Many wedding guests will choose to attend the reception that follows the ceremony because they know there will be entertainment and refreshments. Some people look forward to the refreshments because the wedding ceremony was long and people have a tendency to get extremely thirsty when this occurs. The wedding refreshments will be the focal point for many that attend the reception and the happy couple can visit guests easier when they stand by these tables.



The selection of which type of wedding refreshments to serve guests during the reception is generally left to the bride and groom. Some families do not consume alcohol and the refreshments that are served will follow suit. Guests can still enjoy cool things to drink before and after the meal, but nobody will have to worry about who will be able to drive when the reception is over. Most non-alcoholic refreshment selections for a wedding reception will center around punch, colas or juices or a favorite recipe that has been served at weddings for many years.

The bride and groom might hire a professional bartender to serve refreshments at the reception. The bar might be open to anyone of legal age, and guests can select from a myriad of drinks that are on the wedding reception drink list. Most refreshments served at receptions in this manner will be mass produced and delight guests with offerings such as Mai Tai's, Fuzzy Nipples or Pina Coladas. For name brand drink selections, guests would be expected to pay per drink for their refreshments. The under-age drink selections can be prepared by the bartender or offered in a serve yourself arrangement at the end of the bar.

Most wedding receptions will feature refreshments that are easy to access and enjoy throughout the day. The bride and groom can select a fruit punch and choose to serve it in an elaborate and decorative way. The punch can be dispensed in a silver fountain that will add a decorative touch to the wedding reception hall decorative theme. Guests can expect to be served a chilled drink very quickly in a decorative glass that can be taken anywhere in the room and enjoyed while mingling with other guests who came to share this happy event.

Older guests might prefer refreshments that are hot and steamy. A bride and groom might choose to serve Columbian coffee in elegant silver pots and steep water for hot tea at the bar. The reception tables can be outfitted with a variety of sugar and sugar substitutes and the creamers could be displayed in elegant pourers with charming arms that pertain to Victorian or other eras gone by. Flavored coffees will make marvelous refreshments for guests that want something different.

A bride might choose to give favors to each guest that will provide refreshments when they get home. Many wedding favors are available that provide wedding guests with single servings of coffee, teas and hot chocolate that were made in different parts of the world. These flavored coffee and teas can be prepared at work or at home on nights when the wind chill factor is low. Guests are sure to be refreshed after drinking such items and will remember the happy times that they had at the wedding reception each time a new cup of coffee is served.