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Champagne Towers Are Wedding Mainstays—Here's How to Craft a Showstopping Bubbly Display for Your Nuptials
They bring a playful and interactive moment to your cocktail hour, reception, or after-party.
If you're currently in the midst of wedding planning, you likely spend much of your time envisioning the grand, showstopping moments that will unfold on your big day—from saying 'I do' to your partner at your ceremony to entering your reception as newlyweds. Yet, when it comes to such a celebration, the smaller details are often what makes the affair truly special for you and your guests; maybe you opt to splurge on luscious floral centerpieces or book a portrait studio for your friends and family to enjoy. However, if you're searching for a photo-worthy, interactive experience that's both functional and stunning, consider a Champagne tower, an tiered arrangement of coupes or flutes that are full of the Expert
Laura Ritchie is the principal designer and CEO of Grit and Grace.
Rebecca Lang is the owner of L3 Events, a wedding and event-planning though it's technically in the name, don't feel obligated to pour Champagne over your tower of coupes. For example, Laura Ritchie, the principal designer and CEO of Grit and Grace, suggests considering dirty martinis as an out-of-the-box alternative. Looking for a non-alcoholic option? Swap a bottle of bubbly out for one containing sparkling cider, says Rebecca Lang, the owner of L3 Events, a wedding and event-planning company. Before committing to such a feature, make sure to to think about the potential cost. The larger the tower, the more bottles of Champagne you'll need to fill all of the glasses.
Below, Ritchie and Lang explain how to best execute a Champagne tower on your big day. Read on for everything you need to know, as well as 10 examples for inspiration.
Related: 28 Late-Night Wedding Snacks You Can Serve on the Dance Floor
Why Are Champagne Towers So Popular?
Rather than simply handing out glasses of bubbly, a Champagne tower offers you the chance to share an experience-driven moment with your loved ones. 'If executed correctly, a Champagne tower is a great way to serve a lot of guests swiftly while also having a fun photo opportunity,' Ritchie says. Many couples see such a display as something that's sophisticated and memorable, Lang adds. 'Champagne towers are visually appealing and add a level of luxury to weddings,' she says. 'The interactive aspect of pouring the Champagne brings excitement to the wedding festivities without disrupting the flow of events too much.'
4 Common Mistakes Couples Make With a Champagne Tower
While a Champagne tower can be an impressive addition to your big day, you'll want to carefully plan the set-up. Below, the experts break down four common mistakes to avoid when crafting such a feature.
1. Not Having Enough Glasses
To create a striking Champagne tower, make sure you have enough glasses. Lang recommends having at least three to four tiers of coupes or flutes. Ritchie echoes this advice: 'You need way more coupes than you think to create a tower.' And remember, the more glasses you have, the more Champagne you'll ultimately need to fill them.
2. Letting the Champagne Get Warm and Flat
Oftentimes, couples find themselves with a tower full of Champagne—and no guests interested in grabbing one of the drinks, Lang says. Don't assume that all of your loved ones will immediately reach for a coupe. 'Stagnant, room temperature Champagne is not becoming,' Ritchie says. 'It's important to have an attendant with the Champagne tower to ensure that the Champagne isn't warm, and to carefully hand out coupes to the guests.'
3. Not Distributing It Equally
One of the most complicated aspects of such a feature is actually pouring the bubbly. 'Sometimes, the Champagne isn't flowing,' Lang says. 'You will have to pour from the sides to fill up the remaining glasses.' To ensure that the alcohol is equally distributed, consider asking an attendant to make any necessary adjustments after you and your partner have your photo-worthy moment.
4. Not Accounting for the Potential Mess
In an ideal scenario, all of the Champagne would make it into the pre-arranged coupes, but this isn't always a reality. 'Double check with your linen company or venue about any contingencies of possibly drenching their linen with Champagne,' says Lang. Otherwise, you may be left with some unexpected charges once the festivities have concluded.
10 Champagne Tower Ideas From Real Weddings
Whether you're envisioning a grand display or small arrangement, take inspiration from the Champagne towers at these real weddings.
A Post-Ceremony Aperitivo
At this minimalist wedding at a villa in Verona, a Champagne tower served as an aperitivo for guests following the ceremony. The six-tier tower, which featured a clean and simple design, added a stunning focal point to the lush outdoor celebration.
A Kickoff to Cocktail Hour
These newlyweds went straight from their ceremony to pouring bottles of bubbly over their Champagne tower at their 60-person celebration in Laguna Beach, California. In addition to the interactive display, which served as the kickoff to cocktail hour, they served three signature drinks: a spritz, an old fashioned, and an olive oil martini.
Dueling Displays
At their destination nuptials in the French countryside, this couple turned their dueling Champagne towers into a lighthearted competition. Amidst the interior of the stately chateau, they each poured a bottle of bubbly over the seven tiers of coupes.
A Four-Tier Arrangement
During their intimate elopement at a villa in Mallorca, this couple made sure to reserve time for a Champagne tower. After exchanging their vows, they both poured the sparkling alcohol over an arrangement of glasses—before celebrating their new martial status with their family members.
An Artful Display With Grapes
For their spring wedding in Los Olivos, California, this couple took inspiration from the stunning wine-country setting for their décor, which included the design of their Champagne tower. With grapes placed in and around the coupes, the artful arrangement perfectly complemented their soft, rustic aesthetic.
A Square-Shaped Tower
This bride and groom made their Champagne tower a key part of their reception. Hosting the festivities at a chateau in France, they poured bottles of bubbly over a square arrangement of glass coupes minutes after their first dance. However, the moment also served another key purpose: a signal to guests that the dinner service was about to begin.
An After-Party Kickoff
Following their ceremony and reception, this couple headed to their after-party, which mimicked the inside of a private club, complete with a lounge area, custom bars, and a dance floor. 'Instead of a traditional wedding cake, we chose to do a Champagne tower,' the bride says. 'This was a fun way to kick off the after-party!'
A Post-Ceremony Celebration
For their fall wedding, this couple hosted a gorgeous European-inspired celebration in the heart of Georgia. After recessing down the aisle, they paused for a moment to pour a bottle of bubbly over a tower, providing the perfect sign for their attendees to migrate into the venue's greenhouse for cocktail hour.
A Grand Finale
At their Mexico wedding, this couple hosted their ceremony and reception on the beach. They concluded the celebration with a grand finale: a fireworks display and a four-tier Champagne tower. In addition to offering coupes to their friends and family, the newlyweds also enjoyed some of the bubbly themselves.
A Celebratory Start to the Weekend
There's no reason why you can't integrate a Champagne tower into other wedding events, such as your welcome party or rehearsal dinner. This couple did just that, pouring a bottle over a towering arrangement of glasses at their pre-nuptial event. 'Surrounded by our nearest and dearest, [we] were cheered on as we poured Champagne into the tower, signaling the start of our wedding celebrations,' the bride said.
Up Next: How Much Alcohol Do You Need for Your Wedding?
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