On your “I do” day, you dream of dressing up your bar as much as you do adorning yourself. More than just a point of interest for partakers in all things tipple, the bar itself, when elaborately decorated, can serve as a fabulous focal point for your party guests to experience next-level libation elation.
“I think bars have really become a ‘moment’ at events the last few years,” said Audra Brewer, owner and designer of Distressed Rentals & Revival. “Your bar is one of the few things almost every guest will fully interact with throughout your event, and I think a well-done bar has the ability to really set or reinforce the tone you want your event to have every time a guest returns for a drink or even just walks by. It makes sense because it’s a place every guest will go (probably more than once!) throughout the event and is a great way to make something functional like a bar also double as a powerful part of the aesthetic and almost a point of entertainment or experience.”
Brewer recommends incorporating a bar structure with character to make a charming aesthetic statement with interest.
“Impactful bars are kind of our thing, so we bring in a lot of different large bars. Some of them are 100-year-old authentic European pub bars that have that good, worn wood feel,” said Brewer.
As part of the overall experience, Brewer has noticed an uptick in couples outfitting their bars with wallpaper to play up a signature color palette or to feature an ornate print.
“This has really caught on lately,” said Brewer, noting that it’s a design tool that works in unexpected and eye-catching visuals. “You will just want to make sure you really iron out your logistics ahead of time, but when it’s done right, it’s super fun.”
Galatoire’s event and sales team agrees and says the wallpaper trend has become so popular that they have created at Galeriè de Galatoire to handle the displays.
Said the team about the bespoke bars, “They were custom made in a way where our clients have the opportunity to customize them with removable decals or wallpaper and unique décor. There’s room (for couples) to enhance the space with their own personal style – including neon signs, custom cocktails, luxury paper napkins and go-cups that tie into their overall themes.”
The Galatoire’s reps have also observed ideas for whimsical bar moments like champagne walls and live entertainers for a champagne cocktail hour. “Performers with metal skirts that hold champagne flutes are a way to greet guests with an Instagrammable moment.”
Elise Gipson, manager of meetings and special events at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, found a particularly exciting moment for wedding guests by way of a decked-out espresso martini bar featured in the hotel’s Canal Street foyer.
Recalls Gipson, “The details of the bar complemented the aesthetics of [the bride’s] entire wedding as it was an ivory bar with gold accents. The bar was decorated with signage and sat next to a white Japanese cherry blossom tree, and the martinis included peppermint extract to add the perfect touch for the holiday season. Custom bars like these add a great ambiance for weddings as it amplifies the entire experience and leaves a lasting impression with the guests.”
