When it comes to wedding receptions, drinks are more than just refreshments, they set the tone for your celebration. Whether you’re hosting a formal sit-down dinner or a relaxed buffet at St Paul’s Church, planning your drinks menu carefully ensures everyone feels included and your budget stays on track. Here’s how to get it right.
Estimate Quantities
Start by calculating how much you’ll need. A simple rule of thumb:
• Champagne or Prosecco: one for a welcome drink, one glass per guest for toasts. You should get around 7 glasses per bottle using flutes.
• Wine: Half a bottle per person for dinner. Aim for 6 glasses per bottle.
• Beer: 2–3 bottles per guest for the evening. Work out how many probable beer drinkers you have and work off that.
• Soft Drinks: Aim for at least 2 non-alcoholic options per person.
Create Drink Stations
Drink stations add style and convenience. Consider:
• Welcome Drinks Table: Greet guests with sparkling wine or a signature mocktail.
• Self-Serve Wine Bar: Perfect for a relaxed vibe, also saves on any running costs. Find a quiet corner away from the dancefloor to avoid and accidents, preferably close to a fridge where you can set up your drinks table. Make sure you have plenty of glasses and somewhere to put the empties.
• Water Station: Essential for hydration
• Cocktail table: If you’re offering cocktails, plan for 1–2 per guest and keep the menu simple to avoid long queues. Where possible, premix your cocktails, this speeds up self-service and creates a lot less mess.
• Top Tip: BINS – something you never thought you’d read in a wedding blog, but yes. You need bins and plenty of them at your drink’s stations.
Include Non-Alcoholic Options
• Mocktails are a great way to make non-drinkers feel special. Think elderflower spritz, virgin mojitos, or fruit-infused sparkling water. These can be pre-mixed and served in elegant glassware for a polished look.
• Non-Alcoholic beers are a great addition to modern weddings, especially for the drivers
Understand Alcohol Policies
• Before you buy, check St Paul’s guidelines on serving alcohol:
o Alcohol may be consumed on the premises in moderation. For instance, alcohol may be consumed with food, or as part of a formal event or concert, such as a retirement party or wedding party.
o Alcohol may not be sold on the premises without the agreement of St Paul’s Management and an appropriate TEN’s license by the hirer must be obtained from the council.
Budget Wisely
Drinks can quickly eat into your budget. To save:
• Buy in bulk from wholesalers:
o Work with a local wine merchant who can deliver to your door, or even directly to the Church.
o Cambridge Wine Merchants is renowned locally for having a range of over 1000 wines, 250 spirits and whiskies and beers. Contact them here: kings@cambridgewine.com
• Offer a limited selection of your favourites, not a full bar, as you may find yourself with a lot left over.
What to buy
Think safe, think food friendly, think alcohol percentage! Big red wines with 15% alcohol will put your guests to sleep after two glasses, while heavily oaked Chardonnays do not have many friends.
If you have a set, three course menu, it is worth speaking to a wine professional to help narrow down your choices, so your food and wines match perfectly.
See below for a few good examples of food friendly and lovable wines.
Whites
Great Value: Spanish Verdejo
A great value entry level wine. Citrus and apple flavours, it is great to drink well chilled on a sunny day.
Middle of the Range: Italian Fiano
Intense fruit flavours, such as peach and nectarine. Stays longer on the palate, but just as easy to drink.
For the wine connoisseurs: Chablis
Chardonnay but without the oak. Loved by all and a very classy wine which matches well with fish and chicken dishes.
Reds
Great Value: Rioja Crianza
A young, fruity red wine from Spain, which has only the slightest hint of oak. Very food friendly and you’ll be reaching for a second glass quickly.
Middle of the Range: Southern French or Australian Pinot Noir
Stay clear of the better know Burgundian Pinot Noirs which cost and arm and leg. Delve into the wine merchants Southern French or Australian Pinot Noir selections for quality without the price tag. These are softer, lighter wines and can be slightly chilled too.
For the wine connoisseur: Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot
No connoisseur’s wine menu would be complete without a red wine from Bordeaux. These wines are famous for reaching £1000’s for a bottle. However, if you look for wines from the Haut Medoc you will find wines worth every penny. Due to its location close to the coast with lots of rainfall, wines from Bordeaux have a lot of ‘vintage variation’. So wines from one year, say, 2016 will be far better than 2017. Focus on wines from 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2022. These wine should be in budget and taste fantastic.
Champagne vs English Fizz
Great Value: Prosecco
Without a doubt the best value sparkling wine on the market. Shop around and you can get a bottle for £6 to £7. Fun, fruity, sparkling and chilled.
Middle of the Range: Cremant De Bourgogne
“Champagne” in all but name. Made from the same grapes, but outside the Champagne region, hence the change of name. Tends to be lighter in style, but great value.
For the wine connoisseurs: England vs Champagne
Saffron Grange :
We need to give a shout out to our English fizz producers who year on year are producing as good, if not better wine than Champagne. If you are looking to stay local, try the Saffron Grange Classic Cuvee. Grown just outside Saffron Walden, only a 25-minute drive from Cambridge, on the same chalk bedrock as Champagne.
Charles Heidsieck:
If you are looking to splash out, why not try the Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve. Arguably the best of the Grand Marque Champagnes and blows its more well-known rivals out of the water.
Presentation Matters
Glassware, garnishes, and signage elevate the experience. Use chalkboards for menus, add fresh fruit to drinks, and consider eco-friendly cups if you’re going green.
Ask your wine merchant if they can offer glasses, or for a true DIY wedding, ask your guests to bring a glass!
Final Tip
Enjoy the leftovers!