Dry Wedding: What It Means And How To Plan One

A dry wedding is a wedding without alcohol. In recent years, dry weddings have become increasingly popular, with couples choosing not to serve alcohol for various reasons, including religious or cultural restrictions, financial considerations, or personal beliefs. While some guests may be disappointed by the lack of alcohol, there are several benefits to hosting a dry wedding, such as a reduced cost, a tamer crowd, and the ability to create a unique and meaningful celebration. To ensure guests have a good time, couples can consider hosting the wedding earlier in the day, being upfront about the lack of alcohol, and providing alternative activities and creative non-alcoholic beverage options.

Reasons for a dry wedding

A dry wedding is a wedding without alcohol. While this may be an unusual choice for some, there are several reasons why a couple might choose to have a dry wedding.

Religious or Cultural Reasons

In certain cultures and religions, a dry wedding is the norm. Some religious beliefs prohibit alcohol, and so it may be more appropriate not to serve it at the wedding.

Personal Beliefs

A couple may choose to have a dry wedding if they do not drink or live a sober lifestyle. They may also want to avoid the potential risks that come with overindulging in alcohol, prioritising health, mental wellbeing, and mindful consumption.

Budget

Alcohol can be one of the highest costs for weddings. By choosing a dry wedding, couples can significantly reduce their overall expenses, allowing them to allocate more money to other aspects of the wedding, such as the wedding dress, photographer, or venue.

Safety and Wellbeing

A dry wedding ensures that all guests remain sober, which can be especially important if the couple wants a kid-friendly wedding. It also removes the temptation for anyone struggling with alcohol or in recovery. Additionally, a dry wedding can help avoid potential drunken drama and bad situations that may arise from excessive drinking.

Alternative Wedding Ideas

Traditionally, many weddings were held in the morning, and a dry wedding allows couples to explore alternative wedding ideas such as a morning brunch or afternoon tea. These are times when drinking alcohol is less acceptable, so it won't be as missed.

Guest Safety and Convenience

With a dry wedding, guests can rest assured that everyone will get home safely, without the need to worry about logistics. Guests will also be able to leave the wedding entirely sober and unharmed.

Communicating the dry wedding to guests

A dry wedding is a wedding without alcohol. There are many reasons why couples choose to host a dry wedding, including religious or cultural restrictions, health and wellness choices, budget considerations, and personal preferences. If you're planning a dry wedding, here are some ways to communicate this to your guests:

Be upfront with your guests: Let your guests know about your decision to host a dry wedding in advance, especially if they are expecting alcohol. You can include a short note on your wedding website or send out an email to your guests. A simple message such as, "Non-alcoholic beverages will be served" or "We're excited to see you! Please note that no alcohol will be served during the reception" is enough.

Consider your guest list: Choose to invite guests who are supportive of your decision and will attend your celebration for the right reasons. This can help ensure a positive and stress-free atmosphere on your special day.

Provide alternative beverages: Offer a variety of non-alcoholic beverage options, such as Italian sodas, fruity aguas frescas, lemonade, bubble tea, or signature mocktails. You can also get creative with water by offering infused waters with fresh fruit and vegetables.

Offer additional activities: Provide alternative activities for your guests, such as karaoke, photo booths, lawn games, or trivia. This can help create a fun and engaging atmosphere, even without alcohol.

Be prepared for pushback: Some guests may be disappointed or miffed at the lack of alcohol. Be polite but firm in your response, and simply state that you put a lot of thought into your decision. Most people will still choose to attend the wedding of a close family member or friend, even if it's dry.

By using these communication strategies, you can effectively let your guests know about your decision to host a dry wedding and ensure that everyone has a good time, drinkers and non-drinkers alike.

Creative non-alcoholic drinks

A dry wedding is a wedding without alcohol. This is a popular choice for couples, especially given the greater emphasis on health, mental well-being, and mindful consumption. A dry wedding can be for religious, medical, or personal reasons, and it also helps to keep costs down.

Fruit-Infused Water

Large carafes or beverage dispensers filled with water and infused with fruit and herbs are a great way to serve non-alcoholic drinks. You can use anything from citrus and berries to mint.

Soda Station

Create a vintage aesthetic with a soda station, using buckets of ice filled with bottles of soda, biodegradable straws, and mason jars.

Punch

Punch is a popular choice for kids and adults. You can make a cranberry and orange juice punch or add some sparkle with non-alcoholic sparkling cider.

Mocktails

There are many mocktail options, such as a Shirley Ginger (ginger beer or root beer with a splash of lime juice and club soda) or a virgin margarita (watermelon and lime juice with a salted rim). You can also create a signature mocktail with names and flavors that reflect the couple's personality.

Coffee and Tea

For an afternoon wedding, a simple coffee and tea station can be a great option, with a variety of herbal, caffeinated, and non-caffeinated teas, along with scones and biscuits.

Kombucha Cocktails

Kombucha cocktails are a fun and yummy treat. They can be garnished with wild cherries, blueberries, raspberries, or a sprig of rosemary or lavender.

Non-Alcoholic Cider

A non-alcoholic cider mixed with cranberry and blackberry juices is a delicious and crisp treat, served with foam in a tall glass.

Fresh-Pressed Juice Station

A colourful specialty bar with a variety of unusual flavours can be a great addition, especially for a post-ceremony brunch event.

Custom Soda Station

Create an interactive experience with a custom soda station, where guests can make their own drinks with fruit-infused syrups and bitters.

Garnish Bar

A garnish bar with fresh herbs and fruits, such as basil, mint, rosemary, berries, melon, citrus, and honey, allows guests to customise their drinks and is a great conversation starter.

Non-Alcoholic Beer

Non-alcoholic beers, such as O'Doul's, are a good option, or you can try a wellness-oriented substitute like kombucha.

Mocktail Bar

Team up with a professional mixologist to create a base mixture, a "shot", and a garnish. Guests can then create their own unique mocktails with various combinations.

Lavender Lemonade

A calming non-alcoholic cocktail made with lemon juice, honey, dried lavender flowers, and water.

Virgin Margaritas

A fun twist on a classic, virgin margaritas are made with limeade, pineapple juice, and soda water, garnished with salt and sugar.

Dessert Drink Station

A dessert drink station can offer non-alcoholic espresso martinis, mini milkshakes, and fruit smoothies served in fancy cocktail glasses.

Booze-Free Beer

Craft beers with less than 0.5% ABV are a great option for those who want the full-body flavour of beer without the alcohol.

Alternative entertainment

A dry wedding is a wedding without alcohol. Couples may choose not to serve alcohol for various reasons, including religious, cultural, or financial restrictions, or personal preferences.

If you're planning a dry wedding, here are some alternative entertainment ideas to keep your guests happy and ensure a memorable celebration:

• Host your wedding earlier in the day: Consider a brunch or lunchtime event when guests are less likely to expect alcohol.
• Be creative with beverages: Offer a variety of non-alcoholic drinks, from Italian sodas and fruity aguas frescas to lemonade stands and signature mocktails.
• Offer interactive food stations: Provide unique food selections such as tacos, mac and cheese, or pizza with toppings and fixings.
• Include additional activities: Organise games like giant Jenga, ping pong, or trivia. Hire a silhouette or caricature artist, or set up a photo booth for memorable snapshots.
• Music and dancing: Hire a band or a DJ, or think outside the box with a saxophonist, harpist, or mariachi band.
• Outdoor activities: If your venue has outdoor space, consider garden games like sack racing, egg and spoon races, or giant Kerplunk.
• Performances: Hire traditional dancers or a circus entertainer to put on a show.
• Other unique ideas: From a silent disco to a bouncy castle, there are endless possibilities to make your dry wedding entertaining and memorable.

Remember, the key is to offer a variety of engaging activities that appeal to different interests and provide opportunities for your guests to interact and create lasting memories.

Food and drink timings

A dry wedding is a wedding without alcohol, and there are many reasons why couples might choose to host one, from religious or cultural restrictions to personal or financial reasons.

If you're planning a dry wedding, it's a good idea to consider hosting your wedding earlier in the day. Guests are less likely to miss alcohol during a brunch or lunchtime event, and who doesn't love brunch food?

If you're serving dinner, it's a good idea to keep the timeline in mind. If there's a long gap between the ceremony and dinner, organise some canapes and appetisers during a cocktail hour to tide your guests over.

If you're planning an early dinner, your guests will likely get hungry again later in the evening, especially if drinks and dancing are involved. In this case, a "late-night snack" is a great idea to keep everyone satiated. Popular options include pizza, sliders, tacos, soft pretzels, and grilled sandwiches.

If you're planning a cocktail wedding, serve smaller bites periodically throughout the afternoon, and then move on to more substantial options around dinner time.

If you're serving only cocktail food, make sure there's enough food to satiate your guests. It's also a good idea to have dedicated ""food stations" that guests can visit at any time to fill themselves up. Food trucks and grazing tables are great options for this.

Let your guests know what to expect via your wedding website, so they don't turn up hungry, expecting a full meal. A simple statement like "Cocktail reception to follow" or "Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, canapes, and dancing" will help set the right expectations.

As a general rule, make sure your guests are comfortable and well-fed. Ask your caterer, planner, and/or wedding venue for their advice and suggestions—they're the experts, after all!

Frequently asked questions