At Rachel’s Event Catering, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional catering services to make sure your event runs smoothly. While we don’t hold an alcohol license ourselves and cannot supply or purchase alcohol on your behalf, we are more than happy to serve alcohol that is provided by you.
We understand that drinks play an essential role in any event, so we want to offer some expert guidance to ensure your guests are well-served, and your event is a resounding success.
We Serve What You Provide
We believe in offering flexible and professional service, while we are unable to supply or purchase alcohol on your behalf due to licensing restrictions, we’re happy to serve the alcoholic beverages that you provide for your event. Whether you’re hosting a wedding, a corporate gathering, or a private celebration, we can manage the service side of things while you focus on the other details.
Our Drinks Service: Setting Up & Serving with Care
At Rachel’s Event Catering, we don’t just help you choose your drinks – we take care of the entire service, from start to finish. Here’s what we offer:
- Drinks Table Setup: We arrive early to set up a stylish drinks table or drinks station, depending on the style of your event. Guests can either help themselves or be served by our staff.
- Serving Welcome Drinks: We’ll greet your guests with welcome drinks, served at the entrance or wherever you prefer, creating an inviting atmosphere from the very start.
- Wine and Water Top-Ups: During the meal, we ensure wine and water are topped up throughout the event. Our team will circulate discreetly, ensuring glasses are always full.
- Professional Service: Our staff is trained to offer attentive and seamless service. We’ll make sure your guests are comfortable and the service remains smooth, allowing you to relax and enjoy the event.
What Drinks to Provide: Expert Recommendations from Our Experience
To ensure your guests enjoy their drinks and the service runs smoothly, we’ve put together some expert recommendations based on our years of experience in event catering:
1. Welcome Drinks: Set the Tone for Your Event
A welcome drink is a great way to greet your guests and set the tone for the event. Here are some options to consider:
- Prosecco or Champagne: Perfect for weddings or celebratory events, a chilled glass of prosecco or champagne creates an elegant and festive atmosphere.
- Cocktail Options: A signature cocktail—such as a mojito or gin and tonic—can add a personal touch to your event. Choose a cocktail that reflects your event’s theme or vibe to make it stand out.
- Non-Alcoholic Options: It’s important to cater to all your guests. Consider offering a non-alcoholic drink like sparkling elderflower pressé, non-alcoholic prosecco or fresh fruit juice. These options are light and suitable for guests who prefer not to drink alcohol.
2. Wine for the Meal: Pairing for Perfection
Wine is a staple at many events, and having a red and a white wine ensures there’s something for every guest. Here are some great pairings:
- Red Wine: Choose a versatile red such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Pinot Noir. These pair beautifully with red meats, hearty dishes, and casseroles.
- White Wine: A crisp Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay works well with lighter dishes like fish, poultry, and vegetarian options.
- Rosé or Prosecco: For a refreshing alternative, rosé or prosecco is perfect for lighter fare, outdoor events, or to add a bit of sparkle to the occasion.
3. Keep It Hydrated: Water is Essential
It’s always essential to ensure there’s plenty of water available for your guests. Staying hydrated helps keep the mood high and the energy flowing throughout the event.
- Still and Sparkling Water: Offering both still and sparkling water caters to different preferences.
- Water Stations: For larger events, setting up water stations where guests can help themselves is a great idea, ensuring everyone stays refreshed.
4. What to Stock the Bar With
We recommend keeping it simple, yet varied, to ensure everyone’s needs are met while streamlining the service.
Wine and Champagne Selection
A range of wines and champagnes will suit the needs of your guests, especially at weddings and formal gatherings. Consider offering one option from each of these categories:
- White Wine: Popular varieties like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Grigio are versatile and pair well with many dishes.
- Red Wine: For red wine lovers, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir are excellent options.
- Rosé Wine: For something light and refreshing, Provence Rosé or White Zinfandel are great choices.
- Champagne or Sparkling Wine: For toasts or a celebratory touch, opt for a premium champagne like Moët & Chandon or Veuve Clicquot, or choose an affordable sparkling wine such as Prosecco.
Beer and Cider Selection
Beer and cider are popular at most events, and offering a limited selection ensures efficiency while catering to different tastes. Consider offering one option from each of these categories:
- Lager: Heineken, Carlsberg, or Peroni.
- IPA (India Pale Ale): BrewDog Punk IPA, Beavertown Gamma Ray, or Sharp’s Atlantic IPA.
- Pale Ale: London Pride, Fuller’s Ale, or Adnams Ghost Ship.
- Stout: Guinness, Murphy’s Irish Stout, or Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout.
- Cider: Strongbow, Kopparberg, or Bulmers.
5. Non-Alcoholic Options
It is a good idea to provide non-alcoholic drinks for those who don’t drink alcohol or need to drive. Here are a few options to consider:
- Soft Drinks: Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, lemonade, tonic water, ginger ale, or fruit juices (orange, cranberry, apple).
- Non-Alcoholic Wine: A growing selection of alcohol-free wines is available. Consider options like Noughty Sparkling Chardonnay or Freixenet 0.0%.
- Non alcoholic beer: (Heineken 0.0%, old speckled hen alcohol free)
6. Ice
Never forget the importance of ice! You’ll need plenty to keep drinks chilled. Be sure to have enough ice for drink dispensers, coolers, and glasses. Make sure everything stays refreshingly cold for your guests.
Tips for Stocking Your Bar:
- Know Your Guest List: If possible, find out what types of drinks your guests prefer.
- Quantity Matters: research suggests that each guest will have 2-3 drinks in the first hour, and 1-2 drinks per hour after that. Ensure you have enough to keep everyone well-served throughout the event.
By providing a well-thought-out selection of drinks and entrusting us with the service, you can ensure that your guests will be happy, hydrated, and well-catered to throughout the event. Let Rachel’s Event Catering take care of the drinks so you can focus on creating lasting memories with your guests.
