Weddings are stepping out of traditional venues and ballrooms and into neighborhood bars and restaurants. Wolfe & Porter, for example, a Raleigh, N.C.-based bar that’s known for music, drinks, and community vibes, officially began hosting weddings this past summer, though they did have some small receptions in the past. For a venue centered on bringing people together, hosting weddings is a natural extension of what they do. It’s all a part of a growing trend of couples choosing bars and restaurants for their big day.
“Those early requests [for receptions and private events] made us realize the endless possibilities and capabilities of our space,” said Aubrey Hall, events manager at Wolfe & Porter. “Couples love the idea of a unique, stylish space that doesn't feel formal, fussy, or over-the-top. So, we leaned into it and developed an events program that made us a wedding venue.”
Weddings at bars and restaurants—especially at bars or pubs—appear to be a growing trend amongst couples who are looking to save money by utilizing a non-traditional space. In fact, in 2022, a study from Caterer.com found that a large number of people in the U.K were opting for pub weddings. And in the United States, almost half of couples say they’re being strategic about their wedding venue choice as a way to save money, per a survey by Insurance Canopy.
According to Hall, bars come with an atmosphere built in so, instead of renting a blank ballroom and spending thousands to transform it, couples walk into a space that already feels intimate, intentional, and authentic.
“Our space's versatility is a major draw, featuring a casual, quirky upstairs bar, a warm, moody mid-century lounge, and a spacious outdoor patio with a built-in stage,” said Hall. “Couples particularly love the hand-painted mural behind the stage upstairs, the classic mid-century cellar, and the back patio, which offers the stage as a focal point.”
Right now, Wolfe & Porter is attracting interest from couples for 15-person micro weddings to 120-person receptions. “Most couples are looking for something more personal than a banquet hall,” said Hall. “We see young professionals, second marriages, couples who want a nontraditional celebration, LGBTQ+ weddings, and people who value good cocktails and great energy. Many of them want to spend more time celebrating and less time worrying about small details and managing logistics.”
Wolfe & Porter recently hosted a wedding for a couple who spent a lot of time together at the bar, so the venue was personal to them. “Watching their guests laugh, dance, and fill the space with energy made it clear this wasn’t just a venue, it was part of their story,” said Hall. “That’s when we knew weddings were something we wanted to offer intentionally.”
Hall noted that weddings and wedding receptions at bars (or restaurants) can feel more personal to a couple. “Traditional venues can feel cookie-cutter; a bar feels like the couple’s favorite night out with the people they love most,” she said. “It’s also often more affordable and less intimidating than the traditional wedding industry.”
For Hall, weddings at bars are a noticeable trend.
“Folks seek venues that feel different and more accessible, bars are now realizing they can host stylish and memorable weddings without being a ballroom,” said Hall, and now that trend is paying off for Wolfe & Porter. “Instead of relying solely on walk-in business or seasonal peaks, weddings and private events give us scheduled income that balances the calendar. It’s allowed us to invest in improvements and staffing with more confidence.”
Bar Weddings: An Experience for Guests That Reflect a Couple’s Personality
Alison Brickman, complex director of catering at the Kimpton Shorebreak Ft. Lauderdale Beach Resort in Florida—which includes the Escape Rooftop Bar—believes today’s couples want more than a traditional ballroom. “They’re looking for a fun, casual space where guests can mingle, dance, and create lasting memories, with an experience that reflects their personality rather than a standard plated dinner,” she said.
Escape Rooftop Bar, a hidden gem with gorgeous panoramic views for Ft. Lauderdale, began hosting wedding receptions in 2024, after they added two pergola areas and upgraded the furniture to elevate the overall guest experience.
“We began hosting wedding receptions on the rooftop after seeing that many couples were seeking a unique setting—something different from the traditional ballroom experience,” said Brickman, who added that they’ve hosted everything from intimate wedding receptions of 10 guests to full rooftop buyouts for 150 people.
At Mírate—a Mexican restaurant and bar in the Los Angeles, Calif. area—the staff believe it’s all about authenticity. “More couples want a wedding that reflects their real life—where they enjoy date nights, where they celebrate milestones, where their personality shows,” said Angela Zaniboni, who handles Mírate’s events and guest relations. “Bars feel more intimate and grounded. They also offer built-in design, flexible food and beverage formats, and price points that don’t require a year of planning.”
Known for its transportive atmosphere, world-class agave program, and dramatic multi-level architecture, Mírate offers locals a dedicated events program for weddings and private celebrations. Guests can choose from a collection of unique settings, from cozy treehouse-inspired dining spaces to complete buyout options.
When Mírate booked its first full-scale wedding, the wedding couple leaned completely into the space: candles, minimal décor, mezcal-focused cocktails, a family-style menu, and a very organic flow between cocktail mingling and the seated dinner. “It was seamless, heartfelt, and incredibly us as well,” said Zaniboni. “Seeing how naturally a wedding could integrate with our daily ambiance opened our eyes to how strong this offering could become.”
Zaniboni said Mírate is seeing micro-weddings, weekday receptions, non-traditional timelines, cocktail-only events, and curated beverage moments—like custom agave experiences. “Couples want warmth, meaning, and great drinks—not a rigid, overly formal program,” she said.
At Sixty Vines—a “winemaker's restaurant” with wine on tap and numerous locations—weddings, receptions, and other private events are a significant part of their business. The brand features greenhouse dining rooms, natural light, mixed woods, a wine-garden aesthetic, and an open kitchen, which all creates a backdrop that already feels celebratory.
“Private dining is a huge part of our business—about 20 percent of total revenue for Sixty Vines,” said Carolina Dominguez, director of sales for Sixty Vines. “Weddings make up around 10 percent of that total. We can deliver the flexibility and uniqueness couples are looking for, and the wedding market is massive. It's a natural fit for us.”
Dominguez said Sixty Vines is built around the idea of bringing people together over shared plates and wine discovery, so hosting events is a big part of their DNA. “For weddings, specifically, we create experiences for proposals, engagement celebrations, rehearsal dinners, welcome parties, and full weddings,” she explained. “We can set-up an intimate dinner for 20 people in one of our private greenhouses, or we can create a complete restaurant buyout for a couple hundred guests using our dining rooms, patios, and lounge spaces.”
In general, Dominguez believes that the idea of weddings and wedding receptions at bars and restaurants is taking off. “I think most people just want events that are unique,” she said. “They also like that we are in their neighborhood and provide an experience they already know and love.”
Elyse Owens, director of sales at FB Society—which includes Haywire, Ida Claire, The Ranch at Las Colinas, Mexican Sugar, Whiskey Cake Kitchen + Bar, Legacy Food Hall, and Assembly Food Hall—weddings and other events at bars and restaurants can make an impact. “Corporate events dominate the weekdays, but weekends typically have lighter private dining demand,” she said. “Weddings naturally fill that gap. Weekend rehearsal dinners, ceremonies, and receptions bring great energy into our private rooms during times when we’d typically have more availability. It keeps the building lively and balances our event mix beautifully.”
At FB Society’s Haywire, the team gives couples something they can’t get in a ballroom. “Our spaces already feel lived-in and warm, with Texas character layered into every detail—stone, leather, fireplaces, patios with string lights, and rooftop Airstream moments,” said Owens. “Each room has its own personality, complete with AV, flexible layouts, and indoor-outdoor options. Couples don’t have to ‘build’ an atmosphere here. It’s ready for them the moment they walk in, and we help them make it their own with custom menus, signature cocktails, décor, AV, and personalized touches.”
Bars, Restaurants, and Event Prices—a Peek into Packages and How They Work
How are bars and restaurants pricing weddings or receptions? Hall, of Wolfe & Porter, said they offer packages with the ability to customize. “Packages give couples clarity and confidence in what they’re getting, while flexibility lets us scale the experience to very different event sizes and budgets,” she said. “It’s the combination that works best.”
In general, bar or restaurant weddings and receptions are significantly more affordable because couples aren’t paying for a blank space that needs to be fully transformed with rentals and décor. “The space already looks and feels event-ready, so their dollar goes further,” said Hall.
Zaniboni said Mírate offers a mix of tiered packages and customizable food and beverage minimums. “Flexibility is key—every couple’s vision is different,” she said. “Allowing people to choose between family style prix-fixe menus, buffet-style meals, or cocktail-style receptions ensures we meet a wide range of budgets while still maintaining operational consistency. It’s a model that works exceptionally well for both the guest experience and our internal workflow.”
Dominguez, of Sixty Vines, noted they also use a food and beverage minimum model. “Couples appreciate that their spend goes directly toward hospitality—the food, the wine, the service—not into a separate venue rental fee,” she said. “It's transparent and often more approachable than conventional venue pricing.”
How Bars Are Adapting Their Space, Handling Special Requests for Weddings
In terms of being operationally ready for weddings and receptions, Mírate adapted its space. “We refined almost every department slightly,” shared Zaniboni. “Service flow was adjusted to handle large parties with ceremony-style timing. Staff training now includes wedding-specific communication and coordination. Furniture and layout flexibility allow for everything from dance floors to communal dining. We built out an experienced team, giving couples a point person—me—who manages the entire planning process, alleviating pressure from FOH [front of house] managers while elevating the guest experience.”
Dominguez, of Sixty Vines, said training was an important focus when they began hosting events. “We've worked with our events and operations teams to make sure we're bringing the client's vision to life,” she said. “Operationally, we've added event service training and built communication systems that sync our operations team with event planners. That's been key. Our goal is always the same: Create a celebration that feels natural and truly memorable. We're trying to create unique experiences where family and friends enjoy the event from start to finish.”
Owens, director of sales at FB Society, which includes Haywire, said they added operational touches like dedicated event captains, timeline training, and communication systems that keep their team in sync with planners, photographers, and DJs.
One of the most common requests that couples make at Wolfe & Porter is a signature cocktail. “Couples will often share stories—a drink from their first date, a favorite spirit, or a theme they want reflected,” said Hall. “We’ll develop custom cocktails and even rename Wolfe & Porter classics to match the couple or the event theme. We are a bar, after all!”
At Mírate, they have one of the strongest agave programs on the West Coast, so couples often build their entire wedding identity around the beverages, which is something traditional venues simply can’t replicate.
Wolfe & Porter also collaborates with local photographers, florists, or planners to help wedding couples. “We work with a growing network of Raleigh creatives who understand how to complement the space,” said Hall. “We refer trusted artists, florists, musicians, DJs, and rental companies, and several now know the venue well enough to execute smoothly without learning it fresh every time.”
What Challenges Do Bar and Restaurant Operators Face When Hosting Weddings?
One of the biggest challenges that bar or restaurant operators face when hosting weddings or receptions is running a full-service establishment while also giving a private group the feeling that the entire place is theirs.
Wolfe & Porter’s Hall said they solve this with smart scheduling. “Certain days or hours become dedicated event windows and with layouts that allow us to host groups privately without interrupting normal service when needed,” she explained. “Clear communication with guests and staff is key.”
Mírate’s Zaniboni agrees: “The biggest challenge is ensuring that wedding guests feel fully immersed in their celebration while our regular guests still enjoy their night. We solve this with strategic scheduling, clear floor-plan separation, early access for décor setups, and dedicated staffing. Communication is everything—we treat every event like a performance that needs its own stage.”
Sixty Vines’ Dominguez said staffing can be a challenge. “When you're at a traditional venue, they usually have a dedicated staff to flip rooms from ceremony to reception,” she said. “We don't have that staff. So, we have to have strong communication, solid timelines, and thoughtful planning to make the experience special.”
The Industry Will See ‘More Themed Weddings, Experiential Receptions, and Hybrid Events”
For other owners and operators of bars and restaurants that want to host weddings and similar events, it’s important to remember how emotionally personal weddings are compared to most private events, according to Hall of Wolfe & Porter.
“Couples aren’t just planning a party, they’re creating lifelong memories,” said Hall. “Understanding that helped us slow down, ask more questions, and become better partners in the process. For other bar owners: You need systems, don’t be so hesitant to accommodate even the oddest of requests if you can.”
Hall said it’s also important to host weddings and receptions intentionally. “Invest in systems, staff training, and vendors who elevate the experience,” she stressed. “Weddings aren’t bigger bar nights, they’re emotional milestones. And if you honor that, you can create something truly meaningful that both couples and your business benefit from.”
Overall, Hall said couples are increasingly choosing celebrations that they can customize and make feel personal, boutique, and representative of who they are. “Bars and restaurants produce that feeling naturally,” she explained. “I think we’ll see continued growth as well as evolution. More themed weddings, experiential receptions, and hybrid events.”
Aaron Kiel is an award-winning journalist and PR professional based in Raleigh, N.C., with over 20 years of experience in the beverage, tea, coffee, hospitality, and technology sectors. He contributes to Questex’s Bar & Restaurant News as a reporter/writer, and he was previously the editor of Questex’s World Tea News, as well as the Specialty Coffee Association’s member journal, The Chronicle, among other editorial roles. His work with Bar & Restaurant News has earned multiple accolades, including the 2025 Folio: Eddie & Ozzie Award for “Range of Work by a Single Author – B2B” and the 2024 award for “Best Single Article, Culture & Community – B2B.” He also received a Gold Northeast Region Award in the American Society of Business Publication Editors’ (ASBPE) Azbee Awards under the “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion” category for best single article. In addition, Kiel was named a recipient of the 2024/2025 ASBPE Diversity Fellowship Award, which supports and recognizes diversity in the field of B2B journalism. Connect with him on Instagram @adventurer_explorer or visit akprgroup.com.
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