Your Guide to Wedding Drinks – What, When & How

Welcome back to the blog from this catering queen who plans wedding that are as bold and unforgettable as you are.

This blog is all about your wedding drinks explaining all about the standard wedding venue drinks packages, how to change this up, innovative drink ideas, how much money to put behind the bar, how much wine to offer your guests and more. From the first welcome sip to the last dance, your drink choices set the tone for your celebration. Here's how to make every pour count. I’ll outline different options, pros and cons, unique wedding drink ideas and some useful takeaways on dry hire bars.

Drinks as guests first arrive:

Firstly, before you are even married, when your guests are arriving at the venue, what drinks are available? This time frame is usually not covered in your standard wedding venue drinks packages. At the very least you should have a water station available, especially if your guests have travelled a distance.

Your venue may not allow the bar to be open but if it does, it’s a nice touch for guests to be able to have a drink before the ceremony. It breaks the ice between families. This can be down to the guests to pay for this or you could provide something as a token for when they first arrive. If you are short on time and you would like your guests to be seated for your ceremony not long after they arrive then just offer water and keep the bar closed.

Below is a breakdown of the usual drinks included within wedding venues packages, if you have a dry hire venue then understanding these options is also helpful:

Wedding Welcome Drinks: First Impressions Matter

Kick off your celebration with a drink that screams "this is going to be epic!"

Your wedding welcome drinks or arrival drinks are usually served right after the ceremony and most venue packages include 1 or 2 drinks per person here. Your venue will have these ready to go on trays or a table as guests come out of the ceremony or just after the confetti shot.

Top tip – if you would like to keep all your guests together, as soon as you have finished your ceremony add into your timeline for guests to go straight into the confetti throw and then into a big group photo before guests are served that first drink. This way you don’t lose people, generally as soon as they have a drink guests will disperse and bringing them all back together can take longer. Communicate this plan with your photographer, bar team and wedding coordinator, we will make it happen for you.

My personal favourite to keep everyone happy (well most people) – Bottled beer, prosecco/champagne and a third option like Pimms or maybe Mojitos!!

Some options for you:

·        Cocktail Towers: these need to be easy to do in bulk so they are quicker to make in large batches.

·        Pimm's O'Clock: A British classic, refreshing and perfect for summer vibes.

·        Local Craft Beers: Are there any locally breweries to you? Beer baths, beer wheelbarrows.

·        Signature Mocktails: Delight non-drinkers with crafted non-alcoholic options.

Personalize your welcome drinks with custom stirrers, personalised cocktail napkins or edible flowers to match your wedding theme.

Drinks with your wedding meal:

Generally, wedding venue packages include half a bottle of wine per person. So if you have 80 guests, the venue will provide 40 bottles of wine. This is then split between red and white and put on the tables. If you know not all your guests drink wine perhaps you may think about adding a bucket of bottled beer on each table or on those tables you think would need it most. Or a bottle of prosecco? Having some table drinks is worth it as it helps to keep your guests sat down and present for your meal instead of everyone getting up to purchase drinks from the bar throughout.

Some other options:

·        English Sparkling Wines: A classy alternative to Champagne.

·        Think weather: Depending on the time of year may influence the kind of wine your guests drink.

·        Personalized Wine Bottle Labels: Add your names and wedding date.

Have a chat with your caterer or me (catering queen) to pair wines that complement your menu.

How much wine do I need for my wedding meal?

If you are wondering how much wine you need for your wedding meal - then here is some help. Half a bottle of wine person is two large (250ml) glasses and that is usually sufficient for one person to drink in the time it takes for your meal to be eaten, you will find some people drink more and some less so it does balances out.

What would be helpful is once you have finalised your table plan, if you know a specific table don’t think red or will drink lots of white/rose – you could swap these around from the beginning. Let your caterers/bar team aware in advance. If you know you have heavy wine drinkers, add on a few extras bottles of each which can be replaced for those tables you know will drink more. Usually any left over wine is moved to the bar so guests can continue to drink it throughout the evening reception.

Wedding Toast Drinks

These are usually served just before your speeches to give your guests a drink when the phrase ‘please raise your glasses’ is repeated for each speech!! Yes Prosecco, bubbles, champagne is the norm for a toast drink, but as I hear more and more not everyone likes this and there can be full glasses left on the tables after the speeches. To make your toasts memorable and drinkable here are some unique choices:

·        Miniature Bottles: Serve individual-sized bubbly for a personal touch. Or mini whiskey bottles, you know your guests.

·        Colour-Coordinated Cocktails: Match your wedding palette for a cohesive look.

·        Non-Alcoholic Options: Ensure everyone can participate with elegant mocktails.

·        Shots: I’ve seen such a large variety of ways to do this – skittle bombs, shot tree, mini jam jars of shots, different shots for different tables.

Tip: Use vintage/coloured glassware for an added level of flair.

Wedding Cocktail Hour- lets shake it up

After your wedding meal, everyone is full of food and possibly feeling a little lethargic. Having some cocktails ready to go really helps to lift the mood and bring some energy back into the evening reception. This is also when there may be a change over for the venue, tables and chairs removed, entertainment sets up and evening guests arrive. Elevate this turnaround with a cocktail hour and games.

·        His & Hers Cocktails: Reflect your personalities with custom creations.

·        Miniature Martinis: Serve in cocktail or coloured glasses for a chic touch.

·        Interactive Stations: Let guests mix their own drinks with a DIY bar. Such as a Gin Bar: mixers, flavoured gins, garnish.

How much money should I put behind the bar at my wedding?

If you are planning to cover drinks for your guests during the evening reception, here is a rough guide of how much this might cost:

·        Estimate: £30 per guest for a 4-hour evening reception (7.30pm – 11.30pm)

·        Breakdown: This typically covers 3-5 drinks per person. Spirits and wine will be more expensive.

·        Considerations: Account for varying consumption levels; some guests may drink more, others less. Are lots driving, is everyone staying over? You know your own guests. This is a guideline but adapt for what works best for your wedding.

Discuss with your bar team about setting up a prepaid tab, make sure you specify if you want to include or exclude certain drinks such as no spirits or no double or no shots. You make the rules. Do you want the bar team to let you know on the day when a certain number is reached or happy for it to keep rolling?

Wedding Dry Hire Bars:

Here's what to keep in mind if you are planning to build your own bar and hire staff to serve, THINK logistics.

·        Glassware: Ensure you have the right types and quantities. One glass per person is not enough.

·        Measures & Tools: Stock up on jiggers, shakers, and strainers.

·        Ice & Garnishes: Don't forget the ice, fruit, straws.

·        Staffing: Hire experienced bartenders to keep things running smoothly. Also think about glass collectors.

Create a checklist to ensure no detail is overlooked. Do you have somewhere to store the ice, fridge for spare stock, you will need to wash and replenish glasses to be used again – who’s doing this and where throughout the day. You could avoid some of this hassle by hiring a bar provider to do all the above for you.

Bar Packages: What's Included?

Bar companies offer various packages; here's what to look for:

·        All-Inclusive: They will cover the drinks, all the staff staff, glassware, and setup. You can either choose to pay for all your guests drinks or they pay for their own.

·        Dry Hire: You provide the drinks; they handle the rest. Ice, glasses, garnish, staff, all the bar equipment required.

·        Custom Packages: Tailored to your bar needs!!

Clarify what's included to avoid unexpected costs.

Talk it all through with your venue, bar provider, caterer and your wedding coordinator offering your suggestions.

Planning your wedding drinks should be as exciting as the celebration itself. Need help curating the perfect beverage experience - always here to help,

 xx

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