Wedding Cigar Bar 101
Crafting Your Big-Day Experience
When it comes to weddings, couples are continually seeking innovative ways to make their special day memorable for themselves and their guests. Every couple's wedding is a reflection of their unique love story and personal style; and if you’re looking for an extra touch all your own, say “I Do” to having a cigar bar at your wedding.
Cigars are meant to be celebratory; that’s why they come out when babies are born, mega-business deals are closed, and college degrees are earned. Your milestone life event – getting married – certainly falls in that special category.
A well-curated cigar bar can add a touch of luxury and relaxation to any wedding celebration. And in this comprehensive guide, we'll explore everything you need to know to plan and prepare the perfect cigar bar, from selecting the best cigars to ensuring they are properly humidified and paired with the perfect drink for peak enjoyment.
One important note: Before you show up at your wedding reception with a fully-stocked humidor under your arm, make sure your venue allows for smoking – some don’t allow it outside, either.
Selecting the Best Wedding Cigars
There are hundreds of premium cigar brands – so which one is the right one? Choosing the best cigars for your wedding will go along way to ensure a memorable experience for you and your guests, so think of the experience. Maybe you choose by the name of the cigar, something synonymous with the most epic love story of all: Romeo y Julieta. You could also say “love” with the La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor. Or perhaps you’ll offer a top shelf premium cigar based exclusively on exceptional quality and flavor - Montecristo, Cohiba, Arturo Fuente, and Oliva Serie V are perennial favorites for wedding celebrations. Beyond the brand, it’s also a good idea to consider selecting a variety of cigars to cater to different preferences, including mild, medium, and full-bodied options.
One more nuance to add to your cigar table: a cigar expert. Ask your venue if they have connections to a tobacconist, or even a seasoned enthusiast, who can show your guests how to cut and light a cigar, or share information about the different tobaccos, the size or shape, and what is special about it.
Determining Quantity and Cost
The number of cigars you'll need for your wedding largely depends on the size of your guest list and how long you plan to have the cigar bar open. As a general rule of thumb, plan for each guest who smokes to enjoy at least one to two cigars throughout the evening. But once a few get going, expect more to join - so it's wise to account for a few extra cigars to accommodate unexpected cigar lovers, or those who may suddenly wish to indulge in more than one cigar. When estimating costs, factor in the price per cigar, as well as any additional expenses such as accessories and humidification tools.
It’s important to realize that all cigars come in different shapes and sizes – so how or why you choose the smokes you do, will play a big role in determining your wedding cigar budget.
Additionally, when evaluating cost, keep in mind that some guests may not enjoy the cigars and could opt to discard them early on, or before even smoking them at all. While a ‘spare no expense’ approach might sound appealing for your big day, it’s best to leave high-dollar premium cigars out of the equation and opt for a price conscious cigar selection—or at least reserve the high rollers for the select few you know will appreciate them. It’s certainly better than watching your hard-earned money being thrown away.
Choosing the Right Size and Strength Cigars
When selecting cigars for your wedding, first consider the preferences of your guests. Pay attention to the strength of the cigars, as some guests may prefer milder options while others may enjoy more robust blends. Offering a diverse selection ensures that there's something for everyone to enjoy, enhancing the overall experience of your cigar bar.
And it’s not just strength that matters – time is important too! Some people may not want to give up the party for the 90 minutes or more it takes to smoke. Others won’t mind – so opt for a range of sizes, from Coronas to Robustos and Churchills, to cater to different tastes.
By offering a thoughtfully curated selection, you as a couple can ensure that your cigar bar appeals to seasoned smokers and novices alike, creating an inclusive and enjoyable atmosphere for all.
Keeping Cigars Humidified Throughout Your Wedding Day
Special occasion or not, properly humidifying the cigars is crucial to preserving their flavor and quality. And while we often advise that a cigar will stay fresh and smokeable outside the humidor for a period of time, a little insurance – like a humidor – doesn’t hurt. Rain on your wedding day may be good luck, but your wedding cigars won’t be as fortunate. Same goes for a hot and/or humid day; or if there’s no shady spot to set up your cigar bar during the reception. Consider this more of a protective measure that keeps your cigars smokeable and keeps one of your guests knocking over an overly fancy display.
Don’t be led to believe, however, that you need an expensive, high-end humidor…a properly seasoned wood humidor, along with a few Boveda packs inside, will be more than adequate to maintain proper humidity throughout your event. And when your day concludes, that humidor will make a unique wedding day keepsake.
Provide Cigar Accessories to Your Smoking Guests
In addition to premium cigars, providing an assortment of accessories enhances the allure of the cigar bar and improves the overall experience for guests. Most cigar smokers don’t always carry a cutter and lighter, so they’ll appreciate you providing them the tools to indulge in “the ritual” of cutting and lighting a cigar. Consider offering cigar cutters, lighters, and ashtrays to ensure that guests can enjoy their cigars with ease. If you really want to give your cigar bar an extra touch of class, offer wooden matches – the best matches for lighting cigars are the 4” size.
Don’t feel that you need to provide overly expensive cigar tools – most of the cutters and lighters you put out at the cigar bar will “walk away,” and a few will break. Double guillotine cigar cutters can be had for under $2 a piece; a perfectly serviceable torch lighter is just a few dollars more. They’re affordable and functional, so spread some extras around the cigar bar table to make sure no one has to wait to enjoy a smoke. If you expect only a small group of your wedding guests will smoke cigars, then feel free to order ahead for personalized or monogrammed accessories. You can hand those out to your crew as a memorable keepsake for your guests to cherish long after the wedding festivities have ended.
Pairing Cigars with a Special Drink
It’s one thing to offer an open bar; it’s another level to have your bartenders craft and serve a cocktail to match the profile of the sticks you’re serving at the cigar bar.
Put a few bottles of a special wine on the menu for the cigar lovers at your reception. Most reds are a natural match, and Cabs are killer with a full-bodied cigar; a pinot noir is a gimme with a milder Connecticut. Syrah’s mix of spice and fruit hits right up the middle, with almost any medium bodied cigar. Merlot is a wide-ranging crowd pleaser, too.
Whiskey, bourbon, and cognac are classic choices that pair well with a variety of cigar profiles. Standards are nice – or you can go the extra mile and serve a signature cocktail at your wedding. Make it a Manhattan: the flavor and complexity of the rye and sweet vermouth complement the darker, heavier features (cedar, leather, spice, cocoa) of a Nicaraguan blend when tempered with a sweet n’ tangy Corojo or Habano wrapper.
Want something more summery? A smoky mezcal cocktail can accentuate the flavors of a full-bodied cigar, while a refreshing mojito provides a perfect balance for a milder blend. The possibilities are endless – discover, as a couple, some of the unique pairings that tantalize the taste buds and enhance the enjoyment of their cigar bar.
Offering the luxury of a cigar bar to your guests is the finishing touch on your wedding event: not only will you be creating unforgettable moments for you and your guests, you’ll create an atmosphere that will delight cigar enthusiasts and novices alike. And paired with a signature drink for your special day, it will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on everyone who attends your wedding. Use these ideas to find a unique way to express yourselves as a couple, while indulging in the finer things in life - and boost your wedding experience with a well-thought-out cigar bar that exudes elegance and sophistication.