| During the years I spent tending bar at wedding | | | | soda approximates the taste and texture of a wine |
| receptions in Louisiana and Maryland, I learned an | | | | cooler. |
| interesting point about alcohol: nobody ever buys the | | | | Vodka: |
| right amount. They buy either too much or too little. | | | | Who will drink it: your friends; your college roommate; |
| Some couples expect their guests to restrain | | | | your white trash cousin, who still thinks mixing it with |
| themselves in the presence of free booze, and are | | | | energy drinks is hip |
| sadly misinformed. Others anticipate a swinging party | | | | You should buy a lot if: your white trash cousin's |
| that never materializes. Neither misconception is | | | | bringing a date; you're sure the party's going to |
| necessarily the fault of the couple. They're excited, | | | | swing. |
| and assume their enthusiasm will rub off on their | | | | Good brands to buy: Absolut, Smirnoff, Stolinachya. |
| guests. But that's not always possible, through no | | | | Rum: |
| fault of their own. Little things like bad weather can | | | | Who will drink it: Your fiancé's Uncle Bob, who |
| also ruin the "vibe" that makes a party light up. On | | | | likes to tell people about his fishing trips and condo in |
| the other hand, sometimes the crowd gets crazy | | | | Florida; your friends from high school |
| and the booze goes too quickly. You can't predict the | | | | You should buy a lot if: your friends are watching |
| future. | | | | their weight but are still alcoholics-in-training. |
| As I said in the article on reception planning, though, | | | | Good brands to buy: Bacardi White and Dark; Captain |
| there's a rule of thumb to follow when planning your | | | | Morgan, Malibu |
| food and beverage service that's if anything more | | | | By the way: if you offer rum, double stock the diet |
| important when considering the amount of alcohol to | | | | sodas, for the really weight conscious partiers. Also, |
| have on hand at your reception. It's really simple, too: | | | | make sure you've got lime garnishes. |
| The wedding is for you and your beloved. The | | | | Gin: |
| reception is for your guests. | | | | Who will drink it: your grandparents; your little sister's |
| With that in mind, here's a few ideas about how to | | | | hipster boyfriend |
| anticipate who'll want to drink what. Some of this is | | | | You should buy a lot if: you're holding the reception |
| based on generalizations and stereotypes, yes. But | | | | during the 1920's. |
| when it comes to alcohol, most bartenders will tell | | | | Otherwise, one bottle is more than enough. |
| you that stereotypes are largely true. The "good | | | | Good brands to buy: Tanqueray, Bombay Sapphire |
| brands to buy" tab refers to medium-range spirits | | | | Tequila: |
| that can be bought in large amounts without having | | | | Who will drink it: only the brave; your other college |
| to pawn your kidneys. The occasional By the Way | | | | roommate |
| information is just trivia and lore, the kinds of things | | | | You should buy a lot if: you're planning a summer or |
| good bartenders sometimes explain as they make | | | | beach wedding andoffering blender drinks; mass |
| your drink. | | | | vomiting is your idea of a happy reception memory. |
| Beer: | | | | Good Brands to Buy: Jose Cuervo, Herradura |
| Who will drink it: your friends from high school; your | | | | By the way: for those summer/beach weddings, |
| dad; your co- workers | | | | consider serving moderate Tequila Sunrises, a tasty |
| You should buy a lot for: larger receptions, or events | | | | concoction of tequila, orange juice, and grenadine |
| lasting into the night. | | | | (cherry juice). It's a good alternative to the mess and |
| Good brands to buy: Budweiser, Coors Light, Miller | | | | noise of the blenders. |
| Lite, Corona | | | | A note about purchasing your booze: Underline this |
| By The Way: Imports are classy but expensive, and | | | | paragraph, because I mean this with complete |
| almost no one will refuse free domestic beer. | | | | seriousness: don't get jerked around by a liquor |
| White Wine: | | | | vendor. Most of them are honest. But some aren't, |
| Who will drink it: your mom and her friends; your | | | | and will try to bully you into purchasing unnecessary |
| college instructors | | | | mixers and garnishes you don't need. You know your |
| You should buy a lot if: your reception is outdoors or | | | | guests and reading this article means you've done |
| in the spring or fall. | | | | research, so don't let a dishonest businessman take |
| Good Brands to Buy: Turning Leaf, Penfold's, Benziger | | | | money out of your reception budget. It's your |
| Red Wine: | | | | wedding, not a chance for someone to make easy |
| Who will drink it: your dad's friends and the guests | | | | cash from his distracted customers. |
| you don't know | | | | A note about mixers: when deciding what mixers to |
| You should buy a lot if: you serve steak at the | | | | include, don't get fancy. Simply serving cola, diet cola, |
| reception dinner. | | | | lemon-lime soda, and perhaps iced tea will satisfy |
| Good Brands to Buy: Beringer's Pinot Noir, Los Vascos | | | | 99% of guests. You might also consider getting |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | | | | bottles of orange juice and cranberry juice, and |
| White Zinfandel: | | | | perhaps some lemon sour mix (sometimes referred |
| Who will drink it: anyone impressed by the box it's | | | | to as Collins Mix) to mix with the booze. Just about |
| packaged in | | | | half the cocktails in a bartender's retinue will include |
| You should buy a lot if: you don't expect a gift from | | | | some mixture of alcohol with orange juice, cranberry |
| many of the guests, or if your family and friends | | | | juice, or lemon sour mix combined together. By the |
| aren't much for drinking. | | | | way: if you're living above the Mason Dixon line, add |
| Good brands to buy: any of the larger boxes | | | | a bottle of ginger ale to this list. |
| By the way: mixing white zinfandel with lemon-lime | | | | |
