2024: What is the Most Popular Glassware for Events?
Not long ago, I went to a networking happy hour and ordered a drink (a Diet Coke to be precise) which was served in … a long stemmed wine glass! At the time, I thought 3 things:
1 – Weird;
2 – Kind of Cool – It was definitely a conversation starter;
3 – Did they forget to order alternate drink glasses?
I made it my mission to observe everyone else’s glasses and in the end, concluded that they had most likely run out of all other glassware and ended up using the only thing they had left.
The whole experience did make me think about what I would have done if I had planned the event. What kinds of glasses would I have ordered? How many? Diet Coke in stemware is definitely a novelty but personally that’s not the impact I would want to make on my guests if I were doing the planning.
As we all know, when throwing an event, there are so many things to consider – I blog about a different one almost every week. The type of glassware and how much glassware is part of the planning.
What Type of Glassware Do I Need?
If you are looking for more specific glassware to highlight the drinks you are serving, there are many options to choose from. Wine glasses, beer glasses, champagne flutes, coffee mugs, water glasses, … and the list goes on. The key here is to decide exactly what you are planning to serve and the most appropriate glasses for those drinks. If you are looking for some flair, consider that too. If you are serving wine in a more casual setting, perhaps you should consider a cool stemless glass that is easy to hold and can double as a water glass in a pinch. For a more elegant event, stemware with a gold rim or unique shape? As with all of your event needs, the sky is really the limit.
If you haven’t yet decided what drinks you will be serving or you need a one size fits all option, consider Rocks Glasses. These are the glasses you have seen a million times holding your water, gin and tonic, and soft drinks. I grew up drinking everything from milk to Shirley Temples out of these at the restaurant near my parents house. Rocks glasses are by far the most popular event glasses because of their versatility. Perfect for wine, mixed drinks, and non-alcoholic beverages, these are elegant and offer the utmost flexibility. (If my Diet Coke was served in a Rocks glass rather than a wine glass, I wouldn’t have thought twice about it.)
How Many Glasses Do You Actually Need?
Once you know what type of glassware you want, you need to figure out how many glasses you will need. In simple terms, a rule of thumb is 1.5 glasses per person for the first hour and 1 per person for each additional hour. If you have 100 guests for a 2 hour party, you would need 250 glasses which can be calculated as follows:
100 guests x 1.5 first hour = 150 glasses
100 guests x 1 second hour = 100 glasses
Total = 250 glasses
For more details on numbers, check out our blog entitled How Many Glasses Do I Need?
While you may find the glassware options overwhelming, with a little thought and planning you can find the perfect option for any drinks you wish to serve and you may even have a little fun with it. And if it is all too much … go for the Rocks Glass!
Contact Us For Help Planning Your Event