even set up a make-your-own mocktail bar with various bases, shots, and garnishes for your guests to experiment with.

Smoothies and juices

A juice or smoothie bar is an excellent option, especially for a morning or afternoon event. Offer a variety of interesting mixes, such as fresh pressed juices or smoothies with unique combinations. For a morning wedding, freshly pressed juices or smoothies can be a refreshing and healthy option for your guests.

Milkshakes

Why not add a twist to the traditional bar and set up a milkshake bar, complete with floats and malts? This can be a fun and indulgent option for your guests, especially if you include a variety of toppings and mix-ins.

Coffee and tea

For an afternoon tea reception, serve an assortment of sweet and savory bites like sandwiches, pastries, cheeses, and fresh fruit. Complement this with a coffee and espresso bar, offering special blends and mochas. For a morning wedding, a coffee and tea station is a must, and don't forget to offer decaf options!

Non-alcoholic beer and wine

While some people may be averse to non-alcoholic beers and wines, others may appreciate the option. Be sure to offer a variety of drinks to cater to different tastes, and don't be afraid to get creative with non-alcoholic beverage options!

Remember, the key is to provide a range of exciting and delicious options that will get your guests excited and make them forget about the absence of alcohol. With a bit of creativity, your no-alcohol wedding can be a fun and memorable celebration for all!

Choose a venue that doesn't serve alcohol, like a recreational park or nature reserve

Choosing a venue that doesn't serve alcohol, like a recreational park or nature reserve, can be a great way to have a fun and unique wedding celebration without the presence of alcohol. Here are some tips and ideas to make it a success:

Venue Options

Firstly, there are many venue options that don't allow alcohol and can provide a scenic and enjoyable setting for your wedding. Recreational parks, nature preserves, lakes, beaches, and public squares are all great choices that prohibit alcohol. If you're a fan of amusement parks, consider hosting your wedding at your favourite park, such as Disneyland, as these places often don't allow alcohol. This can create a fun and memorable experience for you and your guests.

Advantages of an Alcohol-Free Venue

One of the main advantages of choosing a venue that doesn't serve alcohol is that it sets the tone for a sober celebration. It can be a more comfortable and enjoyable experience for guests who are struggling with addiction, in recovery, or simply prefer to abstain from alcohol. By removing the presence of alcohol, you create an inclusive environment for all your guests.

Additionally, these types of venues often offer unique and interesting backdrops for your wedding photos, creating a one-of-a-kind setting to exchange your vows.

Timing

When choosing a venue that doesn't serve alcohol, consider the timing of your wedding. Morning and early afternoon weddings are generally better, as guests are less likely to expect or crave alcoholic drinks during these times. A sunrise wedding on the beach or a fancy afternoon high tea can be perfect timings for a sober celebration.

Guest Experience

To enhance the guest experience at an alcohol-free venue, consider providing a fancy coffee bar with non-alcoholic options or exquisite finger foods and gourmet teas. You can also encourage conversation at the tables with light-hearted icebreakers, trivia, or group activities to keep guests engaged and entertained.

Catering

Work with your caterers to create a diverse and exciting menu that will wow your guests. Consider adding more items to your cocktail hour, introducing special chef stations, or hosting a chef's tasting dinner with an elevated meal. You can also bring in food trucks serving your favourite late-night snacks or soft-serve ice cream for a unique dessert experience.

Entertainment

To ensure your guests have a fun and memorable time, invest in high-quality entertainment. Hire a good MC or DJ who can keep the atmosphere upbeat and interactive. A live band or musician can also add a special touch and encourage guests to dance, even without alcohol.

Additionally, you can plan games and activities to keep guests engaged. Raffles, giveaways, limbo contests, bingo, ring toss, and cornhole are all fun options. If your chosen venue allows, you could even set up a bouncy castle or hire a photo booth to capture fun memories.

Drinks

Just because the venue doesn't serve alcohol doesn't mean you can't offer interesting and delicious non-alcoholic drinks. Work with your bartender to create signature mocktails or virgin cocktails that will excite your guests. You can also offer non-alcoholic beers and wines, juices, smoothies, or even a milkshake bar.

In summary, choosing a venue that doesn't serve alcohol can be a unique and enjoyable way to host a fun and memorable wedding. With careful planning, a great venue, and thoughtful touches, your guests are sure to have a wonderful time, even without alcohol.

Plan games and activities to keep guests entertained, like karaoke, limbo contests, and bingo

Karaoke is a great way to get your guests involved in the wedding celebrations. It can be a fun activity for everyone, and a chance for guests to showcase their singing skills. If you're worried about guests being too shy, consider asking a few friends to sing pre-selected songs to get things started. You could also limit the selection of songs to those that are easy to sing along to and avoid offensive language. Additionally, ensure there's a separate area for guests who prefer to chat rather than sing.

Limbo contests are another fun activity to get your guests moving and grooving. It's a simple game that can be set up almost anywhere and is suitable for guests of all ages. It's sure to bring lots of laughter and create memorable moments, especially when the more reluctant guests join in!

Bingo is a classic game that can be adapted for your wedding. You can create personalised bingo cards with prompts that are specific to you as a couple, or more general prompts that encourage guests to mingle and interact. For example, guests could be asked to write down the couple's new last name, the name of a guest who travelled a long distance, or the name of one of the couple's pets. The first few guests to get bingo could win a small prize.

These games and activities are sure to add a fun and interactive element to your wedding, ensuring your guests have a memorable time, even without alcohol.

Host the wedding early in the day when people are less likely to drink

Hosting your wedding early in the day can be an unorthodox yet effective way to make your celebration unique and alcohol-free. Here are some tips to make it work:

Choose the right time

While it's a bit unusual to host a wedding over brunch, it's not unheard of. Morning and early afternoon are generally better times for a dry wedding, as most people aren't in the mood for a drink at that time of day. A sunrise wedding on the beach, for example, will likely have guests asking, "Where's the coffee?" rather than "Where are the cocktails?".

Pick the right venue

The venue you choose can make all the difference when it comes to a dry wedding. A relaxed setting like a park, garden, recreational park, nature preserve, lake, beach, or public square is more fitting than a stuffy banquet hall. These venues also tend to prohibit alcohol, which can help reinforce your no-alcohol policy.

Offer interesting non-alcoholic drinks

Just because your wedding is alcohol-free doesn't mean the drinks have to be boring. Offer a variety of non-alcoholic options, such as mocktails, juice or smoothie bars, non-alcoholic beers and wines, milkshakes, or virgin cocktails. A signature mocktail or non-alcoholic beverage with fresh fruit, herbs, or spices can add flair and fun to the celebration.

Focus on food

With the absence of alcohol, more attention will be placed on the food. Work with your caterer to add more items to your cocktail hour or include special chef stations that you usually wouldn't see at a wedding. Consider a chef's tasting dinner, an elevated meal that will be a memorable experience for your guests. You can also bring in a food truck to serve your favourite late-night snack or have a separate room dedicated to dessert.

Plan events and activities

Alcohol is often used as a form of "passive" entertainment at weddings, helping guests lower their inhibitions and socialise more easily. To fill this gap, plan activities and games to keep your guests entertained and their minds off the lack of alcohol. Include common wedding events like the cake cutting, garter toss, and bouquet toss, but also add unique activities like raffles, giveaways, limbo contests, bingo, ring toss, or cornhole.

Manage expectations

Understand that some people may not be able to enjoy themselves without a drink or two, and that's okay. You can't please everyone, and there will likely be some pushback or resistance to the idea of a dry wedding. Be prepared for guests who may leave early or not show up at all. It's important to steel yourself for these possibilities and remember that it's your day, and you're doing what's best for you and your guests.

Provide interactive ice-breakers at each table to encourage conversation

There are many ways to break the ice and get guests mingling and smiling at your wedding. Here are some interactive ice-breakers to encourage conversation at each table:

Trivia cards or questionnaires

Place trivia cards or questionnaires at each table setting, covering fun facts about the couple and their relationship. Guests can work together to answer the questions, sparking conversations and allowing friends and family to learn more about the couple.

Mad Libs

Create wedding-themed Mad Libs sheets and place them on each guest’s seat. Guests can fill in the blanks with random words to create humorous and unpredictable wedding stories. Once complete, they can share their Mad Libs creations with others, sparking laughter and amusement.

"Two Truths and a Lie"

Encourage guests to play "Two Truths and a Lie" during the cocktail hour or at their tables. Each person shares three statements about themselves: two true facts and one lie. Others must guess which statement is the lie, leading to amusing revelations and enjoyable interactions.

"Who Am I?" Game

Create nametags with quirky or interesting facts about each guest, instead of just their names. For example, “Loves hiking” or “Can play the guitar”. Guests will mingle to figure out who matches each nametag, initiating conversations and laughter as they learn fun facts about each other.

Wedding-themed bingo

Create custom bingo cards featuring wedding-related items or experiences guests are likely to encounter during the celebration. As they experience each moment, guests can mark off the corresponding square. The first person to complete a row or column can shout “Bingo!” and receive a small prize, encouraging laughter and friendly competition.

Frequently asked questions