Centerpieces

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What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of centerpieces? Typically, the answer is flowers and there's nothing wrong with that, but do something different with them. Ideas include vases of different dimensions, different floral arrangements (don't do the same thing on each table), arrange the flowers in a shape other than a circle or square- like an eiffel tower. It can be something as simple as adding a few drops of food coloring that match your colors to the water, add pearls or fruit such as lemons, oranges, and limes (great for spring and summer weddings) to the bottom, add candles around the arrangement. 

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If you're having a fall wedding, use apples, pumpkins, leaves as a large part of the centerpieces.

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Shells and sand- try colored!- are perfect for a beach themed wedding. 

Interactive centerpieces are great, too. Think about doing a simple cake- a different flavor for each table?- instead of having sheet cakes back in the kitchen. 

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A money saver would be to double the centerpieces as favors. Imagine small, potted plants, or picture frames with different pictures in each.

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For a real conversation starter and something guests will talk about long after the wedding, how about suspended flowers?

Bars, Bars, Bars

Open Bars, also known as a hosted bar, are the most popular and least expensive type of bar. The bride and groom pay for all the liquor and alcohol either in advance (giving a limit to the supply) or post- party.

Cash Bars, also known as a no-host bar. Similar to a nightclub, the guest pays for their own drinks. This is sometimes seen in bad taste or as tacky because you're asking your guests to pay for something at your party but it may also force the guest to limit their alcohol intake- resulting in less drinking and driving afterwards. *Signature drinks are traditionally free with this option*


DIY Bars are just that, do it yourself. You provide basic liquor from a wholesaler- vodka, gin, rum, bourbon, and scotch, a basic red and white wine, one or two popular beers. Also include a few popular mixes- orange and cranberry juices, coke, ginger ale, and tonic. Check with your local liquor store, most will take back unopened bottles. Remember, it's better to have too much and return leftovers after the wedding than to have to little and to make an emergency run/s for more. As a DIY you will also need to provide a bartender- check with your venue for license requirements, assorted glasses, bar  towels, swizzle sticks, cocktail napkins, ice buckets, lemons and limes. You may also need consent from the reception venue to provide your own liquor.

Alternative Bars

*Cash Bar with Tickets: the host provides tickets for guests to have a limited number of free drinks and anything beyond that is on the guests' tab.

*Unique Bars such as candy bars, cappuccino and coffee bars, hot chocolate bars, smoothie, milkshake and/or ice cream sundae bars.






*Serve one or two signature drinks- which are traditionally served during the cocktail or dinner hour- if you have more than one you could choose do one drink during cocktail hour and another during your dinner hour.

Limited Bars have a limit on the alcohol selection. Typically, it's just a selection of wine and alcoholic punch.

Other Things to Be Aware Of
*Look into Party Alcohol Insurance. PAI covers the hosts for any damage to the property and in case of drinking related incident lawsuits. The host is required to provide one sober supervisor per 50 people- a bartender fits this bill.
*General etiquette says if there is a dinner hour, the bar is closed. So if you're having a 5 hour reception, the bar is open for 4 hours- unless you set a different time to close the bar.

Average Wichita Wedding Cost Total

According to www.costofwedding.com, the average couple getting married in Wichita, spends an average of $20,215 but it could be anywhere from $15,161 to $25,269 based on things like the number of guests- typically 143-157 and the professionals enlisted to make your day everything you want. The market average in the US is $24,066. In New York City, the average is $29,180.