The "Beverage" Dilemma at Weddings: What Level Are Everyone Choosing?

2019.06.27 published

【Curious】What kind of drink options do people typically choose for weddings?

Have you decided on the drink plan for your wedding? The drink options served to guests at weddings can vary: there are pay-per-drink plans and all-you-can-drink plans, with several options available at wedding venues.

With various types and prices of drinks, it can be a dilemma: "Which plan should I choose...?"

Of course, it is best to change the types of alcohol served based on the age group and drinking preferences of the guests, but in reality, it can be challenging to know the drink preferences of tens, or sometimes hundreds, of people.

While it does involve budgeting, the first thing to consider is "what do guests think about the drinks served at weddings?"

I actually asked my friends about their experiences regarding whether they thought "there weren't enough drinks, and it was disappointing" or "there were plenty of drinks, and it was satisfying."*

First, what was the reaction regarding the rank of drinks?

When I talked to friends who attended weddings, their opinions greatly differed based on "how many weddings they have attended!"

Friends who have only attended 2 or 3 weddings mentioned, "I never really thought about the drinks! I just ordered what was on the drink menu," while friends who have attended dozens of weddings and have held their own weddings said, "You can somewhat gauge the rank by the types of drinks! Since I had my own wedding, I think it’s impressive when money has been spent."

This applies to dresses, flowers, and gifts as well, but it seems that individuals who have experienced multiple weddings or have had their own have a different perspective.*

So, what points do guests consider when they feel "satisfied" or "unsatisfied" with the drinks?

【What I Actually Asked】When guests felt there were not enough drinks or were dissatisfied

No cocktails

Limited juice options (only 2 types, like orange juice and oolong tea)

No refills for the champagne toast

They were told that the drink they ordered was not available

【What I Actually Asked】When guests felt there were plenty of drinks or were satisfied

A wide variety of cocktails

A selection format for cocktails (with detailed descriptions of liquors and mixers)

Availability of non-alcoholic cocktails (especially appreciated in rural areas where many guests drive*)

Unlimited champagne

Presence of well-known branded alcohol

A wide selection of juices (more than 5 types)

Availability of sparkling water

Original drinks

Availability of warm beverages

Recommendations for pairing white wine with fish and red wine with meat

Welcome drinks being cocktails

Guests being asked in advance what they would like to drink after the toast

Strawberries in the toast drink

Conclusion 1: Guests are generally satisfied if there are at least basic drink options.

From this, it appears that guests feel less satisfied when there are extremely few types of drinks available or when they are told the drinks they ordered are not available.

For reference, many people mentioned that the standard drink menu includes [beer, red and white wine, sake, shochu, cocktails, and at least 3 types of soft drinks]. If, for example, sake or cocktails are missing from this list, satisfaction tends to decrease...!

Conclusion 2: Increasing the variety of drinks (spending more money) visibly increases satisfaction!

Conversely, guests often feel "amazing!" when there are drinks that go beyond the standard options [beer, red and white wine, sake, shochu, cocktails, and at least 3 types of soft drinks].*

There may be many brides who think, "I’m not sure if spending money will actually make my guests happy..." However, guests seem to feel that a greater variety indicates that they are being genuinely catered to.◎

How to spend money and how guests perceive this varies for everyone.

I shared the rank of drinks at weddings as experienced by my friends.* However, what everyone mentioned was, "I'm just happy to be invited! But if I had to say..." Additionally, there were opinions that they were too busy with performances and entertainment to think about the drinks!

The approach to spending on drinks and guests’ thoughts will vary for each person. Make sure to strive to provide the best hospitality within your means so that your guests feel satisfied!♩