'Dry Weddings': 10 Tips to make it enjoyable for all your guests

‘Dry Weddings’: 10 Tips to make an alcohol-free reception enjoyable

Sarah Khan

02 Feb 2018

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Dry Weddings: 10 Tips to make it enjoyable for all your guests
Throwing a 'dry wedding' reception on your special day and want to make it enjoyable for all your guests? Scroll through for our expert tips on how to make a dry wedding a fun and memorable experience for everyone.
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Choose an interesting or enjoyable venue that doesn’t offer alcohol
Surprise, surprise: some of the most fun and beautiful venues you can opt for your wedding do not allow for alcohol! These include parks, cafes, lakes, amusement parks and more. Hosting your wedding at - or near- such a setting creates an atmosphere that is already enjoyable in itself for your wine-partial guests.
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Opt for a morning or daytime ceremony
The earlier hours of the day are a great window to throw a dry wedding reception. After all, your guests are less likely to expect (or crave) a drink at this time of day! There are many lunch or brunch receptions available across hotels and restaurants in the city, so take your pick!
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Set up a bar (or two) serving non-alcoholic drinks
All the mingling, socialising (and hopefully a little dancing!) might make your guests thirsty. A bar serving a mix of non-alcoholic sodas, juices, iced teas, waters, fruit punches, hot beverages and even mocktails will keep everyone happy and hydrated.
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Create a ‘signature’ wedding mocktail
To keep things celebratory, consider concocting a 'signature mocktail' specially for your wedding with your caterers. It can be a blend of flavours symbolic of you and your partner's personalities, and you can even get creative with the name! The wedding servers can pass the drink around throughout the reception. Serve it in a pretty glass or with a fun garnish and you'll certainly set the tone for a fun, enjoyable wedding reception.
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Throw a themed wedding
Consider planning your wedding reception around a theme - like a 'beach side party', for instance - and organising events related to the theme, like a barbecue, beach games and more. These activities will keep your guests busy and highly-entertained, so much so that your non-teetotal and non-Muslim friends won't even miss the alcohol!
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Hire a good MC and DJ
To keep things upbeat and celebratory, hire a good MC and/or music DJ. The right host and the perfect music set is able to engage your guests with humour, entertain them with songs that they will all appreciate and move the reception along smoothly. We can't emphasise how important finding a good host can make or break your wedding atmosphere!
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Entertain your guests with fun games, activities and even prizes
You can even plan a few fun games and activities with your MC. If your wedding reception is fairly large, it's only natural that your guests will only mingle within their tables or social circles. As such, organising fun activities is a great way to involve everyone and bring them together. Throw in a photobooth station and you know your guests will have a ball of a time there. Can't lie - it'll definitely create a fun atmosphere on your special day!
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A great variety of food and desserts
Here's a truth: good food - and lots of it, with plenty or choices to choose from - is a surefire way to please anyone. Have a generous spread of desserts and finger food, on top of the mains, to keep your guests well-fed and happy throughout your reception.
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Lastly, inform your guests beforehand
If the fact you (and your family) don't drink is not usual in your circle of friends, give your guests a heads-up before they arrive - either personally or on your wedding website or e-invite.

Dry Weddings: 10 Tips to make it enjoyable for all your guests

The truth is, you can still have a fun wedding reception without the alcohol! Here’s how.

For many, the thought of weddings and no alcohol might seem like (gasp!) wedding blasphemy.

But over here in Southeast Asia, ‘dry weddings’ are a lot more common than in other parts of the world, typically for religious reasons.

For one, if you’ve ever attended a Muslim wedding (whether its a Malay-Muslim or Indian-Muslim one), you’ll find that it’s a cultural norm to not have any alcohol at the wedding.

Although we’d like to think that the scrumptious food makes up for the lack of booze, the idea of an alcohol-free wedding can initially take some getting used to, especially for your guests who are used to enjoying a tipple (or two) during weddings to soak up the merriment.

So if you’re having a ‘dry wedding’ reception on your special day, but still want a ceremony that your your non-Muslim and non-teetotal friends can still enjoy, fret not. Contrary to its rather uninspiring name, a dry wedding can still be fun – if you know how!

From creating a ‘signature’ mocktail for your ceremony to throwing a themed wedding, browse our tips to throw a fun ‘dry wedding’ you and your guests will love in the gallery above.

Sarah Khan

Photos: Getty Images

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