Wedding Drinks: How to Choose the Right and Quantities

Organizing a wedding is an activity that requires many decisions and careful attention to detail. After all, every choice, however small, can have a big impact on the budget and the outcome of the event.

One of the most impactful decisions is selecting drinks to serve at the front desk. The first thing is to define what is the profile of the guests and the menu that will be served. For example, in some evangelical marriages alcoholic beverages are prohibited ?, says Cris Paloni, owner of Dynamic Productions.

Another point that can influence the drinks being 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 party profile that is intended: for example, a fuller red wine hardly fits well in a beach wedding in the afternoon ?, exemplifies Vinícius Favale , from Multiple Events.


Besides the challenge of choosing the right types, to please the guests and match with the choice of the menu and the profile of the party, still has the concern of getting the right amount. While many vendors help with the calculation, having a sense of how much you really need is critical to not having to squeeze it later? neither in my 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!

Read also: Wedding Sweets: 30 Beautiful and Delicious Ideas


How to calculate the ideal amount of drinks?

What if a drink is missing? This is probably the concern of many grooms and brides. After all, nobody wants to have to deal with the end of drinks in the middle of the celebration. However, there is still a chance to buy a lot more drinks than necessary and end up with considerable damage and a lot of untouched bottles.

When making the calculation, it is essential to have the number of guests expected at the event. However, in order to get the right amount, one must also take into account the length of the party and the variety of drinks that will be served.

Another point that may weigh in the final decision is to think about the profile of your guests: if they drink a lot, what is the age range of the majority (it is common for young people to drink more), whether they drink alcohol or not. If one type of drink is very successful with your friends and family, it may be a good idea to extrapolate the calculated amount; or, if a large portion of the guests do not drink alcohol, you may purchase less than estimated, for example.


Here's how to calculate the number of different types of drinks, considering the number of guests and considering 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;
  • Energetic: 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 consignment service. It's a way of saving, not making mistakes. And when I say do not err, is to err neither for more or less, avoiding waste or rush for lack ?, says Vinicius Favale, who recommends the consignment especially for wines and sparkling wines.

Read also: 15 tips to liven up the dance floor at your wedding

In the consignment system, the contracted company supplies a quantity of drinks and offers the opportunity to return unused beverages. How this will be agreed depends on the company's contract form, so be sure to check the minimum consumption rules and how much margin 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 bring more drink than the suggested ideal, to avoid shortages in case of a higher than average consumption," says 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 wondering what guests like to drink, it is essential to reconcile these tastes with what matches their food choices.

For added security, a good alternative is to bet on a good mix of different types. The truth is that variety is the one that has been 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 Vinicius.

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

1. Water

Is water a basic drink since all guests can consume? 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 larger 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 marriages that do not serve alcohol, for example, the consumption of soft drinks will be much higher. If the party has many children, this can also be a high consumption.

When buying, always opt for bottles. Generally as the number of people is large the cans become financially unviable. Does the bottle tend 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 soda. If you want convenience in the event, it is best to establish the flavors and buy the juice ready for the party. At serving time, you can choose both jars and dosed cups.

4. Energetic

Generally, the largest 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 the doses of alcoholic beverages.

5. Beers

Thus, as in the case of soft drinks, it is more economical to buy beer in bottles than in cans. "Today it is up to serve beer in long neck bottles, right in the bar or with waiters pouring the bottle in the glass," says Vinicius Favale.

At more informal parties, this is a drink that can be very consumed, 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 that will add 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 soft: it all depends on whether the choice of drink matches the choice of dish. Wines can be served by the bottle itself and usually only during dinner.

7. Sparkling 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 to the party, the moment of the toast can be made with a different champagne or sparkling than the overall one.

8. Distilled Beverages

Spirits, such as vodka and whiskey, can be served in drinks for guests, with a choice of energy and ice apart. Here you can decide if drinking is restricted to the bar or if serving can be served at tables throughout the event.

9. Liqueurs

"The most common is that they are served at the breakfast table with petit fours from mid to late in the event," points out Cris. The coffee table with liqueurs is a differential in the event. As it is an attraction for the end of the party, it is possible that the number of guests still present is greatly reduced. So can you invest in a few bottles? If the type of liquor varies, one of each type should be sufficient 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 beats, cocktails, caipirinhas and other types of alcoholic drinks. As they are served only to those who order, the quantity should not be so high.

To have control of what will be needed and leave the event with your face, 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 personality of the couple.

15 sparkling options to replace champagne

The price of champagne is often salty: with three digits per bottle, the drink can weigh on the budget for a medium or large event. So opting for sparkling wine is a good way to replace champagne and save on finances.

For this, it is worth checking national brands, which may be cheaper than imported drinks. "You can also enjoy trips to buy imported duty free drinks and be aware of beverage promotions in markets and wholesalers," recalls Cris Paloni.

Check out in our gallery some options of sparkling and sparkling in virtual stores, to replace the champagne in your party:

Moscatel Terra Nova sparkling wine for R $ 31,59 at Americanas

Sparkling Casa Valduga Arte Brut for R $ 45,43 at Americanas

Sparkling Pierlant Brut for $ 48.28 at Americanas

Miolo Brut sparkling wine for R $ 50,06 at Americanas

Vallebelbo Moscato Sparkling Wine for R $ 60,00 at Vinho e Ponto

Sparkling André California for R $ 34,00 on Wine

Toro Loco Cava Brut for R $ 32,00 at Wine

La Chamiza Brut Sparkling Wine for R $ 39,00 at Wine

Aurora Moscatel sparkling wine for R $ 22,50 at Angeloni

Salton sparkling wine for R $ 16.65 at Angeloni

Lambrusco White Cascina Santa Maria sparkling wine for R $ 16,90 at Angeloni

Sparkling Chandon Brut for R $ 69,90 at Submarino

Almadén Brut Sparkling Wine for R $ 20,36 at Submarino

Grand Imperial Brut Sparkling Wine for R $ 54,90 at Submarino

Mumm Cuvée Reverve Brut Sparkling Wine for R $ 57,90 in Submarino

Selecting drinks and hitting the hammer in quantity is not easy, but thinking about these points can ease concerns a little at this time. After all, the most important thing is to enjoy the party without being distressed by drinks that end sooner than expected or unhappy guests. Write down the tips and have a nice party!

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