Responsible Alcohol Management at Your Alexandria MN Wedding Venue

At Adler Ranch, many couples in Alexandria, MN, opt to include alcohol as part of their wedding celebration. We’re sharing some key tips for planning the perfect wedding bar for your Adler Ranch Wedding. These tips will help ensure it’s both enjoyable, well-organized, and reduces liability for you and your guests. Managing alcohol at your wedding is all about striking a balance between celebration and responsibility. By making thoughtful choices and setting clear guidelines, you can ensure that your big day is remembered for the love, laughter, and joy it brings—not for any unintended mishaps.

Liability Insurance Is Essential for a Successful Adler Ranch Wedding

At Adler Ranch, managing alcohol responsibly is a key part of ensuring your wedding is safe and memorable. That’s why planning your wedding bar starts with liability insurance. Adler Ranch, like most venues requires, all couples to purchase wedding insurance, including liability coverage. This is important not just for you, but also for any vendors working on our property, as we expect them to act professionally and responsibly throughout your event. We recommend Indemn Insurance Company for liability insurance, which also offers cancellation insurance for added protection and peace of mind.

Tips for Managing Alcohol at Your Wedding

Delay the Bar Opening for a More Balanced Celebration

One effective way to manage alcohol consumption at your wedding is to delay the bar opening until after the ceremony or even wait until the reception begins. By doing this, you create a more structured timeline for when drinks are available, helping to prevent guests from drinking too early in the day. This not only ensures that your ceremony remains the focus, but it also sets a relaxed and steady pace for alcohol consumption throughout the evening.

The 'No Shot' Rule

Consider implementing a no-shot rule, even if your venue doesn’t require it. You want your wedding to be memorable for the right reasons. Exceptions could be made for special family or team traditions, but avoiding shots generally helps control the event. At Adler Ranch, we don’t serve shots, or ‘neat’ drinks, everything is provided with a mixer.

Specialty Drinks

If a full open bar isn’t in your budget, consider offering one or two specialty drinks. Rename your favorite drink with a fun, personalized name and arrange for your bar provider to have the ingredients ready. Display a sign explaining the drink, along with a non-alcoholic option for those who prefer it.

Host a Keg, Beer or Wine and then Switch to Cash Bar:

Providing one free keg, or offering beer and wine all night with a “when it’s gone, it’s gone” approach can also be a budget-friendly option. Switching to a cash bar is a great way to manage costs while still making alchol available to your guests.

Close the bar during dinner

Closing the bar during dinner is a simple yet effective way to manage alcohol consumption while giving your event a natural rhythm. When guests are focused on enjoying their meal, they’re less likely to miss the bar being temporarily unavailable. This small pause not only reduces the total number of hours the bar is open but also encourages guests to focus on the dining experience, engaging in conversation and savoring the food.

This break also provides your bartenders with some downtime, allowing them to assist the catering staff or prepare for the post-dinner rush when the bar reopens. It’s a great way to ensure the staff remains efficient and energized while promoting a well-paced and enjoyable evening for your guests. Closing the bar during dinner helps keep the atmosphere balanced, ensuring alcohol isn’t the sole focus throughout the event.

Avoid drinking too much before the wedding

While a mimosa during hair and makeup is fun, heavy drinking in the wedding party suites isn’t the best way to kick off your celebration. Remember the reason you’re here and why you're investing in this special day—to fully enjoy the experience. A big part of that is being able to remember it! Make sure to eat throughout the day, stay hydrated with plenty of water, and if you do have a drink before the ceremony, do so responsibly.

Offer Late-Night Snacks: Serving late-night snacks can help slow down alcohol absorption and keep guests energized, giving them something else to focus on besides drinking. Pizza, sandwiches, or a food truck are great late night options that our couples and guests at Adler Ranch have loved! Ask your venue for suggestions on what has worked well at other weddings, they often have lots of ideas to share!

Include Mocktails at your wedding bar. Including non-alcoholic drinks, or "mocktails," at your wedding bar is a great way to ensure all your guests feel included in the celebration. Whether some guests prefer not to drink or are designated drivers, offering creative and flavorful mocktails provides a fun alternative to traditional alcoholic beverages. You can even match your mocktails to your wedding theme or use fresh, local ingredients for a personalized touch. It’s a thoughtful way to accommodate everyone while still keeping the bar experience lively and enjoyable for all.

Provide Water Stations: Set up accessible water stations or have servers offer water regularly throughout the event. Keeping guests hydrated helps slow down their alcohol intake and keeps the focus on enjoying the event. Consider locating the water so guests can get water without requesting it, and they can also take water with them when they leave.

A Final Note

Weddings are for celebrating, so look for special ways to incorporate fun and joy into your day. But please, don’t be the guest who sneaks drinks from your car in the parking lot. This puts everyone at risk—the couple, the venue, and the bar provider.

In the end, managing alcohol at your Adler Ranch wedding is all about striking a balance between celebration and responsibility. By making thoughtful choices and setting clear guidelines, you can ensure that your big day is remembered for the love, laughter, and joy it brings—not for any unintended mishaps. With careful planning and the support of our trusted bar provider, your wedding will be a safe and unforgettable celebration for everyone involved.

We’d love to tell you more about Adler Ranch! Complete the form for more information, and we can’t wait to meet you and help plan your special day!

Adler Ranch is your dream destination for a truly unique wedding experience. As an independently owned and family-operated ranch wedding venue nestled in the heart of the Alexandria, MN lakes area; we pride ourselves on offering a limited number of weddings each season to ensure every couple receives the personalized attention they deserve. Embracing our roots, we support local businesses and create an inclusive, unconventional wedding venue that stands out from the rest. When you choose Adler Ranch, you're not just booking a venue; you're becoming part of our family and the vibrant Alexandria community. As you plan your wedding we hope you will consider Adler Ranch or another locally owned wedding venue like ours. You can find locally owned wedding venues on this wedding venue map