Quick Answer
You don't strictly need a bar menu, but it keeps the line moving, because guests decide before they reach the bartender. List your signature drinks first, then beer, wine, spirits and non-alcoholic options. Of the couples who sent us signature drinks this past year, about 5 in 6 listed 2, and about 3 in 4 signature drink signs were 8x10.
The bar is the one place every guest goes, usually more than once. A sign there answers the question they would otherwise ask the bartender, and on a busy night that's the difference between a short line and a long one.
Do you need a bar menu sign at your wedding?
Not always, but we'd recommend one whenever the bar isn't fully stocked. A short, clear menu tells guests what's poured so nobody asks for a cocktail you aren't serving.
| Your bar | The sign | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Beer and wine only | Bar menu | Guests see the choices at a glance |
| Beer, wine and a few spirits | Bar menu | It shows exactly what's poured, and what isn't |
| Signature cocktails plus beer and wine | Bar menu that leads with the signatures, or a double bar sign | The signatures get top billing; the rest is there for anyone who wants it |
| Full open bar, no signatures | An open bar sign, or none | Guests can order anything, so the sign is a welcome, not a menu |
| Signature drinks at their own station | Signature drink sign at that station | The sign belongs where the drinks are |
Bar menu, signature drink sign or both?
One sign does the job at most bars. Of the couples who ordered bar signs from us this past year, nearly 9 in 10 chose a single kind: a bar menu, a signature drink sign, an open bar sign or a double bar sign.
The double bar sign was the most chosen of those, by about 3 in 10 couples. It pairs a large 11x14 panel, with your opening line and names, with a 5x7 panel for the drink list, so it handles both jobs in one design. Like our other signs up to 11x14, it comes with a clear stand.
Two separate signs make sense when you have two bars, a long bar with lines forming at each end, or a cocktail station apart from the main bar.
What should a wedding bar menu list?
Everything guests can order, in the order they'll want to read it:
- Signature cocktails, each with its name and 3 or 4 ingredients.
- Beer, by brand or style.
- Wine, by grape or style: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, sparkling.
- Spirits, by brand if the brands are part of the appeal.
- Non-alcoholic: sodas, juices, mocktails, sparkling water.
On the bar menus we made this past year, the typical list ran to about 20 items, and nearly 9 in 10 included non-alcoholic options. Give each category a short heading and keep each line to a name; garnishes and ice can stay with the bartender.
Ask your caterer or bartender for the final pour list before you send it to us. A menu that names a wine the bar doesn't have creates the very question it was meant to answer. You can order the sign any time and send the drinks about 4 weeks before the wedding.
How many signature drinks should you have?
Two. Of the couples who sent us signature drinks this past year, about 5 in 6 listed two, most often one for each of you. Fewer than 1 in 10 listed one, and about the same listed three.
About 7 in 10 labeled them "His" and "Hers". Your first names work just as well ("Sam's", "Alex's"), and so does a third drink for the two of you. If one of you doesn't drink, make one of the two a mocktail and say so on the sign.
The drinks that came up most were margaritas (classic, spicy and fruit), old fashioneds, spritzes and espresso martinis. Lemon drops and mules followed. Ask your bartender which of yours can be batched ahead: a drink that takes two minutes to build slows the whole line at 8:30 p.m.
Should signature cocktails have cute names?
Name them if you like, but always say what's in them. About 1 in 4 of those couples gave a drink its own name, and nearly all of them put the classic name or the ingredients underneath.
- Name, then the drink: "The First Dance", then Old Fashioned on the line below.
- Name, then ingredients: "Better Together", then bourbon, honey, lemon.
- Keep it to two or three words. Guests say the name out loud to order it.
- Puns on your names or your dog's name land best when the line below tells guests what they're getting.
A guest who doesn't get the joke should still be able to order the drink.
What should the top of a bar sign say?
Something short. Of the couples who chose an opening line for a bar sign, about 1 in 3 picked "The bar" and more than 1 in 4 "Cheers to love". "Drunk in love", "Signature cocktails" and "Our signatures" came next. Your names or wedding date can sit beneath it in smaller lettering.
What size should a bar sign be?
8x10 for a signature drink sign or a short menu, 11x14 for a full bar menu. Both sit on the bar top on the 3-inch clear stand that comes with them.
| Sign | Size | Price | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic bar menu or signature drink sign | 8x10 | $40 | Two or three signature drinks, or a short beer and wine list |
| Acrylic bar menu or signature drink sign | 11x14 | $60 | A full menu, or a long or busy bar |
| Acrylic double bar sign | 11x14 + 5x7 | $85 | An opening line and the drink list in one coordinated pair |
| Linen bar menu or signature drink sign | 18x35 | $95 | A hanging menu behind the bar |
| Linen bar menu or signature drink sign | 18x51 | $115 | A long menu, read from across the room |
About 3 in 4 of the signature drink signs we made this past year were 8x10. Bar menus were closer to an even split, with slightly more at 8x10 than 11x14.
Linen bar signs hang rather than stand, and they don't include a holder; we list the stands and hangers we recommend on our recommended products page. A little more than half of the couples who chose a linen bar menu went with 18x51.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a bar menu sign at a wedding?
It isn't required, but it keeps the bar line moving because guests choose before they reach the bartender. It's most useful when the bar is beer and wine only, limited, or serving signature cocktails.
How many signature drinks should a wedding have?
Two is the most common choice: about 5 in 6 of the couples who sent us signature drinks listed two, usually one for each partner. One or three also work, and a mocktail can be one of them.
Should signature cocktails have cute names?
They can, as long as the sign says what's in them. Put the classic name or the main ingredients under each name, and keep names to two or three words so guests can order them easily.
What size should a wedding bar menu sign be?
8x10 for two or three signature drinks or a short list, and 11x14 for a full bar menu. About 3 in 4 of the signature drink signs we make are 8x10.
When do I need to send my drink list?
About 4 weeks before the wedding. You can order the sign now and send the final drinks once your bar plans are set.
Browse our acrylic bar signs and linen bar signs, and send the drinks when the bar list is final.
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Acrylic and linen bar signs in all four collections. Send the drinks when the bar list is final.
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