15 Best Coffee Station Ideas for Your Wedding Reception

Bride and groom holding coffee mugs and kissing in front of a mobile coffee truck — Photo by Jennifer Larsen

There’s no question that drinks are an important part of creating a celebratory atmosphere and keeping the momentum going at your wedding. Wine, beer, and spirits are probably some of the first refreshments that come to mind, but for a unique idea that will set your soirée apart, consider serving your friends and family coffee at a designated station. For one, giving guests a caffeine kick will provide a boost that will fuel them for a night of dancing. “To keep the party and energy up, we always encourage a coffee moment,” planner Laura Ritchie of Grit & Grace says. Incorporating a coffee bar is also a worthwhile idea if the beverage has strong ties to your relationship. Perhaps you met at a coffee shop, or maybe your favorite part of the day is sitting at the kitchen table beside your partner every morning with a cup of Joe in hand.

Meet the Expert

Laura Ritchie is the principal designer and stylist at Grit & Grace, a luxury event planning firm based in Washington, D.C. She has over 15 years of experience in the wedding industry.
Syrhonda Calhoun is a professional wedding planner at A Monique Affair, a wedding and event planning company based in Oakland, California.

No matter how coffee plays a part in your life, there are so many ways to share your passion for the drink with your loved ones. For a simple approach, set up a self-serve table with a pot of iced coffee and fun glassware. To go all out, install a mobile coffee cart or parked trailer and hire a barista to do the honors. Richie also suggests giving your spread a meaningful touch, whether it’s using your favorite local brew or displaying your joint initials on espresso martinis. Whether you serve lattes at cocktail hour or coffee milkshakes at the reception, these drinks will make a splash at any point during your celebration.

Looking for more inspiration? We’ve gathered a list of our favorite ways to include a coffee station at your party. Ahead, 15 coffee bar ideas for your wedding.

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Bring in a Mobile Coffee Truck

A mobile coffee truck with paper cups and a tray with a lamp, a menu, and napkins — Photo by Eve Yarbrough

For a one-of-a-kind display, set up a mobile coffee truck, where a barista whips up your drink. Provide every type of coffee imaginable, from double espressos and cappuccinos to lattes and Americanos. Just make sure you complete your station with a menu that clearly displays the names of each beverage, so your guests won’t have any issues placing their order. A coffee cart will also make a great photo op, whether it’s situated outside or indoors.

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Design a Modern Setup

A modern coffee bar in black and white with arched signs, joint initials, and play-on words — Photo by Photography by Kylee

Not only do coffee bars give your guests a caffeine fix, but they also help establish your aesthetic. To maintain a sense of cohesion, infuse your station with the colors and designs that are seen throughout the rest of the function. If you’re planning a wedding with a modern theme, for instance, painting your coffee cart in black and white and showcasing clean lines will reinforce the overall look and feel of your day. With a minimalist design, nods to your love story, like your fused initials and “The perfect blend” wordplay, will take center stage.

03 of 15

Serve Coffee-Based Cocktails

Coffee cocktails in mugs with monogrammed stirrers and cocktail napkins — photo by Joel Serrato

Although coffee is typically non-alcoholic, spiking your beverages with a splash of liquor will really up the ante. Coffee-based drinks make a fun and unique signature cocktail, while energizing guests for the next phase of festivities. Planner Syrhonda Calhoun of A Monique Affair suggests going for a classic drink, like Irish coffee. You can also get creative with your pick-me-up, such as whipped coffee white Russians, Long Island iced coffee, or cold brew bourbon cocktails. Serve your drinks from mugs and arrange them on a bar, complete with monogrammed cocktail napkins.

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Decorate With Coffee-Themed Accents

Antique coffee grinder with coffee beans and a newspaper marriage announcement — Photo by Chris & Ruth Photography

If you’re hosting a vintage-inspired fête, integrate an antique coffee grinder into your station. While the apparatus will certainly add an old-world flair to your coffee bar, it isn’t just for decoration: Guests can take a turn at manually turning the handle for an interactive feature. With this machine, you can prepare high-quality coffee, from French press to Turkish coffee.

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Offer Various Flavors

A coffee station outside with a copper urn beside bottles of flavored syrup — Photo by Heather Waraksa

Black coffee has its strengths (pun intended), but there are so many opportunities to experiment with delicious flavors. At your coffee bar, set up a wide array of syrup bottles, such as elderberry or lavender, for guests to create their own blend after brewing a cup from a copper coffee urn. You can even select tastes that suit the season, whether it’s cinnamon in the fall or caramel in the winter.

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Revamp a Parked Trailer

A mobile coffee truck with wood panels and a side table with a wooden sign — Photo by Jennifer Larsen

Instead of using a plain table to generate your coffee station, set up shop from a trailer. Serving coffee from a parked vehicle will infuse your big day with a statement-making detail while creating a more enjoyable experience for your friends and family. Research mobile coffee companies near your locale, and choose one that suits your aesthetic and vibe. This one shown above has wood panels and a white base that would perfectly complement a botanical soirée in the great outdoors.

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Create a Homey Display

A coffee bar made with an antique chest of drawers and mugs in the drawers — Photo by Kendra Farris Photography

Displaying heated dispensers of coffee on a wooden chest of drawers will make it seem like you’re enjoying a cup of joe from the comfort of your own living room. Using a vintage piece of furniture as your bar will augment a rustic theme by evoking a cozy, welcoming feel. We also love the functionality of this design since the drawers provide ample storage for mugs.

08 of 15

Serve Espresso Martinis

Espresso martinis with the couple's joint initials monogrammed in the liquid — Photo by Jessa Schifilliti

At weddings, espresso martinis are on the rise. To keep up with the trend, bring these caffeinated boozy beverages to your coffee bar. Present them on a table, wrapped in a luxurious linen that suits your color palette. For a personal touch, Calhoun advises customizing each cocktail with your monogram or an edible image. Serve them during cocktail hour as your signature cocktail or offer them to guests at the end of the party as a late-night pick-me-up.

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Make It Interactive

A barista pouring coffee into a wedding guest's mug at an interactive coffee station — Photo by Erin McGinn Photography

Grabbing a cup of joe from a tray is definitely worthwhile, but making your coffee bar interactive will enhance the experience for your friends and family. “You can hire an expert barista to come pour hand-crafted coffee and give tips and tricks that they can take home with them,” Calhoun recommends. This activity will also encourage your friends and family to strike up a conversation and get to know one another better.

10 of 15

Encourage Guests to Visit a Self-Serve Station

A table with pots of coffee, flavored syrups, straws, stirrers, and plastic cups — Photo by Anna Kardos Photography

As an equally enjoyable yet simpler alternative, set up a self-serve station. With this type of spread, guests can help themselves to cups of coffee without having to wait in long lines. To pull this off, all you’ll need are jugs of iced coffee, plastic cups, stirrers, and straws. You can even add flavored syrups to give loved ones the ability to create their own recipe.

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Focus on the Décor

A coffee bar decorated with greenery garlands, pampas grass, roses, and a patterned rug — Photo by Ann Mark Photo

Once you’ve selected the type of coffee for your spread, it’s time to decorate the station. There’s nothing wrong with arranging your caffeinated beverages from a bare bar, but trimming your setup with adornments will take your display to the next level. This station from Creature Coffee Co includes a greenery garland and potted plants draped along the countertop, a ground installation of pampas grass and roses, and a geometric rug, which would look stunning on display at a bohemian bash.

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Illuminate the Spread

A white chest of drawers with fold wire lanterns and a drawer filled with eucalyptus and flowers — Photo by Onelove Photography

One decoration you don’t want to forget is lighting, especially if your coffee bar will make an appearance near the end of your reception after the sun sets. Flanking your setup with gold wire lanterns will add a glitzy edge to your station, and the light source will allow guests to grab their beverages safely and easily.

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Watch a Demonstration

A barista pouring coffee during an interactive demonstration — Photo by Shaw Photography Co.

Another interactive experience for your coffee bar is a brewing demonstration. With this type of activity, friends and family will watch a barista demonstrate different brewing methods, such as pour-over, French press, or cold brew. The presentation itself will be unforgettable, and guests will know how to replicate the methods at home after the wedding.

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Turn It Into a Dessert

Coffee milkshakes with whipped cream, cookies, and caramel drizzle — Photo by Casey Hendrickson Photography

One of our favorite ways to serve coffee is in dessert form. Consider creating a spread of milkshakes with coffee ice cream, topped with whipped cream, wafer cookies, and caramel drizzle. Present these sugary beverages on a tray and sprinkle coffee beans around the glasses. To make sure kids and non-coffee drinkers are satisfied, provide chocolate milkshakes or hot chocolate as an additional option.

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Give Coffee Grounds as Favors

Grounded in faith escort card display with coffee bean escort cards — Photo by Kaylee Chelsea Photography

Instead of providing your guests with a cup of joe to savor on the spot, give them coffee grounds to use after the celebration concludes. Bags of ground coffee beans can double as escort cards and wedding favors. At your station, suspend a sign that includes clever play-on words, like “Grounded in faith and love.”

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