There’s something wonderfully liberating about a build-your-own wedding bar. It’s like hosting the ultimate house party, except dressed up in fairy lights, surrounded by your favourite people, and tucked inside the charm of a place like Ash Barton. BYOB doesn’t just save money, it gives your wedding weekend personality. Guests can sip drinks that actually feel like you, not a one-size-fits-all package.

But here’s the secret: while a BYOB bar feels casual, the best ones run like a swan gliding across a lake. Calm on the surface. Beautifully organised underneath. With a bit of clever planning, you can create a bar that feels effortless, generous and fun.

Think of this as the roadmap.

Start with the Basics: What Kind of Bar Do You Want?

Imagine your bar like a blank canvas. You can take it in any direction.

The Essentials You’ll Want

• Wine and fizz

• A couple of crowd-pleasing spirits

• Mixers

• Ice

• Beer or cider options

• Soft drinks

From there, build upwards. You might want a signature cocktail, a garnish station or a few local picks from around Devon to add a sense of place.

Work Out Your Quantities

A BYOB bar can feel a bit like packing the car before a holiday. You want enough to relax, not so much that it looks like you’re opening a nightclub.

A gentle rule of thumb for a weekend wedding:

• Wine, one bottle per two guests

• Fizz, one glass per guest for toasts

• Beer/Cider, two to three drinks per guest per hour during peak times

• Spirits, one bottle per 10 to 12 guests

• Soft drinks, plenty. People underestimate these every single time.

If you’re hosting at Ash Barton, remember you’ve got the whole weekend. Guests often have a relaxed drink the night before and something light the morning after.

Create a Bar That Looks Like You

A bar is more than bottles lined up. It becomes part of the wedding backdrop so you want it to feel intentional.

Styling Tips

• Use a wooden crate or vintage box to tier bottles and add height.

• Bring in candles, bud vases or greenery from the grounds.

• Use chalkboard signs for cocktail menus or mocktail stations.

• Have pretty jars or little dishes for garnishes.

It’s a bit like dressing a room. Once everything has a place, the whole setup feels instantly elevated.

Keep It Flowing: Organisation Is Everything

Your future self will thank you for thinking ahead here. A smooth-running bar is built on little systems behind the scenes.

Ice Strategy

Ice melts faster than enthusiasm on a dance floor so treat ice like gold.

• Use cool boxes and refill them regularly.

• Keep one full box back of house as backup.

Glassware or Cups?

You can hire glasses, buy recyclable cups or mix both. If hiring, consider:

• A few hundred wine glasses

• Highballs

• Champagne flutes

Tip: Set up a glass return station so they don’t walk off into the night.

Bottles & Waste

Have discreet bins or crates behind the bar. They’ll fill up faster than you think.

Go Beyond the Drinks

This is where the experience comes alive.

Make a Mini Cocktail Station

Think citrus wheels, herbs, sugars and syrups. Guests love the feeling of “playing bartender.”

Add Something Personal

• A signature cocktail named after your dog, your love story or the place you met.

• A local gin from down the road.

• Homemade limoncello or sloe gin.

Those small touches linger in people’s minds long after the last glass is collected.

Staff or No Staff?

A BYOB bar doesn’t mean you have to do everything yourself. Many couples bring in a couple of bar staff for peak hours. It keeps things tidy and avoids people crowding the space.

If you’re going fully DIY:

• Assign a friend or usher to refill ice

• Keep someone on glass rotation

• Make sure someone cuts more garnishes when needed

It’s like running a small ship and everyone just chips in a little.

Make It Enjoyable for Everyone

The beauty of BYOB is the freedom it gives you, so lean into that spirit.

• Create a help-yourself soft drinks station so nobody has to queue for a water or lemonade.

• Put out a big jug of Pimm’s or sangria early on.

• Offer a few fun non-alcoholic mixes so everyone feels included.

This takes pressure off the bar and gives the whole evening a relaxed, generous feel.

 

End the Night Cleverly

Have a plan for the final stretch:

• Keep a separate box or crate for unopened bottles to take home.

• Have clear bins for recycling.

• Leave water bottles or soft drinks accessible for late-night guests.

It’s like winding down a great party. A tidy finish leaves you feeling calm the next morning.

A BYOB Bar Isn’t Just Practical. It’s Personal.

When guests walk into your bar setup, they’re seeing your tastes, your personality and your celebration style. It’s your stamp on the weekend. With a bit of thought and a few clever tricks, you can create a setup that feels curated, generous and totally you.