Planning a wedding bar that actually works for non-drinkers

Whether it's a sober guest, a pregnant one, a designated driver, or a couple choosing not to drink themselves, most wedding guest lists include people who won't be drinking alcohol, and the bar setup often reflects that as an afterthought rather than a real option.

Build a real mocktail menu

A signature mocktail, given the same presentation and naming treatment as the alcoholic signature drinks, signals that non-drinking guests were considered rather than left with plain soda water.

Stock more than soda

• Sparkling water with fresh fruit or herbs
• Non-alcoholic beer and wine options, widely available now and much improved from a few years ago
• A mocktail version of whatever your signature cocktails are

For a fully alcohol-free wedding

The same principle applies at a bigger scale: variety and presentation matter more than the absence of alcohol itself. A well-designed non-alcoholic drink menu, served with the same care as a full bar, rarely leaves guests feeling like they're missing anything.