A wedding without alcohol is like fish without chips. Or is it?

Many couples are rethinking the culture of boozy weddings, and for good reason. More and more wedding guests are swapping their wines for cokes, whether they’re tee-totalers, Dry January participators who never went back, or simply casual drinkers who would rather avoid the headache the next day.

And then, of course, you’ve got the married couple who are statistically more likely to be sober than ever before in recent history. In 2022, an astonishing 11% of UK couples hosted a dry wedding.

Slowly but surely, the UK is learning that weddings can be just as lovely, vibrant, and memorable, sometimes even moreso, when alcohol is nowhere to be seen.

Why Couples Choose Sober Weddings

It goes without saying that the vast majority of sober weddings are held by couples who are sober themselves. Some struggle to be around alcohol, so removing this from the equation was never a question for them. For example, following alcohol rehab and/or an alcohol detox, many people feel too vulnerable to be exposed to drinking in such a big way, and they would prefer to avoid temptation where possible.

Others are comfortable around drinking, but want their special day to reflect their values, so they may choose to not have alcohol for this reason. Sometimes this comes from a religious perspective, other times it’s linked to health, spirituality, or personal beliefs.

The final group are couples who drink alcohol yet still choose to have a sober wedding. If they are aware that sober guests will be attending, they may make this empathetic decision to ensure everyone at the wedding feels comfortable and valued. Given one quarter of UK wedding guests prefer to not drink on someone’s big day, it’s becoming increasingly tempting for couples to opt for this style of wedding.

Even with no sober guests present, couples may host a sober wedding for reasons such as:

Wanting to remember the day
Saving money
Reducing social pressure
Putting health first

Ultimately, sober weddings are not just for people in recovery, or people whose loved ones are battling addiction. They are for anyone who wants to avoid making alcohol a key factor in their celebrations.

Real-Life Sober Wedding Inspiration

Newlyweds Fleur and Jia, from London, were kind enough to tell us all about their sober wedding experience. We hope this inspires anyone who is considering this approach.

“We weren’t sure at first”, says Fleur. “All we’ve ever known at weddings is alcohol, and we only recently went sober, so we felt guilty not providing that option”.

“We did consider offering alcoholic drinks to begin with”, adds Jia, “but then we kind of just sat down and thought about what our dream wedding would look like, and alcohol obviously wasn’t involved. So that was that really.”

Makes sense! Now, on tips they’d give to couples planning a sober wedding?

“Tell people beforehand”, advises Jia. “It’s best for them to know what’s coming. And get creative with ideas to make sure everyone still has fun.”

“I agree with that”, says Fleur. “We put our energy into things like amazing mocktails, a brilliant DJ, and various games to keep people entertained. Most of all, try not to worry about what people think. It’s your day, and anyway, a sober wedding can be just as fun. We proved it!”

How to Plan a Memorable Sober Wedding

The good news is you’re already halfway there; removing alcohol means people are much more likely to actually remember what happened on your wedding day. In terms of keeping the entertainment next-level, why not try:

Wedding reception games
Unique sober mocktail “bar”
Themed menus
Karaoke
Choreographed dances
Board or video games
A quiz

Don’t put pressure on yourself to make every single second stand out, but injecting some creativity into your plans will keep the night lively despite the lack of alcohol.

What are the Benefits of Sober Weddings?

Making memories. When your guests aren’t drinking, they’re able to be present at your wedding, and make memories that aren’t clouded by alcohol.

Saving money. With many modern weddings offering open bars, having a sober wedding can cut costs significantly.

Avoiding conflict. Alcohol is one of the biggest triggers for conflict at weddings, and taking it out of the picture can reduce stress and prevent disagreements from escalating.

Tips for Guests of Sober Weddings

If you’ve been invited to a sober wedding, it’s natural to feel stumped. Here are some tips for managing any concerns and having an incredible time.

Don’t pry. It’s natural to want to ask questions, and if you’re close to the couple, we’re not saying you have to keep your mouth shut. However, avoid immediately jumping to personal questions as soon as you’ve got the invite, and making the lack of alcohol the focal point.

Take the time to enjoy the moment with your friend or family member, and show through your actions (or words) that you respect their decision to have a sober wedding.

Come with no expectations. If you build up a sober wedding in your mind, you could either find yourself disappointed, or spend unnecessary time dreading the wedding that you actually end up loving.

Every wedding is unique, so try to arrive with minimal expectations, and stay curious about how the night will unfold.

Get involved in the fun. If there are plenty of activities to get involved with, doing so is the best way to immerse yourself into the experience and ensure it’s a memorable night.

Take care when choosing the wedding gift. This one may sound obvious, but plenty of people have tripped up and bought an alcohol-based wedding gift out of habit. Take care with this; unless you know the couple does drink, it’s best to avoid this kind of present.

How to Handle Inquisitive Guests

There’s nothing wrong with guests being curious about your sober wedding, but it can get draining.

To avoid having the same conversation over and over again, you may decide to include a thoughtful explanation within your wedding invitations. Don’t feel you need to get more personal than you feel comfortable with, but a brief explanation can go a long way in preventing endless questions.

To get guests excited for the wedding, you could even give a demo of what’s to come, promoting your mocktail menu or listing some activities that will be taking place.

Though it’s unlikely for guests to become hostile in response to the sober wedding invitation, if this does happen, please remember to put yourself first and set boundaries. You do not owe anyone a wedding with alcohol, nor do you owe them an in-depth discussion of why you made this decision.

The chances are, your loved ones have your best interests at heart, and will be thrilled to see you’re having the wedding of your own choice, and no one else’s.