Your guide to wedding day drinks

At most weddings alcohol will be served to guests, even if only during the bride and groom’s first toast. The amount and variety of drinks on offer will usually depend on the number of guests. You should also plan to have plenty of non-alcoholic drinks for the children and elderly people who will be attending your wedding. There is a science to choosing the appropriate times and types of drinks to serve at your event. The following are a few suggestions on proper drink etiquette for your wedding and reception.

Receptions

Generally, the reception is the place where most of your drinks will be consumed, so be sure to have a lot if you are expecting a large number of people. Alcoholic drinks such as champagne and seasonal wine should be served during your reception because of the low alcohol content. The last thing you want is a bunch of people passed out because of too much alcohol at your big event. Non-alcoholic drinks like juices and sodas should also be readily available for small kids and those adults who do not drink. Usually, getting can sodas and keeping them on ice is the most economical way to have plenty of non-alcoholic drinks on hand.

Mealtime

During meal time, for tables who want to drink alcohol, it is best to leave a bottle of wine or champagne at each one of their tables. This will cut down on the amount of alcohol consumed by each person at the reception and will also be a great addition to your delicious meal. You can also put out cans of soda and bottles of water around the tables so people can get them at their leisure. If you find yourself having an afternoon reception, you may want to think about serving coffee or tea, which will offer everyone a small burst of energy. Tea and coffee is also recommended if you are having older guests at your wedding that prefer hot drinks over cold soda or juice.

The toast

During the speeches and toasting done at your reception, is it a tradition for everyone to have a glass of champagne in front of them. For younger guests, you could use a sparkling cider or some other variation that is non-alcoholic. This will allow every guest at the reception to participate in the toasting and other festivities that go along with this type of event. You may want to use a non-French champagne if you are looking to save a bit of money at the reception. The sparkling cider or grape juice is a very inexpensive non-alcoholic option for your guests as well.

The reception following your wedding should be a fun and joyous event, so be sure to create that kind of atmosphere. Be sure to try and limit any guests who appear to be drinking too much at the wedding, due to the situations that can arise around to many drunk guests. The addition of sodas and other sources of caffeine is a great way to ensure that you can counteract the effects of the alcohol, which will make for a more lively and fun reception. You can also ask friends and family members who have had their own receptions for more advice on the types of drinks and food to have.

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Originally published here.