Stock the Bar Party Planning Tips to Celebrate the Happy Couple

You’ve heard of wedding showers and bridal showers, but what about a stock the bar party? This trendy celebration is a co-ed gathering where guests come together to ensure the newlyweds have everything they need to imbibe in style. Use it in place of a traditional pre-wedding day shower or add it as a bonus event to get everyone together one more time.

Here, we’ll dive deeper into what a stock the bar party entails and what you need to know to plan one. We’ll cover etiquette and other tips, plus invitation designs you can customize to get the party started!

What’s a Stock the Bar Party?

While modern wedding showers are inclusive co-ed affairs, they still traditionally focus on celebrating the couple with gifts like towels, linens, or other items from their gift registry. On the other hand, a stock the bar party is an event where guests give the happy couple items they can use for their home bar. 

Gifts can be as simple as a nice bottle of wine or as elaborate as a gilded bar cart. As with wedding or bridal shower gifts, the couple can create a registry for guests to choose from although it’s not necessary.

This type of party can be as big or small as you’d like and it’s a less formal event compared to other showers. This modern twist on a shower lets guests have some fun, express creativity (perhaps making a DIY wine stopper?), and give the happy couple a few gifts they may not otherwise enjoy.

Stock the Bar Party Etiquette and Planning Tips

While stock the bar parties are more casual than other traditional bridal showers, there are still a few things to keep in mind when planning one — especially when it comes to etiquette. While often held as a wedding shower, it can also be used as an engagement party, bachelorette party, or housewarming party. Anyone can host this type of shower, including friends, family, wedding party members, or the couple themselves. 

Stock the bar showers can happen at any time before the wedding in place of another shower or as a bonus celebration. This event is best for couples who enjoy drinking although it’s not limited to alcoholic beverages — you could make it an alcohol-free bar, a coffee bar, a matcha tea bar, or any other theme the couple likes.

The party should last three to four hours and is best hosted at the soon-to-be-married couple‘s place — after all, you don’t want them to lug bottles and bar carts home! There’s no need to serve dinner or a full meal, but it’s always a good idea to have finger foods or appetizers.

Encourage guests to indulge responsibly and create a backup plan. Offer a shuttle to transport guests to and from the event or work with a local ride-sharing company to purchase credits or discounts guests can use.

Plan a Stock the Bar Party in 6 Steps

Ready to plan a stock the bar party for your favorite couple (or yourselves)? Follow these steps and use these party ideas to organize your celebration from start to finish. 

1. Pick a Host

Whether or not you’re planning the event yourself, choosing a host is the first thing you need to do. As with all wedding planning, make sure the host has plenty of time to work out the details before the big day. This type of couple’s shower involves some behind-the-scenes coordination so your party host will appreciate the extra time.

2. Create a Gift Registry 

While it’s not necessary, you might want to create a gift registry so the couple receives items they’ll enjoy and use. Be sure to create the registry at least a month before the event and add a link to it in the party invitations. 

Keep in mind that many guests may not have been to a stock the bar party before. If you aren’t doing a gift registry, feel free to share recommendations for gift ideas. Popular gifts include bar tools and barware like decanters, coasters, and shakers. 

You can’t go wrong with glassware including wine glasses, champagne flutes, and whiskey snifters. Bar accessories like personalized bottle openers are also excellent choices. Finally, alcohol like tequila, bourbon, and rum are welcome gifts along with bitters and mixers to make classic cocktails.

3. Make a Guest List and Send Invitations

Next, decide who you want to invite to the stock the bar shower. Make a list of friends and family you want to attend and choose digital invitations to announce the occasion. It’s the fastest way to create stunning invites and you can put more of your budget towards the signature cocktails and food for the event — instead of spending it on expensive printed stationery. 

4. Get the Venue Ready

Since most stock the bar showers are held at the couple’s home, you don’t have to worry about securing a party venue or renting tables and chairs. Instead, focus your efforts on getting the party decorations and sprucing up your home. 

For larger celebrations, set up several areas for guests to mingle such as the front patio, backyard, living room, and kitchen. Add comfortable seating throughout each space and incorporate string lights for ambiance.

5. Plan the Menu

When there’s drinking involved, serving food is always a good choice. You don’t have to pull out all the stops for this cocktail party though. Instead, serve hearty appetizers like pinwheels, pot stickers, and dipped breads. Classics like charcuterie boards with cheese and meats are also a great option. 

Many couples also like to create a signature drink to serve to guests. Invite a mixologist to the event to whip up one or two beverages for guests to enjoy. If the happy couple loves wine, consider having a sommelier do a wine tasting for the guests.

6. Send Guests Home With Party Favors

Thank guests for attending the shower by sending them home with a little gift bag of appreciation. Fill bags or boxes with mini liquor bottles and festive cocktail napkins with the date of the couple’s nuptials on them. You can also create specialty cocktail kits for margaritas, old fashioneds, and piña coladas. 

Stock the Bar Invitations: 4 Designs to Customize

When you’re ready to send out invitations to everyone on your guest list, Greenvelope offers plenty of stock the bar invites to suit your celebration theme and style. Here are some of our favorite designs.

1. Patterned Cocktails invitation

Design: Becky Nimoy Stationery

This patterned invite offers fun and elegant vibes for a festive celebration. Change up the color scheme to match your wedding colors and add a link to your registry to stock your bar with all of the essentials. 

2. Sips and Sweets Invitation

Design: Signature Greenvelope

Invite guests to a couple’s shower with this romantic stock the bar shower invitation. Featuring a gold bar cart adorned with hearts and flowers, it’s the perfect depiction of everlasting love. 

3. Handlettered Happy Hour invitation

Design: Ashley DeMeyere Design

Use this colorful invitation to get guests ready for an evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and fun. A large iridescent wine glass boasting the words “Happy hour” takes center stage and the supported backside has plenty of room for a registry link, detailed gift ideas, parking info, or any other party details.

4. Stock the Kitchen Invitation

Design: Jen Montgomery

Stocking more than just the bar? This kitchen-themed invite invites guests to help the happy couple get their home ready for home-cooked meals. The text on the card can also be altered to say “stock the bar” for an added fee.

Plan a Celebratory Stock the Bar Party With Ease

Planning a stock the bar party requires coordination, but it’s often simpler than planning other traditional showers. Plus, it’s an opportunity for the couple to relax and celebrate with friends and family before the big day.

Simplify planning with digital invitations from Greenvelope. Add your details, update the message, choose your color scheme, and add a personal stamp. Once you’re ready, send it via text and email — all without the hassle of the post office. It’s just one less thing to worry about so you can spend more time planning your celebration. Cheers!