Marijuana Wedding Bars Are a Thing Now — Here’s What They’re All About

No, it’s not your imagination — marijuana’s time has clearly come. Whether it’s grandma’s special brownies for pain in her bad hip or a group of adult friends gathering around for a friendly toke, cannabis culture is practically becoming mainstream, one city and one state at a time.

Cannabis culture is cool today and always will be because it brings people together in a unique way. We’ve all been to a wedding or two where the open bar was a little too open, and our aunties started questioning their entire lives all at once. To any aliens watching us from the shadows of nearby planets, alcohol-fueled weddings are incredibly uncivilized.

So let’s look at the newest trend in wedding and cannabis culture as it continues to crush regulatory barriers and stereotypes all across this country of ours.

What — and Where — Are Marijuana Wedding Bars?

If you think you might be into this sort of thing, step one is to legalize recreational marijuana in your state.

Oh. You’re not registered to vote? Then you’re already falling behind.

If you live in, or intend to move to, a state where you can buy weed legally without a doctor’s recommendation, you’re on your way to a great wedding party. Right now, there are only eight states in the U.S. where this is the case, but state assemblies everywhere are beginning to stir themselves to action in light of the recent flurry of advocacy.

The next step in planning your wedding is realizing that not everybody is going to be open to this sort of thing. You really need to preemptively read the room and come to a conclusion about how big a feature your pot bar is going to be:

• Pot bars: This is the basic setup and probably what you’ve been picturing this whole time. It’s just like the cocktail bar you took part in during your last wedding. It’s typically a little off to the side, but if you’re serving a mixed crowd of pot enthusiasts and folks who are sticklers for tradition, this might be too close for comfort.
• Pot tents: If you want to offer everybody a great time and have it remain comfortably separate — but also not too distant — from the rest of the wedding party, a tent is a great option. It can be as large or as small as you want, with tables and chairs inside to sit comfortably. You could also opt for some beanbag chairs and body pillows.

Some couples go all-out with a cannabis-themed wedding, including decorations and wedding favors. Others favor a more understated designated use area for partaking instead and keeping the smoke contained.

No matter which one you choose, the general procedure should be familiar — except instead of a bartender pouring drinks, you’ll have a “budtender” who can recommend marijuana strains and products of various potency depending on your experience level and desired effect.

Some Tips for Getting a Marijuana Wedding Bar

Remember that this is still a very small cottage industry, but depending on your area, you might find some marijuana wedding bar caterers who are already beginning to specialize.

You might be able to find some artisans out there who make baked goods, candies or world-class chocolates, truffles and more. Edibles are just plain fun — and they’re friendlier for an older crowd than smoking.

Provided you practice extreme care with your labeling, you can even work with your planner or dispensary to give your guests a little something to take with them when they head back to their homes or hotel rooms.

Remember to practice good judgment and err on the side of caution, legally speaking. No matter what provider you end up going with, the next step is to pick a venue that’s privately owned and whose owners have already provided written consent.

For your peace of mind, it’s best to work with a cannabis-friendly wedding planner or a dispensary in your area that can guide you through the local recreation laws. You’ll need to come up with a plan — and a venue — that are appropriate for your vision of a perfect cannabis-friendly or cannabis-centric wedding party. Controlled substances are still a real thing as far as insurance policies, permits and liability are concerned.

There’s something else here that’s fascinating and could go even further in persuading you that a marijuana bar is exactly what your wedding needs. According to Bloomberg, forgoing the open alcohol bar in favor of a marijuana bar stands a good chance of saving you money. That’s on top of providing a unique, eye-opening and in some cases even spiritual experience for your guests and a lifetime of pleasant memories for yourself and your new partner.