Wedding drinks: how to get the choice and quantities right

Organizing a wedding is an activity that requires making many decisions and taking care of details. After all, each choice, no matter how small, can have a big impact on the budget and the final result of the event.

One of the most impactful decisions is the selection of drinks to serve at the reception. “The first thing is to define the profile of the guests and the menu that will be served. For example, in some evangelical weddings, alcoholic beverages are prohibited”, comments Cris Paloni, owner of Dynamic Produções.

Another point that can influence the drinks to be served is the type of party itself – time, place and even season. “The type of drink is directly related to the time of the event and the profile of the party that is intended: for example, a more full-bodied red wine is unlikely to go well at a beach wedding in the afternoon”, exemplifies Vinícius Favale. , from Multiple Events.

In addition to the challenge of choosing the right types, to please the guests and match the choice of the menu and the profile of the party, there is still the concern of getting the quantity right. Although several suppliers help with the calculation, having a sense of how much you really need is essential to not be in trouble later – neither in your pocket nor at the party.

Throughout this text, you will find tips on how to organize the beverage supply part of your wedding. Check out!

How to calculate the ideal amount of drinks?

What if there’s no drink? This is probably the concern of many brides and grooms. After all, no one wants to have to deal with running out of drinks in the middle of the celebration. However, there is still the chance of buying many more drinks than necessary and ending up with considerable loss and a lot of untouched bottles.

When calculating, it is essential to have at hand the number of guests expected at the event. However, in order to get the right amount, you should also take into account the duration of the party and the variety of types of drinks that will be served.

Another point that can weigh on the final decision is to think about the profile of your guests: if they drink a lot, what is the age group of the majority (it is common for young people to consume more drinks), if they consume alcohol or not. If one type of drink is very popular with your friends and family, it might be a good idea to extrapolate the calculated amount; or, if a large proportion of the guests do not consume alcoholic beverages, you can purchase less than the calculated one, for example.

Check out how to calculate the amount of different types of drinks, considering the number of guests and thinking about an average consumption:

• Champagne or sparkling wine: 1 bottle for every 3 guests;
• Red wine: 1 bottle for every 10 guests;
• Beer: 1.5 cans for each guest;
• Vodka and whiskey: 1 bottle for every 10 guests;
• Soda: 1 bottle for each guest;
• Water: 1.5 bottles for each guest;
• Energy drinks: 1 can for every 3 guests.

Consignment worth it?

A good option for those who do not want to take risks with quantity is to hire a consignor service. “It’s a way to save, and not make mistakes. And when I say don’t make a mistake, I mean don’t make a mistake either too much or too little, avoiding waste or rushing for lack”, says Vinícius Favale, who recommends consignment especially for wines and sparkling wines.

In the consignment system, the contracted company provides a quantity of drinks and offers the opportunity to return those that are not consumed. How this will be agreed depends on the company’s form of contract, so be sure to check the minimum consumption rules and the margin of how much can be returned.

Thus, the bride and groom can only pay for what is actually consumed and are not taken by surprise if the guests consume more or less than imagined. “In this format it is possible to take more drinks than the ideal suggested, to avoid shortages in case of consumption greater than the average”, emphasizes Vinícius.

How to choose drinks

As with quantity calculation, the selection of the types of drinks to be served needs to be based on the profile of your guests. Another important point is the dishes chosen for the menu. So, in addition to asking yourself what guests like to drink, it’s essential to reconcile those tastes with what goes with their food choices.

For greater security, a good alternative is to bet on a good mix of different types. “The truth is that variety is what is most sought after today. One drink does not eliminate the other, diversity is what will best serve an event, which welcomes people of different styles and tastes”, says Vinícius.

Check out tips for choosing the best types of drinks for your party:

1. Water

Water is a staple drink, as all guests can consume it – both during dinner and on the dance floor. If the wedding is on the beach, outdoors or on very hot days, it is worth investing in a greater amount of water, as the need for hydration will be greater.

2. Soft drinks

The main thing to think about when choosing soft drinks for your party is the profile of the guests. In evangelical weddings that do not serve alcoholic beverages, for example, soda consumption will be much higher. If the party has a lot of children, this can also be a high consumption.

When shopping, always opt for bottles. “Usually, as the number of people is large, the cans become financially unviable. The bottle tends to be the best option”, advises Cris Paloni.

3. Juices

Juices are great options for non-alcoholic drinks for the party and the principle for calculating the amount can be the same as for soda. If you want practicality at the event, the best thing is to establish the flavors and buy the juice ready for the party. When serving, you can choose both pitchers and dosed glasses.

4. Energy drinks

Generally, the greatest consumption of energy drinks is made by those who consume whiskey or vodka. In this case, it is better to invest in cans than in bottles, to serve them with doses of alcoholic beverages.

5. Beers

So, as in the case of soft drinks, it is more economical to buy beer in bottles than in cans. “Today, it is popular to serve beer in long neck bottles, directly at the bar or with waiters serving the bottle in the glass”, says Vinícius Favale.

At more informal parties, this is a drink that can be consumed a lot, especially if served at ease. If your reception is more formal and you don’t want to give up beer, a good tip is to choose brands that offer craft drinks, which will give a more sophisticated touch to the event.

6. Wines

The choice of wine type is directly related to the dishes available on the menu. Red or white, dry or mild: it all depends on whether the choice of drink harmonizes with the choice of dish. Wines can be served by the bottle and usually only during dinner.

7. Sparkling wine or champagne

Sparkling wines, seen as a festive drink, are already traditional at weddings and can be served throughout the event, in glasses or bottles. If you want a more special touch at the party, the moment of the toast can be done with a champagne or sparkling wine different from the one provided in general.

8. Distilled beverages

Spirits, such as vodka and whiskey, can be served in shots for guests, with a choice of energy drinks and ice on the side. Here, you can decide if consumption will be restricted to the bar or if servings can be served at tables throughout the event.

9. Liquors

“The most common is that they are served at the breakfast table with petit fours, from the middle to the end of the event”, points out Cris. The coffee table with liqueurs is a differential at the event. As it is an attraction for the end of the party, it is possible that the amount of guests still present is very reduced. Thus, you can invest in a few bottles – if you are going to vary the type of liqueur, one of each type should be enough to meet the demand.

10. Shakes and cocktails

If the idea is to set up a separate bar, this is the place to offer guests tapas, cocktails, caipirinhas and other types of alcoholic drinks. As they are only served to those who ask, the quantity should not be so high.

To have control over what will be needed and make the event your own, select the types of drinks that will be served. A nice idea for those who want to do something different in this part and surprise the guests is to name the drinks according to the couple’s personality.

15 sparkling wine options to replace champagne

The price of champagne is usually steep: with triple-digit values ​​per bottle, the drink can weigh on the budget for a medium or large event. Therefore, opting for sparkling wines is a good way to replace champagne and save on finances.

For this, it is worth checking national brands, which can be cheaper than imported drinks. “You can also take advantage of trips to buy imported drinks at duty free and stay tuned for drinks promotions in markets and wholesalers”, recalls Cris Paloni.

Check out in our gallery some options for sparkling and sparkling wines in virtual stores, to replace champagne at your party:

Selecting drinks and hitting the hammer on the quantity is not easy, but thinking about these points can reduce the worries a little at this time. After all, the most important thing is to enjoy the party without getting upset with drinks that run out sooner than expected or with dissatisfied guests. Write down the tips and have a good party!