Weddings are steeped in tradition, from the white gown to the tiered cake and, of course, the quintessential champagne toast. However, as modern couples seek more personalized and unique celebrations, the time-honored Champagne Toast is facing a challenger: the Drink-in-Hand Toast. This evolving trend is not just a deviation from tradition; it’s a refreshing shift that brings a host of benefits, making it worth considering for your big day.
Let’s start by defining the terms:
- Champagne Toast: A glass of Champagne (or any specific drink) is poured for each guest, and often passed around table-side, or lined up at the bar if there is limited staffing and not one assigned ahead of time to pass to guests.
- Drink-in-Hand Toast: Where guests cheers and give toasts to whatever drink they choose with no Champagne passed to guests. Oftentimes, the DJ or MC will announce that toast will be happening soon (at least15-minutes before) so guests can replenish their drink if needed at the bar.
So let’s get to it, and raise a glass (of whatever you fancy) to the reasons why swapping out the champagne toast for a drink-in-hand toast might just be the right move for your wedding:
1. Personalization and Flexibility
The beauty of a drink-in-hand toast lies in its flexibility. While Champagne has been the go-to, not everyone enjoys it. Offering a variety of beverages—whether it’s wine, craft beer, a signature cocktail, or even non-alcoholic options—allows guests to choose what they truly prefer. It’s a chance to reflect your tastes as a couple and cater to the diverse preferences of your guests.
2. Wasted Champagne
Of course, there are plenty of guests who LOVE Champagne or any sort of bubbly (me raising hand), but as Bartenders – and the ones who clean up the tables – there is ALWAYS wasted Champagne that people choosing to drink will accept out of obligation to keep with the “tradition” and takes a small sip to “keep in the spirit” but then opt to continue the cheers with their preferred drink they already had in-hand. If it were one or two guests, it wouldn’t be worth mentioning, but sometimes it can be upwards of 50% of your guests. That’s a lot of wasted money down the drain (literally) just to keep with tradition.
If you’re like us, who love a glass of bubbly, there’s a compromise. Opt for a drink-in-hand toast, but offer Champagne as an option on the menu. That way those who want a glass can enjoy it either during the toast, or at any point during the reception, and those who don’t can’t stick with their alternative beverage of choice. You’ll save money with needing less bottles, and there won’t be any additional waste.
3. Cost-Efficiency
Champagne toasts can be expensive, especially for larger weddings – no matter if you’re providing the alcohol, or it is sourced through your bar service. Factoring in the added needs and supplies; the extra bottles that are often fairly pricy, the rental of the additional glassware or purchasing tossware, the additional supplies needed like ice buckets, additional ice, and added labor cost to make sure there are people to pass out the toasting glasses to all the guests in a timely manner.
Opting for a variety of beverages can help manage costs without compromising on quality. Additionally, it allows for more budget allocation towards other elements that matter to you as a couple.
4. Sustainability and Environmental Consciousness
Reducing waste is a growing concern for many couples – and seeing how much waste is produced, it is for us too. Champagne toasts can add upwards of 100+ add cups tossed, additional bottles shipped from France (if sticking with Champagne), and more space needed during transport and clean-up. However, choosing to skip the single-use champagne flutes for a drink-in-hand toast can significantly reduce the wedding’s environmental impact.
If you do stick with a toast, encouraging the use of reusable glasses like our Champagne Flute rental, or our eco-friendly biodegradable tossware that we include with services, aligns with a more sustainable approach, if budget doesn’t allow or if they just don’t work for the venue requirements.
5. Still Doing a Champagne Toast
We get it, some people just want a Champagne toast for tradition or to have an elevated experience of elegance, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. We are happy to help, and if you opted for another bar service, I’m sure they are as well.
With that said, a few tips to consider to cut the cost, reduce waste, and still offer flexibility:
- Consider other bubbly options. As you may know, Champagne is a sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France, and along with it comes a great flavor, tradition of excellence, pedigree among the wine world, and is synonymous with bubbly. However, there are plenty of other options to look into. Sparkling Wine can come from anywhere – including many locally-made. There is also Cava from Spain, Prosecco from Italy, and many others from different regions, that all may be more cost-effective.
- Glassware rental. Opt for flutes – it will reduce the waste of tossware and add that traditional “cheers” sound as the glasses clink together.
- Hybrid Toast. Paired with the NEXT bullet point below, have your DJ or MC announce the toast will be happening in 15-minutes, and the staff will be making there way around with glasses to those who’d like to partake in Champagne, but the bar is still open if anyone would like to opt for any other option.
- Proper Staffing & Planning. Give the Bartender at least a 30-minute heads up on when the toast will be happening. Don’t surprise them by announcing to guests that the toast will be happening soon. Let them prepare by getting everything ready and have all hands on deck. Opening those bottles can take a bit of time – even for experienced pros – and if you multiply that by at least 12 bottles, that time can add up – so give them a warning to at least prepare the bottles if not open some a few minutes ahead of time. Have your Coordinator or Vendor Point-of-Contact talk to the bar staff first, so they can get things ready, then about 15-minutes before the toast is to begin, have the bar staff start passing the glasses tableside – if there is enough staffing. If there is only one Bartender they can line them up at the bar – so guests can walk up to the designated table or bar area and grab a glass that has been poured without the Bartender leaving the bar unattended, so those who opt for a different beverage can do so simultaneously.
In embracing change, it’s essential to consider the comfort and preferences of both you and your guests. The shift from a Champagne Toast to a Drink-in-Hand toast isn’t just about breaking tradition—it’s about creating an experience that resonates with the essence of your celebration.
Do what YOU feel is best for your vision, budget, and wants. It is your day – no one else. If you want a Champagne Toast, do it. If you want to cut cost or bypass the the frill, do it.
So, as you plan your special day, consider the possibilities a drink-in-hand toast offers – even if someone is telling you “it’s a must” (spoiler alert; nothing is a must on your day). Whether it’s a craft beer, a curated wine selection, a non-alcoholic beverage that speaks to your story, this trend might just be the refreshing twist your wedding needs. After all, there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to love, celebration, and toasts!
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