Top 10 wedding drinks trends

 The average couple will make hundreds of decisions in planning their big day, but none is more important than the drinks they choose to serve their guests, some might say.

With pre-meal arrival drinks, drinks at the table and then drinks at the bar, there is plenty to consider when selecting, and serving, the perfect drinks to keep your guests entertained and dancing into the wee hours.

As Debrett’s wedding guide warns, “the beginning of the reception is a crucial time” when there must be “plenty of drinks available” for the couple’s booze-hungry guests.

From signature cocktails, beverage bars and miniature platters to jam jars and alternative toasts, the possibilities to add a personal touch to your wedding drinks menu are endless.

Scroll through to see 10 wedding drink trends currently in vogue on the bridal circuit… 

His and her’s signature cocktails

Signature cocktails, where a couple concocts their own drink to be served to their guests, have been a staple at weddings for many years. More recently, and perhaps to avoid a pre-marital squabble, couples are taking to creating two “his and her” cocktails for their guests, often served at DIY bars in which guests mix their own drinks, guided by vintage signs or shabby-chic chalkboards. More widely, cocktails inspired by the roaring 20s are making a comeback fuelled in part by Leonardo Dicarprio’s recent 2013 film adaptation of The Great Gatsby. Gin Fizz and Champagne cocktails, served in Champagne Coupes, are all the rage.

Miniature food and drink pairings

Pairing a each course of a dinner with an appropriate drink is a well-worn and welcome trait of many eating establishments. But in the world of weddings, where appearance is everything and canapés are king, food and drink pairings take on miniature proportions with bite-size morsels alongside a shot glass beverage increasingly popular. As well as looking the part, guests can gorge on trays full of tasty tidbits without fear of spilling it down their Wedding best.

 Infused water and soft drink kegs

Not forgetting the tee-total crowd or designated drivers among their guests, many couples are choosing to include a water station at their wedding boasting exotic water infusions, home-made lemonades and ice tea. These zero-alcohol bars are gaining increasing popularity, not only for their practicality, but for their visually appealing DIY style – a steadfast wedding trend in itself.

Bubbly bars and Champagne shots

Bubbly bars are similar to Martini or Margarita bars, but instead features Champagne. Guests are provided with fizz, fruit juices and fresh fruit, such as raspberries and blackberries, for garnishes to make their own custom-made Champagne cocktail. Other newlyweds are choosing to serve their Champagne in delicately garnished shot glasses.

Mason jar cocktails with vintage flair

The craze for vintage-style weddings shows no signs of abating, with one of its many markers the humble mason jar – increasingly seized upon by brides as an off-beat way of serving quirky cocktails. Add a sprig of fresh garnish, a striped straw and arty label and you’re good to go.

Personalised Champagne gifts

Stuck for a sentimental yet practical gift for the couple which is not a silver photo frame, candle stick holder or toaster? Personalised drinks gifts have become a popular way to say thank you, not only for couples to their groomsmen, best men and bridesmaids, but to the couple themselves. Personalise the label on a bottle of fizz, available here from notonthehighstreet.com, or buy a bottle of bubbly from a vintage in which the couple first met, assuming it was a good vintage.

Recycled object ice buckets

What better way to chill your bottled beverages, while providing a stylish centrepiece for a wedding garden party, than by filling a rustic boat with ice and drinks. For a wine-themed alternative, use an old wine barrel, which as our previous top 10 proves has many a creative use.

Prosecco toasts

In times of worldwide austerity and the popularity of Prosecco going through the roof, its no wonder that many brides are forgoing the traditional Champagne toast in favour of a more cost-effective solution. Sales of Prosecco officially outstripped those of Champagne this year with many brides no doubt opting for Italian fizz over the more-expensive Champagne. However the allure of Champagne remains, and will always be, a staple choice for many brides to be.

Beer toasts and keg bars

Prosecco isn’t the only beverage edging its way into the wedding toast market. Beer-loving brides and their grooms are increasingly raising a toast with a craft brew – a lower alcohol beverage which is no doubt more suitable to be drinking over long periods than higher strength wines and Champagne. A growing number of breweries are now making their services available for wedding receptions while Samuel Adams, one of the biggest brewers in the US, released a signature brew named Brewlywed – a Belgian-style ale described by its makers as “the colour of a golden wedding band”, finished with a Champagne closure.

Miniature spirit favours

Wedding favours can take many forms with personalised chocolates, seed packets or hand-made soaps among the many tokens given to guests. But our favourite is a miniature bottle of the bride and groom’s favourite spirit. For those inclined, a home-brewed bottle of sloe gin or flavoured vodka gives a personal touch. Or add a home-made label to a miniature bottle of your favourite brand, available from many online retailers.