Okay, so I tackled the wedding beverage menu, and let me tell you, it was a journey! I started by, you know, just brainstorming. I grabbed a pen and paper – old school, I know – and started jotting down every drink that came to mind.
Initial Brainstorm
I had a mix of everything: classic cocktails, wines, beers, even some non-alcoholic options. My initial list looked something like this:
- Margaritas
- Old Fashioneds
- Red Wine (Cabernet? Pinot Noir?)
- White Wine (Chardonnay? Sauvignon Blanc?)
- Local Craft Beer
- Sparkling Cider
- Iced Tea
- Lemonade
It was, frankly, a mess. Too many choices, and no real * I started thinking about the practical stuff.
Narrowing It Down
First, the * went with the local garden, which has some restrictions—no hard liquor, bummer! So bye-bye, margaritas and Old Fashioneds.
Then I considered our guests. We’ve got a mix of wine lovers, beer enthusiasts, and some folks who don’t drink at all. I needed to make sure everyone had something they’d enjoy.
Also I set a budget – didn’t want to blow all our cash on drinks. So I cut down the list, keeping a good variety but avoiding the super pricey stuff.
The Final Menu
After much deliberation, and many, many revisions, here’s what I ended up with:
- Wine: One red (a crowd-pleasing Cabernet Sauvignon) and one white (a crisp Pinot Grigio).
- Beer: A selection of local craft beers – an IPA and a lighter lager.
- Non-alcoholic: Sparkling cider (felt festive!), homemade lemonade, and plenty of iced tea.
I created a simple, handwritten menu on some nice card stock. Nothing fancy, but it looked elegant and matched the overall wedding vibe. I printed a few copies and framed them, ready to be displayed at the bar area.
It was way more work than I anticipated, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. I feel like we’ve got a good balance of options, and it all fits within our budget and venue restrictions.
Now, I’ve checked one big item off my wedding to-do list. Cheers to that!
