Not sure if this is a question for here or for 'general' so am asking in both :-)

Wedding for 86 people is coming up very fast! Food is sorted as is dessert. Beer and wine is under control but now I need to order the fizzy drink. Countdown has coke/sugar free coke/coke zero/lemonade/sugar free lemonade/L and P/sugar free L and P. Any help on quantities would be greatly appreciated! Am thinking of not offering L and P and keeping it simple with coke and lemonade, sugar and without.
Roughly half of the guests are friends of the bride and groom (late twenty to early thirty something year olds) and half are family so a bit older.

Will get juice when it is on special, but any ideas on quantities gratefully accepted!

Thanks for any insights!

Edited by shepa1 at 9:53 pm, Thu 7 Mar

shepa1 - 2019-03-07 21:41:00

Who are you buying the fizzy drinks for? If for the sober drivers rather than teenagers/kids then get something other than just coke or lemonade - lemon lime & bitters or ginger beer, soda water, tonic water

sarahb5 - 2019-03-08 22:39:00

See if you are able to return any unopened bottles? That way you can order lost and feel safe you will have enough.

jan2242 - 2019-03-09 11:31:00

Thanks for the thoughts. Went and got 6 of each so 24 bottle....should have seen the looks when I was pushing that lot around the supermarket. Did think of lemon lime and bitters so got a lime cordial and will get some bitters. Didn't think of soda/tonic water but did get L & P ginger beer. Whew! Any leftovers won't go to waste as cannot take them back to shop.

shepa1 - 2019-03-09 17:47:00

How long is your event??
People will drink less at an event which is 4 hours long, than even which is 8 hours long.

How would you categories the guests - heavy drinks (beers/wine) will drink less soft drink than the tea total great aunts??

I agree - keep it simple... coke/lemonade/diet... and stop there..

duckmoon - 2019-03-09 18:15:00

Also, if you over buy - then "on special" 1.5 litre fizzy isn't going to cost a fortune on the over spend.

duckmoon - 2019-03-09 18:16:00

Final comment:
When is the event.
I went to a wedding first week in the December - it was a scorcher of a day -the soft drinks went without 30 minutes. (Self catered)

If you are having an Easter wedding - the weather will be (probably) cooler.

duckmoon - 2019-03-09 18:17:00

You will also need tonic.

buzzy110 - 2019-03-09 18:37:00

Wedding is 5 weeks away yesterday...sounds dreadfully close, I must try on my dress and shoes to make sure they still fit!
I would say half of the guests are friends of the bride and groom and pretty good at making the beer and wine disappear :-) and half are family who are more soft-drink drinkers.
Anyway, I think we have plenty, would be terrible to run out so early in the day, duckmoon! Will get tonic as well...any brand better than another?

shepa1 - 2019-03-09 18:49:00

Might I suggest that you make an alcohol-free punch?
Pinto makes a good mix that you make up with cold tea, ginger beer and lemonade. A 2 litre bottle of it, at around $10 plus soft drink mixers and ice, serves about 50, if I recall correctly. It's also delicious.
Another thing.... a good barman/waiter is worth his/her money at these things, because they can regulate the drink intake, subtly.
A friend and I used to cater for weddings, and I've seen the havoc that ensues when some idiot over-imbibes!

punkinthefirst - 2019-03-09 19:27:00

I made a punch for Christmas and I have no idea what I did, but it was horrible so have been put off punch for life! Yes we have a barman, well two actually. I 'waitressed' their wedding and they are barmen for our daughter's one. They will pull no punches at limiting the alcohol if necessary!

shepa1 - 2019-03-09 22:15:00