Non-alcoholic wedding drinks planning notes

Do not hide alcohol-free options

The calculator splits alcoholic drinks into wine, beer, and spirits. Water, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and alcohol-free alternatives need their own plan so guests are not forced into a narrow choice.

• Plan still and sparkling water where appropriate.
• Include soft drinks and alcohol-free beer, wine, or cocktails if suitable.
• Check whether the venue supplies mixers and soft drinks separately.

Think about weather and timing

Outdoor summer weddings, long ceremonies, and venues with limited shade can increase demand for water and soft drinks. Late-night coffee or tea can also be separate from the bar estimate.

• Make water easy to access throughout the day.
• Separate mixer quantities from soft-drink quantities for non-drinkers.
• Ask caterers what is already included.

Cocktail hour and toast drink planning

Welcome drinks and toasts can sit outside the main beer, wine, and spirits split.

Separate fixed moments from open bar demand

A champagne toast or welcome drink may be one planned serving per guest, while the main bar estimate is based on hours and drinking profile. Keeping them separate makes the shopping list easier to check.

• Plan one toast serving per participating adult guest if needed.
• Decide whether welcome drinks replace or add to cocktail-hour bar service.
• Check whether table wine is included in the meal package.

Avoid double counting

If cocktail-hour drinks are included in the calculator's event length, do not add them again as a separate order unless they are extra fixed servings. Ask the venue how they normally count these moments.

• Clarify what the bar package includes.
• Run a separate estimate if service periods have different guest counts.
• Keep notes for the caterer or bar manager.

Separate drink moments

The separate drink moments reference keeps the relevant comparisons together so each assumption can be checked before changing the calculator inputs.

• Moment: Welcome drink; How to count: Often one serving per adult guest; Avoid: Double counting in bar hours.
• Moment: Toast; How to count: Fixed serving if planned; Avoid: Hiding it in wine percentage.
• Moment: Open bar; How to count: Use hours and profile; Avoid: Ignoring venue service limits.

Non-alcoholic planning list