Planning a wedding is an exciting but monumental task. As you think about your catering options, it’s important to think carefully about whether or not to serve drinks at your wedding. There are a lot of pros and cons to consider so make sure to take your time on this decision.

Considering Cost

Serving fancy drinks comes at a cost that you’ll need to plan into your wedding budget. Additionally, you should think carefully through the different options. Having signature gourmet lemonades could be a fun less expensive way to go especially if you have a summer wedding.

Consult with a couple of different drink caterers to find a good fit for you and your budget. You should be aware that some caterers will charge a flat fee for a certain headcount and then you can offer unlimited drinks to your guests. Other vendors will charge per drink which means that your bill could vary.

Serving Alcohol

Alcoholic beverages can be fun, but for the sake of any designated drivers or those who don’t drink, offering alternatives is a thoughtful way to go. At a bare minimum, you should offer water. Having this as an option will help ensure that people are safe—this is especially important for people with car-related careers.

People with professional licenses who are involved in criminal proceedings, like DUI charges, can be reported automatically to licensing boards. This can have major repercussions for them and their work.

Having a Bar

If you do decide to serve alcohol, you need to decide how you are going to serve it. If you and your fiancé aren’t necessarily big cocktail people, you may consider simply having one of your favorite bottles of wine as the optional drink for the night. This will cut costs.

On the other hand, if you want to have a bar, you’ll need to think through how many different drinks to offer. You should also decide if the bar will be open or not. Some people might want to have unlimited free drinks, but you certainly aren’t required to pay for unlimited drinks for everyone.

While the decision of whether or not to serve drinks may seem stressful now, remember that the day will be beautiful regardless of what you decide. You’ll have the people who love you the most surrounding you and they will be happy for you and excited to be there regardless of if you have drinks or not. Choose what you feel most comfortable with and go from there.

Read this next: How to Create a Gorgeous Drape Ceiling for Your Wedding