Elevate Your Bar Experience (with unMuddled Bartending Company)

Written by Ross Hunt, unMuddled Bartending Company | Feature Photo by Fox + Ivory

You met. You dated. You fell in love. And now, you’re getting married. Congrats! But there’s more to your love story, isn’t there? Details about your journey together that are unique or unforgettable, and maybe a bit quirky or unexpected? Of course there is — and cheers to what makes your bond unique!

At your wedding, everyone you care about will be in one room, for just a few hours. Meaning you have a short time to express what makes your relationship special. Guests don’t want just the “you met, you dated, you fell in love” version of your story. They want to experience those unique, unforgettable, quirky and unexpected aspects! And while there are countless ways to weave those details into your special day, the bar offerings at your wedding allow for surprising opportunities to thoughtfully and creatively demonstrate your love in ways that are memorable, experiential and unique to your personalities. We’re not just talking about a “His and Hers” cocktail menu or custom napkins with your initials on them. Let’s explore genuinely innovative ways to elevate the bar at your wedding and infuse it with elements that are meaningful to you as a couple and endearing to your guests.

COCKTAIL MENU & DRINK NAMES

One of the most impactful ways to personalize your wedding bar is through customized signature cocktails. Work with your bar team to create drinks that express your tastes, preferences, and wedding theme. Consider naming the cocktails after meaningful locations, shared interests or inside jokes. Was your first date at a coffee shop? Serve a twist on an espresso martini and name it “Espresso Ever After.” Did you adopt a dog together? Name a drink after them and hire a graphic designer to incorporate a digital drawing of your pup on the menu. Are you a sober or sober-curious couple? Incorporate at least one elevated mocktail (I promise, you won’t be the only ones thankful there’s an elevated zero-proof option).

THE BRANDS YOU SOURCE

If you have the opportunity to source specific brands for your bar, don’t just opt for the brands that will “impress” your guests. You’ll waste money on markups that no one truly cares about. Instead, as a subtle yet meaningful way to integrate some personal elements, select brands that help reflect you as a couple.

I’ve bartended countless weddings since 2018, and there are several examples of “brand curation” that stand out to me. For the sake of the limited room on this page, I’ll choose just one surprising example. A couple that insisted on serving mostly Hamm’s beer at their wedding. Now, no shade thrown at those who drink Hamm’s, but if you’re familiar with the brand, you probably know it isn’t necessarily known for being the most complex beer on the market. Some (not me, of course) may argue the exact opposite. But Hamm’s is what the couple and all their friends drank in college. So to them, it wasn’t about the complexity or price of the beer; it was nostalgic and a conversation starter. With all their college friends gathered at the wedding, it was fun to see them reminisce about the “good ol’ days” and college memories simply because the couple chose to serve Hamm’s at the bar.

INTERACTIVE BAR EXPERIENCES

My wife would be the first to tell you that I tend to have a difficult time making decisions. Mainly decisions that don’t have major consequences, such as where to go for dinner with friends. What if I pick a place that no one likes? Anyway … before we got married, one of our first dates was to a trendy cocktail bar where they offered a “Dealer’s Choice” menu option. For those unfamiliar, “Dealer’s Choice” is where you outline the taste profile of a drink to the bartender, and the bartender whips up a surprise, custom drink on the spot that’s inspired by what you outline. It’s a super creative way to express hospitality and perfect for those who have difficulty choosing what they want to drink (like me). So naturally, I wanted to offer a “Dealer’s Choice” ordering experience at my wedding! It’s an interactive approach to elevating the bar, prompting guest interaction in a genuine way, while also reflecting our personalities with a charming backstory.

And that’s just one fun example! Some other ideas, you ask? Sure! Craft a DIY cocktail station where guests can mix and match ingredients to create custom drink variations, featuring a variety of your favorite flavors. Or put together a wine-tasting station, where guests can sample wines from destinations you’ve traveled to together, providing the opportunity to learn about the characteristics of the wine while also discovering more about your extensive travels together. Interactive bar experiences not only entertain your guests but also create opportunities for meaningful, memorable interactions, especially when they’re crafted around your quirks and interests.

I’d like to wrap up with a disclaimer: it is not my intention to outline exactly how to elevate and personalize your wedding bar. How could I possibly tell you how to incorporate the personal details of your experience into your bar offerings? Instead, take these examples as inspiration. Think about how some of these ideas may translate into your respective love story and, in turn, how you can curate your wedding bar experience accordingly. Work closely with the bar team at your wedding to bring your vision to life, and create an experience that is as unique and special as your love for each other. There are endless possibilities, and I look forward to seeing what you do with your wedding bar to make it uniquely you.

About the Author

Ross Hunt is the Owner/Chief Cocktail Nerd at unMuddled Bartending Company. After climbing the corporate ladder in consulting and account management, he decided a desk job wasn’t for him. So Hunt said goodbye to that world and jumped into bartending — an industry that allows him to express his creativity and serve others. Fast forward to today, Hunt has converted into a self-proclaimed cocktail nerd and hospitality champion. He has earned credentials as a Certified Executive Bourbon Steward and is a BarSmarts Academy Graduate. He also has earned certifications from the globally recognized Wine & Spirit Education Trust and Tequila Regulatory Council. He continues his education (both formal and informal) by interacting with hospitality professionals and enthusiasts daily.

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