Everything you need to live your best no-alcohol / low-alcohol lifestyle.
Everything you need to live your best no-alcohol / low-alcohol lifestyle.
The rise of dry weddings – weddings where no alcohol is served – have recently made headlines. But let’s be clear: dry weddings aren’t actually new. For many cultural and religious communities, they’ve long been the norm.
Muslim weddings, for instance, don’t include alcohol because Islam prohibits it. Many Arab weddings follow this tradition as well, with coffee or tea taking centre stage instead of champagne. Likewise, some Christian denominations like Mormons or the Salvation Army embrace teetotalism, and Turkish weddings may also forgo alcohol sometimes for religious reasons, sometimes financial. In other words, plenty of Australians have been celebrating their nuptials alcohol-free long before it became a social trend.
What is new, however, is the growing global movement towards alcohol-free or “NoLo” (no- or low-alcohol) lifestyles. From Gen Zs choosing kombucha over cocktails to midlife women reassessing their relationship with alcohol, we’re seeing a cultural shift, one that is welcome, empowering, and long overdue. But in Australia, where alcohol is still a dominant part of social life, it hasn’t yet become the norm.
At NoLo Life, we’re all for this change. But we also believe the key to a truly inclusive celebration especially a wedding is choice.
Too often, people who’ve chosen not to drink know what it’s like to be excluded at events. But swinging the pendulum too far the other way by only serving non-alcoholic options can leave some guests feeling ignored, particularly if having a glass of wine or a toast is part of how they connect and celebrate.
If your entire guest list is alcohol-free, fantastic, go dry and go big! But if you’re hosting a diverse crowd, it’s worth considering a few things.
Do you have any guests who are in recovery? If so, speak with them ahead of time. Some may appreciate a dry event, while others are fine being around drinkers as long as they aren’t seated at the “party table.”
Worried about certain guests over-drinking? Rather than banning alcohol altogether, assign a few trusted friends to gently keep an eye on things or be ready to call a cab if Uncle Barry starts breakdancing precariously close to the cake.
If budget is a concern, consider a BYO wine policy or a cash bar for those who would prefer an alcoholic drink or two.
If over-consumption is a concern with a few of your guests, make sure your venue has a strict RSA practice.
Go soft or go home! If you’ve decided to hold a hard line on no alcohol, make sure you specify that in your invitation, and include on your RSVP card beverage options that include alcohol-free beer and wine for those who want drinks choices that mimic alcoholic versions.
Because here’s the truth: Weddings are about joy, love, and connection. And while the day rightly belongs to the couple, unhappy guests can quickly cast a shadow over the celebrations. The best weddings are the ones that people talk about for years for the right reasons.
Let’s remember: it’s not really about “wet” or “dry” weddings. It’s about creating inclusive spaces where everyone – drinkers, non-drinkers, and those in the “grey area” in between – feels welcome and celebrated. Because when it comes to the NoLo revolution, everyone’s a winner!
If that means offering both sparkling wine and sparkling water, then why not?
If you’re a NoLo-friendly venue, list yourself on our Venue Directory – join for FREE!