A Marquee Wedding Planners Advice - How Much Alcohol Do You Need For A Marquee Wedding
When planning a marquee wedding, one of the most important considerations is ensuring that your guests are well catered for, especially when it comes to alcohol. Striking the right balance is key—you want to have enough to keep the celebration lively, but not so much that you're left with an overwhelming surplus. So, how do you calculate the right amount of alcohol for your big day? Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate this essential aspect of your wedding planning.
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Water Station
First and foremost, water. Keep guests hydrated by having water stations at all aspects of your day. Marquee weddings are usually during the warmer months and keeping hydrated is crucial. Choose a selection of garnishes in either kilner jars or water jugs and ensure the waiting staff are keeping this topped up with both liquid and glasses throughout the afternoon and into the evening.
Drinks Reception and Canapes
A typical drinks reception and canapes last for 90 minutes and this is the time when your guests first indulge in a glass of champers and kick off proceedings. Balance here is crucial, everyone is excited and ready to indulge but over indulge and it can make for a less enjoyable evening reception. If you are choosing to offer cocktails for your guests, this would be the time I would recommend to serve them. Choose 2 or 3 of your favourites or classics and offer a designated cocktail bar or waiting service. Cocktails can be more time consuming and for those guests sticking to the bubbles, beer or soft drinks who are after a quick top up, they will be grateful for the separate service. Ensure those guests not drinking have a palatable alternative, opt for something not overly sweet and typically mild in flavour. Elderflower and soda is a wonderful combination but you can also offer sparkling water, tonics, coca cola and or lemonade.
Option 1 – Champagne only
Typically I would estimate 10% of guests will stick to soft drinks. Guests drink between 3 to 4 glasses of Champagne during the drinks reception and a bottle contains 6 glasses or 5 very generous glasses. Those not drinking alcohol tend to drink slower and will typically have 2 glasses of the soft alternative.
Option 2 – Cocktails and Champagne
One would assume 50% of guests drinking alcohol will opt for a cocktail and 50% will stick to Champagne although sometimes the sway can be more to the cocktails depending on the offering and generation. But both options will be 3 – 4 per head, when choosing cocktails it is a thoughtful consideration to include a mocktail for those guests not drinking alcohol, opt for something light and refreshing here as an addition to your 2 – 3 alcoholic cocktails on your menu.
The Wedding Breakfast
A typical formula that works well for most marquee weddings is to estimate half a bottle of wine per guest for a sit-down meal. It's also wise to have a mix of red, white and rosé (if you love it like I do) catering to different preferences. It is worth considering your menu at this point and your guests. Do they typically choose their wine based on what they are eating or do they have a preference on wine regardless of their food option? I often find it the warmer weather most guests opt for white as it can be lighter. I aim for 60% white and 40% red.
For the toasts, you’ll need a bit more precision. Typically, one bottle of champagne will serve six, so plan accordingly based on the number of guests, whether the speeches are all at the same time or split through the meal and the importance you place on this tradition, some guests opt to toast with whatever guests have in their hand at the time whilst others choose a different Champagne or Sparkling Wine to the drinks reception offering for the speeches.
Calculating for the Evening Reception
There are multiple options for you evening reception. You can keep things simple and opt for wine and beer, you can go in between and offer wine, beer, spirits and mixers, this is usually my recommendation following dinner or you can you all out and offer cocktails, wine, beer spirits and mixers.
A few considerations when deciding which option to go for at your marquee wedding. Do all your guests typically drink wine and beer or do they prefer spirits and mixers and what do you prefer to drink? If you are a big cocktail drinker make sure you offer these at a select area of the bar or have a designated cocktail bar, the flare and skill that go into making a cocktail differ from those when creating spirits and mixers or pouring wine and beer. During the evening guests often put their drinks down on a table and forget where they left their glass so return to the bar for a new one, I tend to see this more with evening cocktails which can be a costly investment. I would always suggest offering cocktails earlier in the wedding when guests fully appreciate them.
On Average, guests drink 2 drinks per hour. This accounts for the slow drinkers, the dancers and the smokers Whilst also accounting for the barman’s best friend who finds a spot at the bar and does not leave all night.
A fully stocked bar is where this gets tricky and knowing your guests preferences for spirits, you will almost always end up over ordering on at least one spirit option. But it is safe to assume most guests will drink either Vodka, Gin, Rum or Whiskey for with the cigars that inevitably appear at midnight. My recommendation would be if you plan to have a full bar service, to hire a bar company to run the evening bar at your marquee wedding as this takes of the pressure of overordering and ensuring you have the correct mix.
Special Considerations for a Marquee Wedding
Marquee weddings have a unique set of challenges and opportunities. With a bespoke setup, you have more control over your alcohol selection, but you also need to account for logistics like refrigeration, glassware, ice and garnishes. Ensure you have enough refrigeration space to keep drinks at the perfect temperature, make sure you account for the electrical sockets from your generator that you will need behind the bar for lighting and fridges. I highly recommend considering hiring a professional bar service to handle the serving and replenishment of drinks throughout the event.
Overestimating is Better Than Underestimating
When in doubt, it’s always safer to overestimate slightly rather than underestimate. Many suppliers offer sale or return policies, allowing you to return unopened bottles after the event. This flexibility ensures you won’t run out of drinks and can help alleviate any last-minute panic.
Conclusion
Calculating the right amount of alcohol for your marquee wedding might seem daunting, but with careful planning and a few industry tips, you can ensure that your guests are well looked after without any stress. Remember to factor in your guest list, the timing of your event, and your specific needs for a bar service in a marquee.