Why More Couples Are Saying ‘I Do’ to Dry Weddings

For decades, dry weddings carried a certain stodgy stigma. Guests braced themselves for awkward small talk and early exits, resigned to a night where even the most seasoned DJ couldn’t coax them onto the dance floor. Alcohol, after all, is generally woven into the fabric of weddings, from Champagne toasts and signature cocktails to open bars that signaled abundance and festivity.

But the cultural tide is shifting. As couples plan weddings that more thoughtfully reflect their values, some are rethinking whether alcohol needs to be part of the equation at all. Enter the “dry wedding”—a celebration where the drinks flow freely, none with a drop of alcohol.

A dry wedding is one where alcohol isn’t served (and your BYO flask is frowned upon), whether for religious, cultural, health, or personal reasons. While dry weddings have long been common in some circles—including in Muslim and Mormon communities—they’re now becoming more mainstream among couples who just want a different experience.

Skyrocketing Searches and Sales

According to Breezit, a wedding planning platform, American couples are spending an average of $33,000 on their wedding day, and a growing number of couples are opting out of alcohol to stay more present throughout the day. The company’s data shows that Google searches for “dry wedding” have increased by 85% in the past year, suggesting a growing curiosity (and perhaps a normalization) around the trend.

Event planners are seeing this shift in real time. In 2024, Cedar Lakes Estate in Port Jervis, New York, saw a 457% increase in non-alcoholic beverage sales compared to the previous year, according to co-owner Lisa Karvellas. “And the momentum is not slowing down,” she says. “We are projecting a 56% increase in zero-proof bar package sales this year alone.”

Some popular concoctions the luxury estate and event venue has on offer? “The Cursed Barbie,” made with Seedlip Grove 42, ginger, blood orange, and lime, and the “What the Duck?” featuring fig, honey, lemon, and thyme.

The motivations for cutting out alcohol vary. For some, it’s a matter of faith or family. For others, it’s tied to a broader movement toward wellness and mindfulness.

As one Wedding Wire user put it, “I may have felt like I was having more fun at open bar receptions, but remembering all of my loved ones’ special day made them more enjoyable in the long run.”

Joy Elhert, senior catering sales manager at The Joseph Nashville, sees the surge of dry weddings as the natural result of evolving health trends: “Science and research is ever-evolving, providing exponential resources to us as a community on how to live longer, healthier, and happier. It should come as no surprise that, along with expanding wedding options to accommodate guests with allergies and sensitivities, the popularity of non-alcoholic beverages is on the rise.”

Mindful Drinking and Practical Spending

The rise of dry weddings dovetails with a larger movement toward mindful drinking, or not drinking at all. The total no-alcohol market in the U.S. will be worth close to $5 billion by 2028, according to IWSR drinks market analysis. Bars and restaurants now routinely offer zero-proof cocktails alongside traditional ones, and entire brands have emerged to serve this new market—from Seedlip distilled botanicals to Proxies zero-proof wine alternatives and Pathfinder fermented hemp-based elixirs. In this context, an alcohol-free wedding feels like a natural next step.

It’s also part of a generational shift: younger people are drinking less than their parents did. A 2023 Gallup poll found that only 62% of U.S. adults under 35 say they drink alcohol, compared to 72% in 2001.

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Of course, dry weddings also make financial sense: alcohol can easily add thousands of dollars to a wedding budget, not to mention the drunken speeches, cringey dancing, and next-day hangovers that can overshadow an otherwise lovely weekend.

“We’re seeing more couples choose dry weddings because they want to be fully present and enjoy every moment,” says Jules Miller, the social events manager at Hotel Lilien, a boutique hotel and wedding venue in Tannersville, New York.

Beyond simply eliminating alcohol, Miller has noticed a broader evolution in how hosts think about hospitality. “Couples are becoming much more mindful of guests who don’t drink and want to have fun NA options for them so they aren’t stuck just drinking water or soda.”

Creativity Still Counts

The biggest challenge of a dry wedding is ensuring that guests don’t feel deprived. The event must feel festive and special without an element that’s become so synonymous with a good time. The key, say planners and hospitality pros, is to treat the beverage program with as much care and creativity as you would a traditional bar.

“A dry wedding can feel just as festive as one with alcohol; it’s all about presentation and creativity,” says Diann Flanders, senior sales manager, catering at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. “Mocktail bars can look exactly like traditional bars, with beautiful glassware, fresh ingredients, and elegant garnishes.”

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The food menu is just as important to the overall experience. “For large events such as weddings, we typically offer specialty cocktails catered to the guest of honor’s tastes,” says Brett Naylor, owner of Wilder in Philadelphia. “For a no-alcohol wedding, we do the same—along with highlighting any non-alcoholic spirits in dishes, such as a Pathfinder [non-alcoholic spirit] pastry cream for a bombolini.”

Embracing NA with Style

Convinced to plan a dry wedding? Experts agree, a successful dry wedding doesn’t try to hide the fact that it’s alcohol-free but embraces it with intention and style. Communicate early—guests should know ahead of time that the event is dry so expectations are set.

“Messaging to guests is key,” says Karvellas. “Framing it as a curated, elevated experience helps set the tone.”

Another key element: make the drinks dynamic. “Dry events give planners an opportunity to get creative with beverage offerings,” says Brian Reynoso, the senior event manager at Lido House in Newport Beach.

Reynoso recommends Italian soda or root beer float stations. Once, the team made signature milkshakes for the couple to toast with in lieu of Champagne, “because it was the first drink they shared on their very first date,” he says. “Finding those meaningful details allows us to create moments that feel personal, festive, and memorable—with or without alcohol.”