Over the years of taking weddings, I’ve always had about 1 a year that is ‘dry’. This is now increasing, so I wanted to share some thoughts with you on Dry weddings
Why some couples choose a dry wedding
More and more couples in the UK, especially younger, values-led, or culturally/multi-faith couples, are choosing alcohol-free weddings. So don’t feel like it’s ‘not the done thing’. Maybe they don’t drink, or their faith asks them to forgo it. Maybe they want a more inclusive day where all guests, including non-drinkers or those in recovery, feel welcome. Or they might simply want to keep costs down and invest the savings into things that feel more meaningful: atmosphere, food, music, memories. The one thing they all have in common is they don’t forget that ‘non-drinkers aren’t just children’ and only serve juice! (Read on for inspiration)
A study of UK wedding-goers shows that around a quarter of guests don’t drink at weddings, which is up from a few years ago – and I have seen it first hand.
As a celebrant specialising in inclusive weddings for mixed faith, neurodivergent couples, international couples and fusion weddings, I love seeing how this shift is reshaping what people expect from a ‘traditional celebration, ‘ because it’s only ‘traditional’ to you. It might not be someone else’s tradition or their version of a ‘normal wedding’. I mean.. Really – in the global world we live in now, ‘normal’ is a very grey area or… a vibrant colourful one! You choose!
But the worry that comes with it? Well here are a couple of worries I hear.
‘Does a dry wedding mean a dull wedding?’
Absolutely not.
“But what about the party, the fun, the energy?”
Well when you focus on connection, atmosphere and intention, and not booze, you get real, present energy. It’s so brilliant for me as a celebrant designing the ceremony too! I don’t always know it’s a dry wedding, as for me, I have never needed to ask if they are drinkers or not, knowing it’s a dry wedding it gives me so much more scope to make a bigger fuss of the energy because the couple know that every moment is special…won’t be forgotten by the end of the night! Great music seems to get elevated, dancing is a must, and good food takes on another level of taste! Speeches are heartfelt, and the day is so creative and engaging that ‘the designated driver’ is not a thing! One way to engage those that would usually drink is to showcase how amazing mocktails or themed drinks can be – giving them space for joy without needing alcohol.
“Guests expect a drink or two. Won’t they feel cheated?”
This is where forward planning and communication is key! For some, if a ‘dry wedding’ is your ‘Normal’ then you won’t need to be go above and beyond sharing the fact that it is alcohol free, but if like my couples tend to have, a guest list of friends and family, neighbours and colleagues, everyone’s ‘normal’ will probably look different, so It’s really helpful to decide early on that your wedding is alcohol free… and when you do – watch the budget open up!!
So you communicate early and clearly. Put it on the invitation if you want, welcome notes, ‘Mocktail hour menu’, signage, and especially your website. Your loved ones and guests will adjust their expectations. Many appreciate knowing ahead, and some even find a sober wedding more refreshing and inclusive.
A wedding without alcohol will be expensive and mess-free, but it might feel… cheap?
Actually, the opposite. I mentioned the budget already, and without alcohol bar bills you can really go to town on a mocktail bar and the person who is always the designated driver will love you! Or of course, you can reallocate budget into beautiful décor, a second photographer, incredible live music (Ceremony, and after), gourmet food and other wonderful things. It truly makes the energy so much more ‘present’ and the guest experience will be so much more memorable that it might have been at a boozy wedding!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking a boozy wedding!
I do love a glass of bubbly, a beautiful wine and a strong espresso martini, but as someone who is usually the designated driver, it’s so nice to get offered more than just a soda or a juice!
Speaking of a glass of bubbly: “How will we toast? Champagne, speeches — won’t it feel odd with juice or water?”
‘Toasts’ were originally a 17th-century English custom of placing an actual piece of sourced bread (toast) into a drink to give it flavour. It then evolved into referring to someone in particular, so you’d use their name to celebrate the ‘flavour’. Today, it’s about raising a glass for celebration or honour for someone or something special. It’s not about ‘the drink’ itself anymore, but the occasion or the person, so a sparkling non-alcoholic drink, a special mocktail or even just whatever is in your glass at the time – it’s getting on your feet (sometimes) and lifting your thoughts to that moment. It’s symbolic and joyful, regardless of what is in the glass. So, creativity wins out every time!
Will people still come if it’s a dry wedding? What if some guests just don’t come because there’s no booze?
Well, that might possibly be the case, and well, quite frankly, you’d might want to think about saying goodbye to them in your life if they turn their wedding invite down for this reason, but you will find the opposite is the case – many will stay. Trends show that more people now prefer sober or low-alcohol lifestyles, especially younger generations (I realise that makes me sound old!) but..tbh… it’s less pressure all round!
But don’t take my word for it! The wedding I took in early autumn was ‘a dry wedding’ and it was so joyful! I spoke to the couple about it, and we discussed their concerns and here is a summary of the question :
What makes a dry wedding truly special?
1. Inclusivity & respect
A dry wedding welcomes everyone — friends who don’t drink for religious, health or personal reasons. They might be ‘expectant’, there might be people in recovery, and there might be those who want to drive home. There is no pressure, just celebration.
2. Intentional joy & connection
Without alcohol, people remember the moments – even at the end of the night! The laughter, the speeches, the dancing, the hugs, the meaningful conversation – it’s all remembered! Memories stay sharp. So .. I suppose there is a bit of pressure to make goods one lol – but that’s regardless of alcohol! Just normal wedding pressure, isn’t it!
3. Budget-savvy & creative freedom
The money saved on drinks can go towards what really matters to you: music, décor, venue ambience, photography, food, novelty interactive things like photo booths, or even a honeymoon.
4. Beautiful for photos & story-telling
Weddings may be more grounded on purpose – what the couple truly values – often capture more heart, more sincerity, more connection. As a celebrant and storyteller, those are the weddings I love to be part of, and if you have been following me for a while, you will know these heart felt weddings are the ones I love, and the couples are also those who think about marriage preparation as well as wedding planning… but more on my Marriage prep in another blog!
So that you have a little ‘take home’ here are some Tips for Couples Considering a Dry Wedding
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Communicate early and clearly— on invites, on your website, in any “what to expect” notes.
- Invest in atmosphere — good music, creative mocktails, thoughtful décor, interactive moments.
- Make it social-friendly — your guests don’t need alcohol to dance, laugh, or cry. They need connection.
- Celebrate what matters — your values, your love, your shared vision, and the people you love most.
In short
A dry wedding doesn’t mean a lesser celebration. It simply means a celebration that reflects your values of love, respect, inclusivity, clarity, and intention. It also helps you focus on design, too – which I love as well!
It’s real, it’s alive, it’s you, And trust me… that kind of magic doesn’t come from alcohol. It comes from heart, from truth, from what you bring to the day, and, even if I do say so myself, the Ceremony is the perfect way to start that, and to set the intention of a wonderful time together!
If you’re curious about a dry wedding, or want to talk about how to make it beautiful, meaningful, and absolutely magical, then message me and let’s have a call!
With warmth and wonder,
Helen x
Celebrant of Surrey
