Sober Celebrations: How to Have a Dry Wedding

Photo of a sober bride and groom about to ride off on their bikes, by Fleming Photo

As another Dry January comes to an end, more and more adults are opting for sobriety as a lifestyle choice, if they weren’t already. But how does this fare when you are planning your wedding, a notoriously boozy celebration? You might already be comfortable with the idea of an AF party but what about your guests who still love a good drink ESPECIALLY at a weding? I mean, the 2 things go hand in hand, right?

Here’s the thing, you want it to be a night to remember, and there's absolutely no need for alcohol to be involved for it to be an amazing celebration. Having a dry wedding can still be a great experience. Let's take a look at how you can make that happen.

Entertainment and Activities

One of the best parts about having a dry wedding is the chance to plan activities that don’t involve drinking alcohol. Depending on the time of year, there are loads of options to choose from like lawn games available, karaoke, live music, tarot card readings, or even live portrait sessions! Just check out some of the unique options in the ‘Entertainment’ category of our Book Of Love directory. Getting creative with entertainment will help keep people engaged — plus, you won't have to worry about any drunken mishaps happening during the festivities.

A cheeky wedding guests sticking her tongue out at the camera as she sits inside a live portrait booth, Rubbish Portraits.

Non-alcoholic Beverages

It’s important to provide guests with plenty of non-alcoholic beverage options so they have something enjoyable to drink throughout the night. Some delicious ideas include homemade lemonade or spritzers, mocktails, kombucha, or AF beers and wines. Coming from someone who’s just completed Dry January, there are some really tasty options out there! Your guests will appreciate having some yummy alternatives ready for them when they arrive at your reception, and if you choose wisely, they might not even know they are missing out on actual alcohol!

A delicious selection of kombucha drinks in different colours.

Preparing For Any Uncomfortable Questions

When planning an AF wedding, it's likely that some of your guests may ask why there won't be any alcohol served at the event. This is totally understandable — not everyone knows what it means to you have an alcohol-free celebration. That being said, it’s important to think ahead of time about how you’ll respond if those questions come up during the reception or even before then during the planning process. You might want to pre-empt this and manage expectations by saying something in your wedding invitations.

All in all, having a dry wedding doesn't mean compromising on fun — in fact, it could end up being one of the best celebrations ever! Some of your guests may be dubious at first and some might be secretly relieved. Who enjoys that hanxiety feeling the day after a boozy wedding? NO ONE DOES!

With some thoughtful preparation and creative ideas for entertainment and activities, your big day will be memorable for all the right reasons.