So it's time to decide on the alcohol for your big day, but where do you start? That is an extremely good question and it may lead even the steadfast teetotallers to drink. JR investigates the options.

The venue will play a big part in your decision making. If you are holding your wedding reception at a function centre do you have use of their bar facilities, or is there an option for you to provide your own alcohol? Your next choice will be to decide if you are going to have open bar, a limited bar (for example serving beer and wine only), a cash bar, a host bar or maybe even NO bar at all! Oh boy!

If you have selected an outside reception venue in a park remember to check if it's  licensed for the consumption of alcohol. Do you need to obtain a licence? As an alternative you could always serve none alcoholic drinks such as pink lemonade, ice teas, fun fruit punches and non alcoholic cocktails.

A traditional Champagne toast can cost anywhere between $5 - $15 per person! And its not just the cost of the drinks, champagne flutes are often a forgotten item on the budget. Why not try punch, sparkling rose or even create your own signature cocktail.

The cost of the alcohol will depend upon where you purchase it from - the local bottle/wine shop, direct from the cellar door or a liquor wholesaler. Keep an eye out for bargains and advertising specials. If you want to order online and have door-to-door delivery the Wine-Searcher web site is a good place to start. 

The big questing is how much alcohol you will need to provide. This will depended on the time of day and of course the number of guests attending. How many of them drink? Will there be any children? There are some very handy alcohol calculators online that come to the rescue.
• The Real Simple wine the liquor calculator
• Alcohol Guest Consumption Calculator

No matter what you choose always remember to serve water and soft drinks.