How To Add A Personal Touch To Your Wedding And Save Money

James Bond has his "shaken, not stirred" martini. Lorelai Gilmore, her black, strong coffee straight out of the carafe. And Olivia Pope, her "California Oak" wine. These famous characters from the big and small screen each have a signature drink they're known for, one that reflects their personalities. For your upcoming wedding, you can take this same idea, as a way not only to add a personal touch to your big day but also to save.

How much should you spend on a wedding? Regardless of your wedding budget, it can easily feel like 90% of it ends up spent on food and/or drink. The average American spends a not-insignificant amount of money on alcohol each year, which is felt in a whole new way when pricing out wedding- bar options. Signature cocktails (or mocktails), though, can prove a cost-effective, creative way to add personality to your wedding celebration.

While open bars with many drink options for wedding guests can be fun, of course, and cash bars might be the least-expensive option for the couple throwing the wedding, limiting a wedding bar to beer, wine, and themed cocktails might be a better option for those budgets. With some thoughtful planning, you can even provide a luxury experience for your guests without paying top dollar (or letting your lushy second cousin twice-removed have unlimited access to top-shelf bourbon).

Per a 2023 study by The Knot, more than 90% of couples serve alcohol at their weddings, with a nationwide spend average of ~$2,800. The wedding planning website further found that the average alcohol cost for a wedding of 50 or fewer guests was $1,430, while the cost for a wedding of 51 to 100 guests was ~$2,200. That breaks down to $28.60 and $22 per guest for alcohol, respectively.

Offering a signature drink or drinks instead can help you control your alcohol budget, simply by limiting what guests can choose, or what you need to stock for them to select from. For example, speaking to The Knot, wedding expert Joshua Mentrup recommended couples offer two or three craft cocktails, and no more than five. Of course, per-person drink costs will vary by the location, ingredients, and the drinker. But offering one to three signature cocktail options that have limited ingredients, share ingredients, or can be made in bulk ahead of time can help to mitigate big-bar spending.

Couples can also pair their signature cocktail choices with a limited open bar as well (think select beer and wine options), or even a cash bar for guests to pay for their own additional drink choices. Consider this bar compromise as one in a long line of genius money tips married couples can learn together. In the end, so long as guests can raise a glass of something fun to celebrate your love, everyone will be shouting "cheers!"

Renaming a known cocktail in honor of the happy couple is an inexpensive, charming way to add a personal touch to a wedding without adding much to the drink budget. For example, this writer once attended a wedding in Kualoa Ranch on Oahu, where parts of "Jurassic Park" were filmed. Signature tropical cocktails were served and named for different lines from the movie. Similarly, you can name your drinks inspired by personal references your friends and family will understand — and smile at.

Do you and your partner root for opposing sports teams? Do you each have a pet catchphrase? A favorite store? All of these can provide the "signature" for your signature drinks. You can also assign a classic cocktail to "his" and "hers" drinks (or whatever your pairing or gender). A classic margarita and a spicy margarita or bloody Mary and a Moscow mule, for example, both can reflect a couple's dynamic while keeping the same base spirit for both signature drinks. Also, a mocktail version can easily (and cheaply) be made by serving the drink sans alcohol.

With the money you save on your wedding's bar tab, you can spend it on fun garnishes like herb sprigs, dehydrated citrus wheels, or paper umbrellas. You can also advertise your options at the bar with a simple (or illustrated) sign that guests can take pictures of, so that the memories of your wedding stay with them for much longer than their drink at your reception.