Here are a few elements to consider when planning the layout and format of your marquee drinks reception and how these can elevate the guest experience.
Your wedding drinks reception is more than just a chance for guests to grab a glass. It’s the first real moment for everyone to relax, mingle, and soak up the atmosphere of your day.
When planned well, it sets the tone for everything that follows. Blending seamless service with a thoughtful layout and just the right level of choice. In this blog, I explore the often-overlooked details that can make all the difference to how your drinks reception looks, feels, and flows.
A deep dive into your drinks service
Where is your drinks reception taking place?
Most of my couples (who have a free bar/provide their own alcohol) choose to have their main bar structure in the marquee which they close off until the wedding breakfast.
We then set up a trestle table or an additional bar structure where we serve their reception drinks. In most instances, this table/bar is located outside on a lawn or in a courtyard but could also be in a barn or a stretch tent/smaller marquee structure.
Where are your drinks being served?
I advise placing the trestle table/bar somewhere central which guests will see easily on arrival and which will not cause bottlenecks.
You want to make sure there is enough space for guests to enter the area and filter off either to the table/bar for a drink or into the wider space. Position this so the back of the table/bar can be easily accessed for prepping and serving drinks, as well as for storing glassware, ice, and rubbish. Keep the back of house of this table/bar out of sight from guests. Positioning it in front of a wall, hedge etc is great so you can limit anyone mingling behind. This needs positioning somewhere that can easily be accessed to restock without having to walk through guests while they’re chatting away.
If you’re providing your own alcohol or offering a free bar: once guests have had an initial drink from the table/bar it’s nice if you can arrange for bar staff to wonder round with bottles/trays of drinks offering top ups. This helps to create a relaxed and chatty atmosphere and avoids guests having to queue for drinks.
What drinks are you serving?
Less choice is more when it comes to your drinks reception, don’t over complicate things by trying to offer too much choice.
2-3 alcoholic drinks, 1 great non-alcoholic option and a large Kilner of water is more than enough. If you’re planning to have champagne then this is the time to serve it as it tends to gets wasted if you serve it for your toast drink.
How much do guests drink?
I work on the general rule that guests consume 1 drink per hour except in the 1st hour when they drink 2. So for the average 1 hour & 30 minute drinks reception you’re looking at around 3 drinks per person plus water.
Cloth your table!
This really is necessary if you’re using a trestle table. It’s helpful to use the underneath of your table to store glassware, buckets of ice and trugs of chilling stock and it looks unsightly if guests can see this.
A tablecloth whether that’s white, black or a colour of your choice can make your table look more sophisticated while hiding the BTS. *You’ll also want to get some tablecloth clips to hold down the tablecloth, especially if you’re outside (they are one of the most used items in my wedding kit!)*
Keep guests hydrated.
Set up a large Kilner dispenser of water with some water glasses which guests can access, without having to queue for, throughout the drinks reception.
How are you chilling your drinks?
I advise you hire a fridge trailer. This is by far the easiest way to chill large quantities of stock and to keep everything neat and tidy, all in one easy to access place.
Then trugs with ice water can be used by the table/bar to keep bottles chilling for immediate service. You’ll also want to consider who is providing ice, how much is needed, and how it’s being stored while onsite (igloo chests are your friend if you don’t have a freezer)
Who is going to provide your glassware, bar equipment and prep, make, and serve your drinks?
I strongly advise you hire a professional bar team to prep, make and serve your drinks on your wedding day. As well as provide glassware, Kilner dispensers, and bar equipment. All you then have to do is provide the drinks (if your bar team isn’t doing this for you)! Your drinks reception sets the tone for your marquee wedding. If service crumbles early, because you don’t have the right people managing your drinks reception, then it’s only going to get worse as the day goes on.
What’s your wet weather plan?
If you’re planning an outside drinks reception then you MUST have a back-up plan.
This could be opening up your marquee so guests can mingle inside, you might prefer to hire an additional structure to accommodate guests/provide shade if it’s sunny or you may have a barn onsite which could be used instead. Whatever you do, do not just hope and pray for a sunny day. Always consider where your drinks will be served from if you have to move inside and when that call needs making.
Don’t underestimate the importance of having a plan.
How your drinks service is managed on your wedding day has a massive impact in the smooth running of your day and the overall experience guests have.
When it comes down to it, a great wedding drinks reception isn’t about offering endless options or extravagant setups. It’s about thoughtful planning, smooth service, and creating a space where guests feel instantly at ease. By considering where drinks are served, how they’re managed, and who’s looking after them, you set your day up to flow naturally from the very beginning. With the right plan (and the right people) in place, your drinks reception becomes exactly what it should be: a relaxed, joyful moment that sets the tone for the rest of your celebration.
If you’re currently planning a marquee wedding and would like guidance on your drinks reception — from layout and logistics to bar teams and glassware — I’m always happy to chat through your ideas and help you create something that works beautifully for you and your guests.
Leave a Reply