ADVICE TIME: Drink it up
by Kirsty Mattson Photography @ Townhead Estate
We are human and need liquid to keep us going. Some also like to add a touch of alcohol in there too! At a wedding, there are many variations for what you have and when. I hope this helps strip it back for you so you can make the right decisions for you.
Pre - Ceremony
This can just be water for a hot day and should never be a lot of booze. I would suggest having maybe a beer choice and soft drinks. If you are having a Civil Ceremony with a Registrar, you cant have anything, especially in the space that the ceremony will be in.
“Have you considered tea and coffee? Most of my clients choose to have a station set up so they can help themselves. This saves on time and cost. ”
Post Ceremony
This is referred to as the ‘Welcome Drink’. As your guests pile out of the ceremony, most people head to get a drink. Your bar, catering or venue team should be ready and waiting. These drink can include:
Glasses of fizz, bottled beers, fruit cider or a cocktail.
If you opt for a cocktail, make sure its a simple one to make and will be favourable to most taste palettes. An Aperol Spritz, Pimms, Mojito or Prosecco variation like a Bellini works very well. For the colder months it could be something warm and mulled.
Dining
Its typical to have a selection of wine on each table and jugs of iced water. A red, white and even a rose wine make an appearance and get replenished throughout the meal. You don’t have to do this of course. You could just have the bar open.
Toast
Before the speeches you may wish to have a glass of fizz served to ‘raise a glass’ with. We have witnessed shots going out instead but be conscious of the crowd (who will actually drink it)! Make sure you allocate enough time to serve this drink too.
“Choose what YOU like. Think about the images and how that will look. The biggest mistake is trying to cate for everyone and having a large menu. This makes things harder and slower to serve. Keep it simple and choose wisely! ”
Bar
If you don’t go for a company to run it all and want to provide your own drink, be careful of the common pitfalls:
Quantity - Check out this for sussing out how much you need: https://www.majestic.co.uk/services/parties
Variety - Dont over complicate and over spend by offering too many options behind the bar. You know your guests so aim to please most but not all of them.
Service - You need to have a team to look after simple things like rubbish, cleaning, restocking and serving.
Sundries - Think about glassware, ice, straws, lemons, limes etc and who is getting / sorting / storing all of that.
Equipment - Fridges, jiggers, drip trays, taps, bottle openers, cloths, knife…. Its worth making sure that service is smooth and easy so if you are trying to do it yourself, get prepped!
If it was us though, we would get the professionals in to run this part. Its a lot more work than you think and when the guest are ‘tired’ and don’t want to help anymore, this soon gets very messy!
Have a look at our recommended list to find a company to suit you.
Aftermath
Please make sure you have figured out what happens with returning hire items, rubbish, recycling and leftovers. It will be a sticky horrid job the day after if you havent considered this!
So, thats a summary to get you on your way but if you are still struggling or want to make sure this element of the celebration reflects you properly, get in touch. We are here to help after all!!
Happy planning!
