Wedding

Buying the wedding drinks - what you need to know

June 3, 2019

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5 min read

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Your wedding is almost certainly the biggest party you are going to throw in your entire lifetime – and that means organising, and paying for, large quantities of alcohol. Running out of booze is not going to go down well. But by the same token you don’t want to go overboard and give yourself a nasty financial hangover. In this post we share a few tips you might find helpful.

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Who is providing the bar?

If you are booking a venue like Clevedon Hall then things are much simpler – there’s a bar already set up and there’s will be a team who can advise you on how best to play things. However, if you are holding your celebration in a marquee in the middle of a field, a collection of yurts way off the beaten track or you’re lucky enough to have parents with an enormous garden, then there’s a lot more you need to think about and organise. Either way you are almost certainly going to have some kind of bar arrangement, probably with a bartender or two to run the show, mix cocktails and generally make things run smoothly.

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Whose round is it anyway?

Inviting guests to your wedding then asking them to pay for all the drinks is an absolute no-no! But you have, broadly speaking, three options as far as the bar is concerned.

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Open Bar

This means the drinks are all free, all day and all night. It’s a simple arrangement, but the most expensive one. There’s no money changing hands which makes everything much quicker and easier. Plus, if you holding your wedding in a venue or setting that does not have a drinks licence, you won’t have to apply for a Temporary Events Notice.

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Cash Bar

You provide some of the drinks (champagne for toasts and wine with the meal) but have a bar, with staff, and ask guests to pay for their drinks as the consume them. This is going to save you a lot of money, but will may lead to a few grumbles. Some people consider that a cash bar at a wedding is acceptable, but others feel it’s a bit stingy and tacky. If you do gown this route warn people in advance. Saving money is not the only positive – guests are less likely to get legless and spoil the proceedings!
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Limited Bar

The bride and groom pay for all of the alcohol but there’s only a limited selection on offer. For instance, champagne for the toasts, beer and wine throughout and a signature cocktail or two.

Another variation is to have a fully stocked bar but the bride and groom put a sum of money on a tab. Once that pre-paid amount has been consumed guests are asked to pay – a kind of “happy hour” approach.

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Corkage

If you book a wedding venue they will almost certainly provide all the drinks. However, another option is to buy the drinks in bulk and ask the venue to serve it. Although this looks like a cheaper option they will charge you what’s known as “corkage”. This is a service charge for opening and serving bottles of wine, sparkling wine, champagne and even spirits that are bought externally by customers with the intention of consuming them on site. These charges vary from venue to venue so make sure you check this in advance. You’ll then need to do plenty of research, and get your calculator out, to decide whether there’s enough of a saving to go to all the effort of sourcing your own champagne, wines, beers and spirits.

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Quantities

If you are having a marquee wedding, or decide to buy your own and pay the corkage corkage, you are going to have to make some decisions regarding quantities. First of all you need to know the number of guests. Then you need to guesstimate how many are heavy drinkers, how many are light drinkers and how many are teetotal.

It also helps to know how many glasses you get from different bottles and kegs:

1 bottle of 75cl wine = 6 x 125ml glasses or 3 x 250ml

1 bottle of champagne = 6 x flute glasses

11 gallon keg = 88 pints

4.4 gallon polypin = 35 pints

1 litre bottle of spirit = 40 x 25ml measures

1 litre pimms = 20 x 50ml measures (mix with 100ml lemonade)

2 litre lemonade = 20 x 100ml measures (ideal for pimms)

When making your final calculations it probably helps to divide the day up into sections.
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Reception

Allow three drinks per guest for a drinks reception lasting 1.5 hours. Use the table above and do the maths!
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Meal

For the meal you’ll need Champagne/Prosecco Toasts, 6 flutes to a bottle. You’ll need wine to drink with the food and usually a 50/50 split between red and white works. You get approximately 6 small glasses per bottle and work on the average guest consuming half a bottle. If you are offering bottled water, assume guests will want 1 x 250ml glass each, which means1 bottle will serve about 3 guests. Best to have a mix between still and sparkling.

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Evening bar

You can safely assume your bar will be open for four hours and that not everyone will be drinking the whole time – some will be dancing, eating or leave early with kids or elderly relatives. Also, you need to factor in your guests and whether they’ll be predominantly on beer, wine or spirits. An estimate of 6-8 drinks per guests won’t be far off the mark (some will drink more, some less, but that’s a fair average). It’s also reasonable to assume men will predominantly drink beer/lager/cider and the women wine (that may sound a bit sexist but it’s also probably quite accurate).

If you are serving beer and wine only, and you have 100 guests then the following estimate is not unreasonable:

50 x 6 glasses of wine = 50 bottles, have a mix between red/white/rose

25 x 6 bottles of lager/beer/cider = 150 bottles of beer

25 x 6 pints of lager/beer/cider = 2 x 11 gallon (88 pints) of

If you offer a full bar selection it’s more complicated. This is a guesstimated based on 100 guests.

Vodka 6 litres

Gin 5 litres

Whiskey 2 litres

Scotch 2 litres

Real ale 1 keg (88 pints)

Lager 150 bottles

Cola 10 x 2 litre bottles

Diet-cola 10 x 2 litre bottles

Lemonade 10 x 2 litre bottles

Tonic 1 case

Apple/Orange Juice 15 cartons of each

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‍We’re here to help

As you can see from this post the whole subject of drinks can get pretty complicated. It’s definitely one area where it pays to get some sober advice from people who cater from weddings on a regular basis. We’ve got more than our fair share of experience in this department and are happy to share our knowledge for free - get in touch and save yourself the headache!

More Wedding Inspiration

A Joyful, Culture-Rich Celebration at Clevedon Hall

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A Joyful, Culture-Rich Celebration at Clevedon Hall

"Our wedding day at Clevedon Hall felt magical from the very beginning. We stayed in the cottage the night before with the bridal party, which set the tone perfectly, relaxed, intimate, and full of excitement. The next morning felt like the best kind of sleepover: bridesmaids everywhere, laughter over breakfast, hair and makeup in full swing, and those emotional little moments when it all suddenly feels real."

Laura and Marsel’s wedding at Clevedon Hall was the perfect blend of heartfelt tradition, relaxed joy and timeless style.

A Ceremony Full of Heart

Their ceremony was one of the standout moments of the day. The couple opted for something meaningful rather than overly formal, and their celebrant crafted an atmosphere that felt warm, inclusive and deeply romantic. Thoughtful touches made it feel entirely their own.

From there, the day flowed effortlessly, confetti on the lawn, exceptional food, heartfelt speeches, and a dance floor filled from the very first song. It was exactly the kind of celebration the couple had envisioned.

They credit much of that seamlessness to their suppliers and to the Clevedon Hall team, whom they described as “beyond accommodating” and integral to how easy the day felt.

Personal Traditions & Cultural Joy

Honouring their heritage was a meaningful part of the day. Laura is half Iranian and Marsel is Albanian, and the couple beautifully blended both cultures into the celebration.

During the ceremony, they incorporated a Sofreh Aghd, a traditional Persian wedding spread symbolising love and prosperity. They also exchanged honey, a shared custom in both cultures, to signify a sweet future together.

Later in the evening, the Persian knife dance brought pure joy and energy to the room, as guests danced playfully before handing over the cake knife. Subtle nods to Albania were woven throughout too, including custom matchboxes printed with “Gëzuar,” meaning “cheers.”

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Refined Styling with a Modern Edge

The aesthetic of the day complemented Clevedon Hall’s grandeur while feeling fresh and summery. Bridesmaids wore deep burgundy and the men chose classic tuxedos, setting a sophisticated tone.

The floral palette featured whites, greens and pops of acid green, adding a modern lift to the elegance. The library was chosen for the wedding breakfast, with long tables, candlelight and a gently moody atmosphere that created an intimate, dinner-party feeling.

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“It felt elegant, warm and personal,” says the couple, a perfect reflection of their vision.

Timeless, Elegant Fashion

Fashion was guided by classic glamour with modern practicality. Laura wore a fitted off-the-shoulder gown with removable sleeves, timeless in structure, but designed for freedom on the dance floor. A lace-detailed veil and old Hollywood inspired hair completed the look.

The bridal party’s deep burgundy dresses and the groomsmen’s tuxedos echoed the couple’s chosen aesthetic: refined, cinematic and elegantly in tune with the venue.

Why Clevedon Hall

For Laura and Marsel, Clevedon Hall offered the ideal balance of character, flexibility and intimacy. The exclusive-use nature of the venue was a significant deciding factor, allowing the celebration to feel entirely private and personal.

The ability to host guests onsite was equally important, extending the celebration into the following morning and making the experience feel like a true weekend gathering. With stunning grounds, beautiful indoor options and exceptional food, the venue felt like the perfect match.

“It was the right mix of style, comfort and fun,” they said, romantic without being formal, luxurious without feeling rigid.

Advice for Future Couples

Their advice is simple and grounded: make it yours. The most unforgettable moments are the ones that reflect who you are as a couple, the calm morning, the private glance between speeches, the laughter on the dance floor.

And perhaps most importantly: don’t obsess over perfection. “Plan the parts that truly matter to you, and let go of the rest. Trusting Clevedon Hall and their team made everything flow effortlessly.”

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Photo credit: @pippavolansphotography

October 19, 2025

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When New York Meets the English Seaside

A Ceremony Filled With Meaning

The couple chose a deeply personal ceremony: handwritten vows, read aloud to one another, officiated by James’s sister, all set beneath the gazebo facing the Hall. The romantic backdrop was everything they’d hoped for, and the team honored every detail of their outdoor request.

As guests spilled onto the lawn afterwards, a string quartet played Taylor Swift and Harry Styles, a deliberate, delightfully Bridgerton-esque touch. The atmosphere was relaxed and unhurried, with guests drifting freely between garden and rooms while enjoying elegant hors d’oeuvres.

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Dinner, Dancing, and an All-Night House Party

Dinner in the library was pure moody magic, long candlelit tables, hanging moss, and the elevated intimacy of a modern dinner party inside a historic estate. Maggie's father’s heartfelt speech was unforgettable.

Then came the party.

The dance floor was packed from the very first song (credit to The Dynamos), with guests breaking occasionally to step out for air on the warmest day of the year. Late-night mac and cheese and hot dogs appeared exactly when needed. The vibe remained effortlessly personal and cosy, like the world’s most polished house party.

They even forgot to cut the cake until after the photographer had left, meaning the moment now lives solely as chaotic, hilarious camcorder footage. Their “just-in-case” 1 AM return bus to Clifton, booked almost as a joke, ended up completely full. Nobody wanted to leave.

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Style Notes

Maggie embraced the venue’s romantic heritage while weaving in a fresh modern touch. White florals and greenery by Edwina Lowe Florals complemented, rather than competed with, the character of the rooms, elegant, timeless, and beyond her expectations. Their photographer Lucia captured it perfectly.

Fashion was equally intentional: James found his tux in San Francisco, adding a meaningful memory to the process. Maggie found her dress, the second she tried, at Sarah Seven in NYC. Once the gloves and veil were added, the English-garden vision clicked into place.

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A “Traditional Wedding with a Twist”

The couple’s guiding idea? A chic dinner party that slowly evolves into a euphoric night out, and ends with a luxury sleepover surrounded by friends. One guest described it as “an adult sleepaway camp,” which the couple loved. Tradition, but relaxed. Elevated, but full of joy.

Words of Wisdom

“Trust your instincts,” Maggie says. “Planning from NYC was surprisingly stress-free because we had such an incredible team at Clevedon Hall — and vendors we fully trusted. Follow your gut. It won’t steer you wrong.”

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Planning a transatlantic wedding from Brooklyn might sound daunting, but for Maggie and James, choosing Clevedon Hall felt like fate from the moment they discovered it.

The couple first visited Bristol a year prior to their engagement to see James’s extended family. Maggie fell instantly in love with the area, the history, the scenery, the warmth, and the seed of an international wedding was planted. When they got engaged, she began researching UK venues from afar over Christmas and vividly remembers stumbling across Clevedon Hall’s website and immediately knowing this was it: the grounds, the architecture, the dreamlike interiors.

With most guests staying in nearby Bristol, the 30-minute drive felt ideal, and the idea of having 50 friends and family stay overnight on-site sealed the deal. One big, elegant sleepover.

What truly set Clevedon Hall apart, however, was the team. Planning from across the Atlantic went from intimidating to effortless. Every communication was clear, kind, and meticulously organized. Trusting their instincts, Maggie and James booked Clevedon Hall without even visiting in person, a decision they now call the best they made.

Photo credit: @luciamanciniweddings

A Beautiful, Colourful Celebration at Clevedon Hall

October 10, 2025

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A Beautiful, Colourful Celebration at Clevedon Hall

When this lovely couple began searching for their perfect wedding venue, they visited countless places, but nothing quite felt right. That is, until they discovered Clevedon Hall.

“You guys had it all, room capacity, venue flexibility (with both indoor and outdoor options), and an aesthetically beautiful setting. Every staff member we interacted with made us come away smiling.”

From the moment they arrived, they knew Clevedon Hall was the one.

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The Big Day

The couple’s wedding day was an explosion of colour and vibrancy, perfectly reflecting their joyful personalities and multicultural heritage. From bright floral details to beautifully coordinated décor, every corner of Clevedon Hall came alive with energy and love.

“The highlight was the smooth running of every part of the day. Other highlights included the beautiful outdoor ceremony, the stunning wedding breakfast room and decorations, the dancing setup, and time spent with family.”

The atmosphere was electric yet relaxed, a perfect blend of elegance, tradition, and celebration.

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Honouring Tradition

A key part of their celebration was embracing family traditions that have been passed down through generations.

“We carried on the tradition of the chair lift and breaking of the plates, part of both our heritage and family tradition going back years.”

These meaningful moments added to the day’s sense of joy and connection, with guests cheering, laughing, and celebrating alongside the couple. Clevedon Hall’s flexibility made it easy to bring their cultural traditions to life in a space that felt truly theirs.

The Style

Choosing a timeless look, the couple opted for a classic black-tie theme, which balanced beautifully with the day’s bold colours and lively décor.

“Traditional black-tie event, keeping it classy.”

The contrast between the refined styling and the vivid celebration created an unforgettable aesthetic, sophisticated yet full of life.

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Words of Wisdom

When asked for advice for future Clevedon Hall couples, their response was heartfelt and full of perspective:

“Plan as much as possible, think of every little thing in painstaking detail… then two weeks before, let go. What will be, will be. The more you can accept that, the happier you’ll be on the day.”

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A Heartfelt Thank You

The couple also had a special message for the Clevedon Hall team:

“I know I can speak for both of us when I say that Jess and Kyle are among the main reasons our wedding was as enjoyable—the best day of my life—as it was. You two are exceptional at what you do, and we cannot thank you enough!”

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Photo credit: @cindyrossiterphotography

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