How to Prepare Your Alcohol Selection for a Wedding

Preparing for a wedding is a full-time job. Whether you start planning a year ahead of time or a couple months there are always a million things for you to do. Luckily, some are more fun than others, and with this guide we’ll help take some stress off your shoulders for at least one portion of your wedding planning.

Here are a few ways you can prepare your alcohol selections for the wedding.

Just like every other aspect of your wedding, it pays to have your alcohol selections planned out ahead of time. This means taking a bit more time to plan than deciding you’ll have someone grab a couple bottles of wine before the ceremony. Considering around  53% of wedding attendees prefer a well-stocked ceremony over a dry one, it’s worth taking some time to plan.

You’ll need to think about your budget, how much you are able to set aside for the alcoholic refreshments. You’ll also need to think about the number of guests at your wedding and which of those guests will consume alcohol. Lastly, think about your location and where you’ll need to set up the beverages. Will they take up a lot of space? Having a plan in advance will prevent headaches down the line.

When you’re finalizing your drink menu for the big day, it might be helpful to taste test some options in advance. Let’s take a look at the three big ones.

When selecting your beer, keep in mind that while some members of your family will long for an IPA, others will prefer a light beer instead. If you don’t know where to start, look into the many different types of beer you could have on-hand at your big day and choose your favorite—it is about you after all. Plus, spending some time trying the different lagers and ales before your wedding can be a fun way to bond with your partner while checking off what you’ll serve at the reception.

Once you have your budget, quantities, and location footprint planned, you can begin to decide which alcoholic beverages will be at your wedding and how much of each you’ll need. A safe bet is to have one light liquor and one dark so everyone’s tastes are covered.

The same holds true for red and white wine. Both sides appeal to different tastes. For example, some red wines are bitter where some white wines are more sweet. Again, take some time with your partner to taste the different wines before the ceremony. Still not sure what to serve? A wine tasting at the reception might be a fun way to provide a variety of options.

Check out this graphic for helping gauge how much alcohol you might need:

Source: https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-calculate-the-number-of-drinks-to-buy-for-a-party-1197338

Recently, we shared some of the trendy drinks to try this spring. Use this guide to help you pair certain beverages with your reception meals. For example, if you’re going all out on seafood, make sure the Japanese-inspired drink The Geisha is available. Southern weddings in particular are not complete without sweet tea so why not offer Sweet Tea Juleps at your reception?

You can also brainstorm some of your own mixed drinks to serve at the event. Not a creative mixologist? Talk with your bartender and see what they can whip up for your guests. Having a variety of beverages will leave plenty of room for options.

Congratulations! Now you have one less item on your endless list to worry about. Make sure you pick out the perfect champagne for everyone to make their toasts at your reception dinner. This is your big day; you might as well celebrate it.

If you’re looking for something different, we recently shared some alternatives to a champagne toast you may want to review. The most important thing to remember is that this is your wedding. Make sure you prioritize your beverage choices above everyone else’s. Happy sipping!