1.  Know your guests.  Don’t get blinded by your own preferences; know what they like to drink.  If offered a full range of cocktails in addition to beer and wine, will most of your guests just want bottles of light beer?  If you buy three kegs of beer, will most guests be drinking cocktails all night?   Do you have connoisseur friends or relatives who will turn their noses at “bargain” wines?  

2.  Don’t go overboard on champagne.  Most guests will only put down one glass, or partial glass,  for the toast.  Some people don’t even like champagne. For many, the toast will be plenty, and only a small percentage will want more after that.  Keep in mind also that a serving of champagne is smaller than a standard pour of wine, only about 3 oz., instead of 4 to 5 oz.  So you can get more servings per bottle than with regular wines.   

3.  Bottle size.  The last thing you want to come home to after the honeymoon is 5 opened  bottles of two-week old wine, well on its way to vinegar.  Unopened wine and liquor bottles are returnable to the PA state liquor stores, so buy more smaller bottles (.75 liters) rather than fewer large bottles (1.75 litres).  While prices are lower per once in larger bottles, the savings will be in your favor when you get to return entire bottles of unneeded liquor and wine.  

4.  Kegs can be a cost saving option if your party will be large enough to go through it all.  Also know that many beers are available in 5 gallon kegs, rather than the usual 15 gallons, making them more manageable.  

5.  PA state Wine/liquor stores have monthly sales on different brands.  In the months leading up to your wedding or party, stop in once a month and pick up their sales guide.

6.  Instruct your bartenders or caterers not to open more bottles than you will need.  Sometimes for speed, caterers will pre-open all the champagne, so they can pour and serve the toast quickly when that time comes.   I’ve seen  a bride and groom trying to figure out what to do with 10 opened champagne bottles after their guests have all left.  

7.  Consider innovative ideas like offering a mimosa toast (half champagne, half orange juice), especially if the wedding is earlier in the day.  

8.  It’s unnecessary to overwhelm your guests with choices- that’s a good way to have leftovers.   They’re your friends, they aren’t going to complain about free drinks.  [Your new mother-in-law, on the other hand…]

9.  Rather than offering a full cocktail bar, which means buying a wide variety of liquor, offer a few popular drinks, like rum and coke, gin and tonic, and vodka and cranberry.    Also consider offering just one signature cocktail, maybe something that is part of the story of your relationship, or the theme of your party.  This will make your event more memorable.