Alcohol! To serve or not to serve

This is a difficult dilemma. You'd like to have alcohol at your reception, but don't want to deal with Uncle Bob's rendition of the "Evolution of Dance" or see Aunt Fay stumbling over grandma Betty or maybe that groomsman who had a little too much and is picking fights? Between the three of them they're sure to cause a damper on the entire event. So how do you incorporate some friendly social drinking into your reception while avoiding your guests becoming belligerent? Most vendors understand the issues that come with serving alcohol and are willing to work with you to keep things under control. Here are some ideas:

+ Host a dry reception. This means no alcohol at all. No beer. No wine. No hard liquor. Nothing but non-alcoholic beverages. Unfortunately, this isn't fail safe. I once went to a dry wedding in which half of the guests were in the parking lot taking swigs from the bottles in their trunks when they realized there wasn't even wine. This could turn out to be counter-productive to your goal. + Host your bar. A hosted bar allows you to put a cap on the amount of alcohol being served. It means that you pay for a specific amount of alcohol. Once that cap is reached, you have the option of closing bar or making it a cash bar. You also have the option of hosting beer and wine and making your guests pay for their own liquor. They may opt for the free stuff rather than paying for anything.

+ Opt out of hard alcohol and serve only beer, wine, and champagne. Hard alcohol will have a greater affect on your guests and intoxication will come faster. Beer, wine, and champagne are "social" drinks and will most likely be consumed at a slower pace. It will be enough to allow your guests to loosen up and have a good time while not overdoing it. You can also host just these three options to limit it even more and put a cap on these as well if you choose.

+ Hire a bartender. If you choose to serve alcohol at your reception, the main thing to stay away from is self-pouring. Having your guests serve themselves is a disaster waiting to happen. Regardless of how your event will be catered and by who, it's always best to hire a professional bartender if your caterer doesn't provide one. They can also monitor your guests and cut people off when and if it becomes necessary. Regardless of what you opt for, remember this event if about having a good time. You want to maintain a positive atmosphere throughout the event so weigh and choose your options carefully. Don't hesitate to ask questions or voice concerns. You'll be glad you did!