Planning Alcohol For Your Wedding: A Helpful Guide

Planning the alcohol for a wedding can be a tricky task. It's important to understand your guests preferences and choose the right mix of beverages. You should also consider the timing of your event and how the drinks will be served. For example, you might want to serve cocktails during a cocktail hour, wine and beer during dinner, and then lower-ABV drinks when the dance floor opens. It's also a good idea to have a bartender on hand to manage the drinks being served.

Understanding your guests

You will also need to think about the types of drinks you will serve. It is important to choose a mix of beverages that will cater to different tastes and preferences. You might want to serve cocktails during cocktail hour, wine and beer during dinner service, followed by beer and low-alcoholic cocktails when the dance floor opens. By planning your alcohol offerings to lower the ABV as the event goes on, you can ensure that your guests have a fantastic time, but do so responsibly.

It is also worth considering whether you will have a bartender at your wedding. This can be a good way to manage the drinks being served, so you don’t have to worry about who is drinking what and if everyone is enjoying their beverages. There are also other options, such as a self-served bar, but this may be more difficult to manage.

Choosing the right mix of beverages

When it comes to choosing the right mix of beverages for your wedding, it's important to understand your guests and their preferences. You should also consider the different stages of your celebration and how you can present the drinks thoughtfully. For example, you could serve cocktails during a dedicated cocktail hour, followed by wine and beer during dinner. When the dance floor opens, you could offer low-alcoholic cocktails and beer to keep the atmosphere enjoyable and safe.

It's a good idea to offer a variety of drinks, including beer, wine, and spirits, to cater to different tastes. You may also want to consider having a signature cocktail or two that reflects your personality and theme. By offering a selection of drinks, you can create the vibe of a full bar without needing to stock every possible option.

To ensure you have enough drinks, a general guideline is to plan for two drinks per guest during the first hour (cocktail hour) and one drink for each additional hour of the event. This will depend on the number of guests who are of drinking age and the duration of your celebration. For example, a five-hour celebration with 100 guests would require approximately 600 drinks in total.

It's also important to consider the ABV (alcohol by volume) of the drinks you serve. By planning your alcohol offerings to lower the ABV as the event progresses, you can help ensure your guests have a fantastic time while drinking responsibly. This thoughtful approach will cater to different tastes and preferences while keeping the atmosphere enjoyable and safe for everyone.

How much alcohol to buy

Planning the alcohol for a wedding can be challenging, but there are some general rules of thumb to help you. Firstly, it's important to understand your guests and their drinking habits, and to choose the right mix of beverages. It's also a good idea to prepare a little extra, just in case.

A good rule to follow is to plan for two drinks per adult guest in the first hour, and then one drink for each additional hour of the event. So, for example, if you have 100 guests and your wedding is five hours long, you'll need 600 drinks in total. This includes a cocktail hour, during which you can serve cocktails and wine or beer with dinner, followed by low-ABV drinks when the dancing starts.

Another option is to offer 10 different drinks, along with beer and wine, to create the vibe of a full bar without needing to stock every possible option. It's also a good idea to have a bartender on hand to manage the drinks being served. That way, you don't have to worry about who is drinking what, and you can be sure that everyone is enjoying their beverages responsibly.

Presenting drinks thoughtfully

When it comes to planning alcohol for a wedding, it's important to understand your guests, choose the right mix of beverages, and prepare for a little extra. You'll want to create the vibe of a full bar without needing to stock every possible option. Beer and wine are good staples, and you can add 10 other drinks to give your guests variety.

It's also important to plan to have a bartender there. That way, you don't have to worry about who is drinking what and if everyone is enjoying their beverages. There's an experienced, friendly bartender taking care of all the details for you.

When deciding on the different types of alcohol you're going to serve, it can be difficult to estimate how much you'll need and the cost of the alcohol. A good rule of thumb is to plan on two drinks the first hour and one drink for each additional hour of the event per adult guest. For example, if you have 100 guests at your wedding and you're planning a five-hour celebration, you're looking at 600 drinks total for the night.

To present drinks thoughtfully, you can serve cocktails during cocktail hour, wine and beer during dinner service, followed by beer and low-alcoholic cocktails when the dance floor opens. By planning your alcohol offerings to lower the ABV as the event goes on, you're ensuring that your guests have a fantastic time but are also drinking responsibly. It's a thoughtful way to cater to different tastes and preferences while keeping the atmosphere enjoyable and safe for everyone.

Hiring a bartender

When it comes to planning alcohol for a wedding, hiring a bartender is a great way to ensure that your guests are well looked after. It's important to understand your guests and choose the right mix of beverages, and a bartender can help you with this. They will be able to mix drinks to cater to different tastes and preferences, and ensure that the atmosphere is enjoyable and safe for everyone.

A bartender will also be able to manage the drinks being served, so you don't have to worry about who is drinking what and if everyone is enjoying their beverages. They will be able to keep track of how much alcohol is being consumed and can help to prevent any over-consumption. This can be particularly important if you are serving a variety of drinks, including cocktails, wine, and beer.

When hiring a bartender, it's important to find someone who is experienced and friendly. They should be able to engage with your guests and make sure they are having a good time. The bartender should also be able to provide guidance on drink selections and make recommendations based on your guests' preferences.

In addition to their bartending skills, the bartender you hire should also be able to help with setting up and cleaning up the bar area. They should be able to work efficiently and effectively to ensure that your wedding runs smoothly. It's also a good idea to ask the bartender for their input on the amount and type of alcohol you should purchase, as they will have experience in this area.

Overall, hiring a bartender for your wedding is a great way to ensure that your guests have a fantastic time. They will be able to take care of all the details, from mixing drinks to managing the bar, so you can focus on enjoying your special day.

Frequently asked questions