🎉 Top 10 Tips for Planning a Super Successful Wedding Social in Manitoba (From a Winnipeg Wedding Planner!)
- Tricia Bachewich
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Ah, the Manitoba wedding social, a rite of passage for nearly every engaged couple in the province. Equal parts party, fundraiser, and chaotic bingo night, the wedding social is a unique prairie tradition where friends, family, coworkers, and your third cousin's roommate's mechanic all come together to raise money for your wedding while downing rye and Cokes in a community centre.
As a Winnipeg wedding planner who has attended and planned more socials than I care to count (including one where the fire alarm went off during the 50/50 draw), I'm here to give you the top 10 tips for planning a super successful wedding social that’s fun, profitable, and memorable for all the right reasons.
1. Set Your Ticket Price Right
Suggested Price: $10-$15 Keep it simple. The sweet spot for ticket pricing is $10, especially if you're planning on a large turnout. If you’re offering a drink ticket or food included (hello, late night taco bar?), then $15 is totally fair.
💡 Pro tip: Start selling early and have both physical tickets and e-transfer options. E-ticketing = no excuses!
2. Choose a Strategic Venue
Your venue can make or break your event, especially if it’s not near where most of your guests live.
Top Venue Picks in Winnipeg for a Social:
Dakota Community Centre (South Winnipeg)
Holy Eucharist Parish Centre (cheap and roomy)
Centro Caboto Centre (great kitchen facilities)
East End Arena (popular for socials!)
Winakwa Community Centre
Expect to pay between $700-$1,200 for rentals, depending on size and amenities.
3. Pick a Prime Date (Avoid Long Weekends!)
Saturdays are standard, but Fridays can work too if you're targeting a younger crowd. Stay clear of long weekends, everyone will be at the lake, and your social will be emptier than a gym in January.
4. Raffles, Raffles, Raffles!
This is where you make your money, folks. The bar is just the warm up.
Silent Auction Baskets: Ask for donations from friends, family, and local businesses.
50/50 Draw: Easy and expected.
Door Prizes: Keeps people engaged.
“Pick a Prize” Raffle: Display top prizes and let people choose what they want to win.
🎁 Top Prize Ideas:
Jets tickets
Liquor baskets
Gift cards (local restaurants or spa packages)
Smart TVs or AirPods
BBQ or fire pit sets
“Date Night for a Year” package
5. License and Permits
You'll need a Social Occasion Permit from the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries (about $25). Also, ensure you check venue requirements for insurance and security. Some will provide security, others will require you to hire (budget $200-$300).
6. Stock That Bar Like a Pro
Buy your alcohol in bulk from the MLCC (Liquor Mart) using your permit. Standard drinks:
Rye, Vodka, Rum
Beer
Mixers: Coke, Sprite, tonic, cranberry, etc.
💡 Offer jello shots or shooters ($2-$3) as a side hustle during the night, these are money-makers.
7. Feed the People
Midnight lunch is a social must. Traditional favorites include:
Deli meat sandwiches
Perogies & sausage
Veggie trays, pickles, cheese cubes
📦 Cost-effective tip: Buy in bulk from Costco or local catering companies that offer “social platters.”
8. DJ & Entertainment = Vibes
Hire a social DJ who knows the classics and the crowd. Budget around $400-$700. Want to spice things up?
Rent a photo booth
Hire a drag queen or karaoke host
Include a "Spin to Win" wheel
9. Promote Like You're Selling Out a Stadium
Socials live and die by the guest list. Promote your event on:
Facebook (make an event!)
Instagram stories
Workplace bulletin boards
Family group chats
Good ol' word of mouth
🎟 Offer an early bird prize to boost ticket sales fast (like an early draw for Jets tickets or a restaurant gift card).
10. Track Everything and Keep It Organized
Create a spreadsheet. Trust me.
Tickets sold
Donations collected
Expenses vs profit
Bar inventory
Raffle ticket numbers
This is a fundraiser, so the goal is clear: raise as much as you can while making it a night to remember! 🎉
💰 BONUS: More Money-Making Ideas
“Toonie Toss”: Throw toonies at a bottle of booze. Closest wins.
Guess the Number of Candies in the Jar
Heads or Tails Game
50/50 Board: Fill a board with 100 spots at $2 each.
Final Thoughts
Planning a social can feel overwhelming, but with the right planning (and a trusty Excel sheet), you’ll pull off a night that not only helps fund your dream wedding but creates memories to last a lifetime.
And remember no one remembers how many sandwiches were left over, but they’ll never forget who won the giant 60inch TV and did a victory dance to “Shania Twain.”
Need help planning your wedding (or wrangling silent auction prizes)? Let’s chat, I’ve got the spreadsheets and the sass to make it all happen. 🥂
