Self Service Party Drinks Bar - Party Ideas by a Pro

the idea

Set up a self-service bar at the entrance with pre-mixed or ready to pour drinks that guests can all help themselves to on arrival

party drinks dispensers on an event bar table

pink party drinks served in milk bottles next to a drinks dispenser on a party bar table

the how

Batch-make cocktails and serve in large drinks dispensers or carafes for guests to pour themselves
Alternatively, portion ‘grab-and-go’ cocktails into milk bottles or mason jars and display in ice buckets
For traditional drinks, such as wine, beer, and Champagne, leave these chilling in ice buckets / on tables alongside glasses for guests to pour themselves
Add some wow-factor with a freestanding Champagne/cocktail wall or tabletop stand (see below)

party drinks served in milk bottles in a crate

the why

welcome area décor & activities

Welcoming; you can’t always greet everyone on arrival, but you can still give them a warm welcome
Efficient; free’s up the host to mingle and enjoy the party rather than monitor the door
Acknowledgement; ensures guests still get a proper reception and feel acknowledged on arrival
Orientation; helps guests know what to do and where to go next (useful in venues)
Informative; time saving way to communicates practical information regarding cloakrooms, bathrooms, table plan, guest book, gift/card table, and the event’s social media hashtag
Flow; diffuses crowds, prevents bottlenecks, and helps manage flow when multiple guests arrive at once by giving them multiple things to engage with
Ice breaker; allow guests to ease in with a few activities before walking into a room full of people
Introductions; allows guests who don’t know many people or are arriving alone to connect with others before entering
Conversation-starters; funny, creative, or quirky welcome activities give guests things to discuss
Atmosphere; a few initial activities, party favors, or photo ops immediately creates atmosphere

champagne glasses on a boxwood hedge champagne wall with a cheers neon sign

rows of champagne glasses filled with champagne on a stand

champagne glasses filled with champagne displayed on an acrylic tabletop display stand

champagne glasses filled with champagne displayed on an acrylic champagne wall display stand

the why

this idea

Service; gets a first drink into guests’ hands without them having to wade through to the bar
Creative; allows you to create a signature drink for your event for all guests to try on arrival
Time-saving; batch-making and/or portioning drinks in advance saves time when party starts
Budget-saving; let’s you limit the quantity and/or control portion size of more expensive drinks i.e one glass of champagne for all guests on arrival then main bar just offers wine and beer
Prevents congestion; reduces line for the main bar so it’s not overwhelmed by everyone wanting a drink as soon as they arrive
Professional; consideration of guest experience and attention to detail lends an air of professionalism

party drink jars filled with juices on a self-service mimosa bar

ADVICE FROM A PRO

Matt’s tip

“A self-service welcome drinks bar can be a great way stretch your budget.

Many professional events proudly display bottles of their finest wine or champagne next to trays of drinks as guests arrive to create a good first impression. Then, later in the event, when guests are less attentive / discerning and glasses are topped up by waiters, they’ll switch to less premium brands to save on budget (notice how there’s often a napkin wrapped around the neck of the bottle when they pour, which just so happens to hide the label?!).

So, if budget is tight, reserve your most fancy drinks for the first one on arrival then switch to something cheaper later. Guests will appreciate—and be more aware of—the quality of their drinks at the beginning.

Similarly, you might want to create a special signature cocktail that involves multiple ingredients and garnishes, which might otherwise be too involved to whip up from scratch once the party is underway. So, batch-make these in advance and serve in drinks containers with pre-garnished glasses.

Alternatively, portion these in advance with milk bottles or mason jars and leave them chilling in ice buckets with some custom straws or labels for decoration.

If you want to make a big first impression, check out the new range of more affordable champagne/cocktail walls and stands below.”

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