With glasses clinking, wine flowing, and the dance floor heating up, the secret to a great wedding is a steady flow of celebratory drinks.
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At the heart of the celebration is a great bar, but with so many options, the choice can be overwhelming.
Planning a wedding on a tight budget means making sacrifices and tough decisions, with many Australian couples opting for a budget-friendly DIY setup over a pricey all-inclusive venue.
According to wedding specialist Natalie Hagopian, the secret to a perfect bar isn't about the price tag; it's about a clear vision.
She's cracked the code on how to serve wedding guests and stay within a budget, and it all starts with a simple question: What kind of experience do you want for your big day?
"Is the food and drinks the most important thing? Or is being on the dance floor for half the day more important?" she said.
Around 15 per cent of Australian couples said that offering great food and drinks to their guest was the most important consideration during wedding planning, the 2025 Wedding Industry Report found.
And almost a third of couples, 28 per cent, said they would rather spend the bulk of their budget on a rocking reception or party.
From dry bars to champagne towers, these are some of the most popular ways to wet the whistle at a wedding reception.
All the bells and whistles
Pros and cons of an all-inclusive venue:
Pros: great wines, beers and cocktails are sourced and supplied by the venue, bartenders are provided, all RSA requirements are met and there’s no set-up or clean-ups required
Cons: these venues come with a premium price tag
Wedding venues and restaurants offering all-inclusive packages make the wedding day a breeze, Ms Hagopian said.
These venues provide alcohol and staff; they handle logistics and the set-up and pack-down.
There may even be bespoke his-and-hers cocktails designed for the couple.
But there was a much higher price tag attached.
"It's going to be very expensive compared to a do-it-yourself venue where you can bring your own alcohol," the wedding planner said.
"When people see the per-person price for beverages, it's important to remember that the drinks are not the only thing factored into that cost," she said.
"You've got trained bartenders, they manage the clean up at the end of the day for you so you're not having to think about the washing up and glassware hire.
"It's just all managed in-house, and that's the premium service that you pay for."
Hot tip:
Consider organising snacks or a grazing station for the dancefloor portion of the wedding.
Natalie Hagopian said guests are likely to drink less if they're distracted by food.
The wedding planner said "the price is going to be much higher, because they do have minimum spends that you need to reach for food, drinks and venue hire".
But these venues allow the bride and groom to relax and enjoy the day without the hassle of troubleshooting issues that arise.
Start from scratch
Pros and cons of hiring vendors for a community hall wedding:
Pros: alcohol at retail prices, choose your own beers and wines
Cons: bartender required for additional price, or risk the RSA issues of a self-serve bar and ice, glassware and fridges must be hired
Regional Australia is blessed with an array of beautiful community halls and country properties that allow couples to hire the space for a small fee.
But these venues often do not include staff, alcohol or food in the hire costs, so there are more logistical considerations when planning a wedding here.
To run a great bar, the couple will also need to consider glassware, ice, fridges and generators, Ms Hagopian said.
"DIY weddings are so much more involved, logistically, than going to a restaurant that's fully set up for bar and drinks," Ms Hagopian said.
But they are much more budget-friendly.
Hot tip:
Dan Murphy's allows wedding parties to return any drinks that are unopened and unchilled.
That way, if the happy couple over-orders, they don't need to worry about leftover bottles.
The wedding specialist said: "You should never skip on hiring staff" due to responsible service of alcohol (RSA) concerns.
"It's too risky because you don't know how much guests are going to actually drink, knowing that there's no one serving them," she said.
Mobile bar
There is a middle ground between an all-inclusive venue and an entirely do-it-yourself one.
Ms Hagopian recommends hiring a mobile bar, often in a self-contained trailer or cart, that can be moved to different locations throughout the day.
Mobile bars often allow couples to BYO drinks while the company organises staff, fridges, glassware and the clean-up.
"It's a very convenient service," Ms Hagopian said.
As dry as a bone
Pros and cons of an alcohol free wedding:
Pros: no headaches the next day, and it's a very cost-conscious option, with the couple often just paying for tea, coffee and soft drinks
Cons: unless you have fun, sober friends and family, there may not be much of a dance floor
There's no rule dictating that alcohol must be served at a wedding but guests may be disappointed to learn that they can't bend an elbow at the bar.
Ms Hagopian said that brunch may be a good time of day for a dry wedding, where guests will likely want to stick to tea, coffee and juice.
The reception planner recommended that the bride and groom keep their bridal party small for a brunch wedding.
"You have fewer people getting ready in the morning, the bride can then take her time because she's the only person getting hair and makeup done," Ms Hagopian said.
Is there a part of your wedding you're struggling to plan? Reach out to journalist Anna Houlahan at anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au, and ACM will look into it.
Anna Houlahan
Anna Houlahan is a journalist for the Courier, dedicated to uncovering the stories that shape the city. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au
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