The Best Ways to Keep Guests Hydrated at Your Wedding

Five glass dispensers with infused water featuring strawberries, oranges, lemons, limes, cucumbers, and mint — Photo by Alexandra Lee Photography

From tray-passed signature cocktails at cocktail hour to a tower of Champagne flutes available for the taking at the reception, weddings are usually overflowing with alcohol. While providing your guests with an array of boozy beverages is a considerate gesture that helps create a celebratory vibe, liquor shouldn’t be the only drink available at your nuptials. Weddings often span several hours and involve a lot of dancing (and therefore sweating), so ensuring your family and friends are properly hydrated is essential for their health, safety, and comfort. Every type of affair should have water available, but it becomes increasingly more important at summer weddings, in humid climates, and in areas with high elevation, according to planner Bianca Hall of Estera Events.

Instead of distributing plain cups of water, you can hydrate your guests in a way that tastes delicious and looks decorative. Whether it’s large dispensers or single-serve glasses, including seasonal ingredients will give your water more flavor. For instance, watermelon and mint are perfect for summer bashes, while cranberry and sage will complement the fall season. You can also decorate these drinks with beautiful decorations, such as a bar cart adorned with flowers or individual cups topped with flower petals at garden nuptials. It doesn’t matter when you serve these hydrating drinks: Throw water bottles into welcome bags, set up a hydration station at your ceremony, place water dispensers on your bar, or incorporate all three to quench your guests’ thirst.

Meet the Expert

Bianca Hall is the co-owner and lead planner of Estera Events, a Chicago-based wedding planning company.

Are you looking for more ideas and inspiration? We asked an experienced wedding planner for some of the best ways to incorporate drinks of water into your big day. We’ve also included our favorite ideas below. Here’s how to keep your wedding guests hydrated throughout the celebration.

How to Keep Guests Hydrated at Your Wedding

From the flavors to the location, there are a few different factors you’ll need to keep in mind when planning your hydration station. Here, an expert shares some of her top tips.

Incorporate Fun Flavors

While you can definitely serve water on its own, adding refreshing flavors is an opportunity to satisfy your guests’ taste buds, complement the season or your aesthetic, and add some color to your event. “Rather than doing a simple, plain water station, spice it up a bit,” Hall suggests. “Guests love infused water, and it looks beautiful when displayed, too.” Plus, it's a nice way to ensure that those who don't drink alcohol have something more exciting to sip. For some ideas, Hall enjoys concoctions mixed with cucumber and mint; strawberry, lemon, and ginger; or lemon and blueberry.

Choose an Accessible Location

Serving water at your wedding is essential, but if you place the spread in a location that’s hidden or out of reach, no one will be able to reap the hydrating benefits. Assess the layout of your venue, and identify a spot that your friends and family will notice. “Whether it’s near the entrance to the ceremony, near the dance floor, or on the bars at the reception, make sure your guests have easy and quick access to water wherever possible,” Hall recommends.

Stock Your Setup With Essentials

Water isn’t the only ingredient necessary for a successful hydration station. First and foremost, you’ll need a table, bar, or other structure to place the beverages on, whether they’re dispensers or pre-portioned glasses. If your loved ones will be serving themselves from jugs, Hall advises filling them with ice, so each glass is chilled upon drinking. Then, complete the setup with cups—whether recyclable or glass. Decorations will also make the display more appealing. Hall suggests wrapping the table in a color-coordinating linen and adding edible flower petals to the drinks.

The Best Ways to Hydrate Your Wedding Guests

If you’re still unsure what you want your spread to look like, we’ve compiled a list of 20 unique ideas that are guaranteed to inspire you.

01 of 20

Add Water Bottles to Welcome Bags

A welcome tote bag with Fiji waters, candies, Advil, hand sanitizer spray, Tate's cookies, gourmet popcorn, and an itinerary — Photo by Stephanie Sunderland

While welcome bags aren’t a requirement, they’re a nice touch to thank those who have traveled far distances to witness your vow exchange. In addition to filling them with hangover kits and local treats, add a few water bottles, so your guests will have access to a hydrating drink at the very start of the celebration. Choose your favorite brand or purchase a regional one for destination weddings to introduce loved ones to the culture.

02 of 20

Kick Off Your Ceremony

A hydration station with lemon-infused water at an outdoor ceremony placed at the beginning of the aisle — Photo by Caileigh Langford

A pre-ceremony cocktail hour is an excellent way to encourage your guests to mix and mingle before the rest of the day’s events. To avoid over-serving anyone, stick with non-alcoholic, hydrating drinks. Set up a stand with a water dispenser and glasses at the beginning of your aisle, so attendees can help themselves before taking their seats.

03 of 20

Set Up a Self-Serve Station

An outdoor bar with self-serve dispensers filled with infused water and decorated with pink flowers and a pink striped umbrella — Photo by Ninety Three Creative

Instead of presenting a tray of single-serve cups of water, consider filling a few dispensers with infused water, where guests can serve themselves. Not only will the liquid stay cooler in an iced jug, but also the display will present more decorating opportunities. We love how this spread from this couple’s colorful spring wedding in Cincinnati, Ohio, features a pink and white striped umbrella and bud vases brimming with pink blooms.

04 of 20

Sip from Coconuts

A wooden wagon with shaved coconuts filled with coconut water and engraved with joint initials — Photo by Lilly Red

Who says you have to serve plain water in a no-frills cup? To hydrate your guests at a tropical destination, whether it’s Bora Bora or Aruba, distribute real coconuts filled with fresh coconut water. Coconut water is just as hydrating as regular water, plus the fun glassware will get everyone excited to quench their thirst. You can even personalize each shell with your joint initials and wedding date, like this duo did at their tropical wedding in Jamaica.

05 of 20

Infuse Water with Seasonal Produce

Five dispensers filled with infused water featuring strawberries, oranges, lemons, limes, cucumber, and mint — Photo by Alexandra Lee Photography

If you’re looking to doctor up your dispensers, fill them with in-season fruits, vegetables, and herbs, like this couple did at their botanic garden wedding in Chicago. For summer soirées, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, peaches, watermelon, cucumbers, and many other types of produce are at their peak, which means your water will taste more flavorful. During the winter season, turn to lemons, limes, oranges, kiwi, or other seasonal options.

06 of 20

Take Advantage of the Views

A water station with mason jars of water and dispensers of orange juice overlooking the ocean — Photo by BrancoPrata

While choosing an easily accessible spot for your water-based drinks is the main focus, why not make it scenic, too? Since most of your guests will stop by the water station at some point during your event, position it in front of a picturesque backdrop for them to marvel at. Think: a setup overlooking the ocean at a waterfront affair, the skyline at a rooftop venue, or the rolling hills in the countryside.

07 of 20

Switch Up the Presentation

Gold shelves with glass cups and a glass dispenser with iced water outside — Photo by Caileigh Langford

Most couples serve glasses or jugs of water on a flat surface, whether it’s a table or bar, but for an unexpected display, try a different structure. These gold shelves topped with glass cups and a glass dispenser will coordinate beautifully with a glamorous or contemporary wedding.

08 of 20

Arrange a Bar Cart

A mobile bar cart with a dispenser of lemon and lime-infused water and signature cocktails decorated with pink flowers — Photo by Amber Gress Photography

Another unique display is a bar cart on wheels. At their pink wedding in Westhampton, this pair loaded a chic white mobile cart with a glass vessel filled with lemon and lime-infused water, accompanied by liqueur-based cocktails. For a striking setup at warm-weather events or botanical settings, decorate with a floral installation using hues found in your color palette.

09 of 20

Accompany the Booze

An outdoor bar with bottles of alcohol and a dispenser with lemon ice water — Photo by Brandi Crockett

Infused water is a great addition to any bar, whether it’s for the purposes of making sober guests feel included or providing options for those who want to alternate alcoholic beverages with hydrating ones. Alongside wine, beer, and spirits, consider including a pitcher of ice-cold water combined with citrus fruits, which is a practical and visually appealing addition to summer nuptials.

10 of 20

Create a Branding Moment

The contents of a welcome bag with a camp theme, including a plastic water, a koozie, drinks, and a hat bottle — Photo by Caroline Lima Photography

For those who are interested in distributing welcome bags, you can hydrate your guests by gifting them a reusable water bottle—complete with your very own logo. At this camp wedding in Texas, the duo gave their loved ones custom “Camp Siratt” merchandise as a way to introduce the theme and reference their married last name. One of the items was a plastic water bottle that attendees could fill and refill throughout the wedding, which is both thoughtful and practical.

11 of 20

Give Your Display a Tropical Twist

Wedding drinks cart with glass water containers, green and clear glassware, and coconuts with the couple's initials — Photo by Heather Waraksa

Whether you’re throwing a celebration with a beachy aesthetic or in a coastal locale, choose adornments that will contribute to the intended ambiance. Incorporate colors, textures, and materials that support your vision, like this wooden table featuring citrus accents, coconut shell cups, and green glassware. The palm tree-filled backdrop and sandy surface also channeled the right vibe.

12 of 20

Use Monogrammed Cups

A guest serving themselves a glass of lemon-lime water in a monogrammed plastic cup — Photo by Amber Gress

Reusable plastic cups are sometimes more convenient and functional for a self-serve water station than crystal glassware, but they don’t always look as upscale. To elevate these glasses, engrave them with your custom monogram, using illustrations and colors from your décor. Personalized containers will contribute to a more cohesive affair and make the experience more meaningful for your guests.

13 of 20

Top Glasses With Edible Flowers

A server carrying a tray with glasses of water topped with yellow and purple flower petals — Photo by Abby Jiu Photography

If you’re thinking about enlisting your waitstaff to pass out cups of water instead of having your friends and family serve themselves, there are still plenty of opportunities for embellishments. Edible flower petals will add a pop of color to plain water at any affair, especially garden venues or floral-filled functions.

14 of 20

Provide Multiple Options

Three dispensers with strawberry, cucumber, and orange-infused water and glasses — Photo by Cavin Elizabeth Photography

Since it’s likely that your guests all have different preferences, giving them choices will go a long way—and make your setup more eye-catching. Set up multiple dispensers, each permeated with a different fruit, so everyone will find something that appeals to them. Remember to add signs that list the ingredients in each, so friends and family can make an informed decision.

15 of 20

Choose Your Favorite Flavor

A glass dispenser with ice water infused with watermelon and mint — Photo by Rebecca Yale Photography

On the other hand, you might just want to choose a single type of infused water as an accompaniment to a larger drink station. If that’s the case, settle on your favorite flavor or one that represents your relationship. For instance, maybe you and your partner always guzzle down watermelon and mint-infused water on your annual trip to Florida; sharing that experience with your guests at your reception is a fun idea.

16 of 20

Opt for a Hydrating Signature Cocktail

Four glasses of cucumber water topped with mint on a silver tray — Photo by Jenny Fu Studio

You can even designate an infused water concoction as your signature drink. While this is a great option if you and your partner are sober, a hydrating, zero-proof beverage is also a wonderful accompaniment to alcohol-based cocktails if you don’t want to commit to a completely dry wedding. There are so many ways to dress up these drinks: Swap plain water for sparkling water, mix in cucumber slices, and garnish with mint leaves, for example.

17 of 20

Keep Your Bar Stocked

A self-serve water jug with rosemary and lime and crystal glasses beside it — Photo by M. K. Sadler

There are a few pivotal items needed for a worthwhile setup, and cups are one of the main components. Stock your spread with different types of drinkware, from stemware to stemless glasses, for friends and family to choose from. Then, arrange them on different sized shelves to create depth and dimension.

18 of 20

Offer Other Beverages

Pre-ceremony drinks of water and fruit punch topped with a lime wedge on a wooden tray — Photo by Love Tribe Weddings

Glasses of water don’t have to be the only drink option. Whether you’re setting up the station at your ceremony or cocktail hour, consider including some other alcohol-free beverages, like this berry punch topped with a lime wedge at these brides' Napa Valley micro wedding. Fruit juices might not be as hydrating as water, but they’re tasty and vibrant.

19 of 20

Support the Environment

A welcome tote bag with Cape Cod chips, boxed water, and glassware, — Photo by K.R. Moreno

While many couples include plastic water bottles in their welcome bags, they aren’t always the most sustainable. For an eco-friendly alternative, consider boxed water, which is made with recyclable materials. Weddings generate a lot of waste, so this packaging will help reduce your carbon footprint.

20 of 20

Pair Water With Apple Cider

Apple cider bar with rosemary sprigs and a water station with cranberry and sage — Photo by Marquez Fotos

Spring and summer weddings have a lot of in-season produce on the market that will amplify the taste of water, but the fall and winter also have their fair share of fresh fruits and vegetables. If you’re saying “I do” in the autumn, fill one dispenser with cranberry and sage water and the other with rosemary apple cider. Guests will be able to hydrate and enjoy a wide array of seasonal flavors.

How to Serve Mocktails at Your Wedding–Plus, 20 Ideas to Inspire Your Own