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Updated Sep 09, 2024This Is the Only Champagne Tower Wedding Advice You Need
Have the luxurious photo op you've always wanted.
You've probably noticed while scrolling through your social media feed that a champagne tower wedding craze is happening. (Some couples are even replacing the bubbles with their favorite mixed drink, a new wedding cocktail trend.) Whether it's because of the rise of the old money wedding aesthetic or the structure's Instagrammable nature, the tower is back and bigger than ever. But it doesn't matter if you want to have a wedding champagne tower as a stylish decorative piece or as a substitute for a cake-cutting ceremony, this creative way of serving bubbles takes a bit of planning. Read our expert tips to learn exactly how to pull it off. Plus, see our favorite real wedding photos of mesmerizing champagne towers that'll leave you inspired.
Champagne tower wedding tips you need to know: Cost | How to Find Rentals | Ideas | FAQs | Considerations | How to Make
Champagne Tower Wedding Cost
Wondering how much a champagne tower at a wedding costs? The total price tag, including glasses, champagne and professionals hired, is between $150 to $500. This isn't a big surprise since The Knot 2023 Real Weddings Study found that the average cost of alcohol was just under $2,800. Calsin Hoyle, bar connoisseur and owner of Molecular Food & Cocktails, tells us why the champagne tower expense varies so greatly. "The cost varies significantly based on factors such as the number of tiers, glass rental fees, champagne selection and additional services like professional setup. Discuss with the catering or bartending team to ensure you achieve a great experience that's within your budget."
How to Find Champagne Tower Rentals Near You
For those looking for luxe, classic wedding ideas, a champagne tower is the right decor and reception activity for you and your partner. If you don't want to own 40 coupe glasses after the wedding, consider glass rentals. Go to The Knot Vendor Marketplace to the bar services or rentals tabs to find vendors in your marrying location. From there, use our handy filter to search by distance, award winners and diversity support.
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Wedding Champagne Tower Ideas
Need help visualizing a champagne tower at your wedding? Check out these real wedding photos of newlyweds who incorporated glamorous bubbly displays into their day.
Small Champagne Tower at an Outdoor Wedding
This beautiful couple did a ceremonial pour for their champagne tower. This is the perfect method for short champagne towers because it's easier and quicker to pour for the top tier, while the bottom-tier glasses are filled ahead of time.
Champagne Pyramid at a Winter Wedding
Don't be afraid of hiring a bartender to set up your champagne tower. You can ask the staff to put your tower in different shapes, like these newlyweds, who had theirs in a triangle shape for each tier.
Champagne Tower as Wedding Centerpiece
Consider setting up your champagne tower like this upscale display. It can be a great focal point when guests first enter the reception, especially if you use a sparkling rosé that catches the eye.
Joint Pour for a Short Champagne Tower
Build your tower on a table with plenty of space around the lower base like this bride and groom did for their reception. Finish the setup with a tablecloth for decorative flair and to absorb spills.
Modern Champagne Tower Setup
This couple added a clear tray underneath their champagne tower. This item helps prevent overflowing champagne from getting on the table and making it sticky.
Classic Champagne Tower With Tinted Coupes
This sophisticated champagne tower made of beautiful iridescent coupe glasses is a good option if you want to switch it up. These glasses are best placed outside or where the sun's rays can bounce off them for a dazzling appearance.
Wedding Champagne Tower Frequently Asked Questions
Executing a champagne tower isn't intuitive. Below are answers to some of the most common inquiries about the display.
When To Do a Champagne Tower at a Wedding
Some couples have the tower ready after the ceremony so guests can immediately grab a drink and socialize. Other couples opt to do the champagne tower pour after the toasts, dinner or cake-cutting ceremony. "Ideally, the champagne tower reveal and photo opportunity should occur during the reception, either at the beginning to initiate the festivities or following speeches, when the majority of guests are present and attentive," Hoyle adds. Your wedding planner or venue coordinator can help determine the best time for the photo op based on your wedding day timeline.
Who Sets Up the Champagne Tower?
"A competent caterer or bartending service should build a champagne tower due to their expertise in handling delicate structures and ensuring safety. A team with years of experience in precision and safe, visually appealing champagne tower construction is crucial for the tower's success," Hoyle says.
Do Guests Drink From the Glasses After the Tower Is Made?
Of course, a champagne tower isn't only for looks, but Hoyle recommends going about the process the right way. Lowering the risk of glass breaking and the tower's stability during the disassembly is crucial. "Bartenders should assist guests to ensure a controlled and safe deconstruction process. Have a team member monitor the operation and guide or instruct guests to begin at the lower tiers and work their way up. Your goal is to maintain the tower's integrity," Hoyle advises.
What Is the History and Origin of Champagne Towers?
Champagne towers are often considered symbols of opulence and celebration, but where did the grand structure come from? It's said the champagne tower originated in medieval Europe thanks to aristocratic groups, but the first creation of a tower is unknown. What is public knowledge is the origin of the coupe, the chosen glassware for the champagne tower.
It's always been rumored the glass' look was modeled after the shape of Marie Antoinette, Helen of Troy or Madame de Pompadour's breast, but that myth has been debunked. According to Claire Carusillo of Eater, King James I banned wood-burning ovens in 1621, which initiated the coupe's creation since the Britsh were "forced to use hotter-burning fuels like coal, which ushered in an era of sturdier glass. Higher oven temperatures allowed for the creation of bottles with the structural integrity to withstand the pressure of effervescent liquids without exploding..." These lead oxide-fortified cups gained popularity for their shine, but also their increased weight, which is why they were shaped into wider bowls with shorter stems to account for their heaviness. Even though inspired by the look of cider and ale goblets, "the bowl of the coupe—designed specifically for drinking sparkling wine—was smaller than that of its cider and ale counterparts because the liquid itself was more expensive and had a higher percentage of alcohol, and as such was consumed in smaller servings," Carusillo explains.
The storied history of the champagne tower continues to evolve. In 2022, Atlantis, The Palm and Moët & Chandon worked together for five days for a total of 55 hours to create the world's largest drinking glass pyramid, which was 27 feet tall and made of 54,740 coupe glasses, to ring in the New Year.
Champagne Tower Considerations
If you're planning on having champagne at your wedding (or wedding-related event), you're probably wondering if you should have a champagne tower. There are pros, like the visual appeal and guest involvement, but there are cons too, like spills, broken glass and the cost. Besides the obvious ups and downsides of having a champagne tower, check out these other considerations before making a final decision.
Get Insurance
Before starting the planning process for your tower, you'll have to confirm your venue allows them. If the setup is incorrect, your champagne tower has a higher risk of toppling over, which can result in broken glass, spillage and injuries. Because of this, some wedding venues don't want to take the chance and don't allow champagne towers on the premises. Luckily, these displays are coming back into style, so venues are more willing to have them with a few rules. You have to test the structure before the event, you can only have a certain amount of glasses or tiers in the tower and, most importantly, you have liability insurance. Liability insurance is one of the two types of wedding insurance coverage that every to-be-wed should have. Not only does it cover alcohol-related accidents, but it protects you from being responsible for any other accidents that may occur during your ceremony or reception.
Use Coupe Glasses
We've seen a variety of cocktail glasses used for the tower, like martini and margarita glasses, but we suggest you stick to the traditional coupe glass. Coupes are the best for stacking because they are short glasses with a wide bowl and thick stem—making them less likely to fall over when stacked on top of one another. Also, you've probably seen lots of photos on social media of couples using glass coupes for their towers. But for those who want to take extra safety precautions, we suggest you use shatterproof glassware. By using shatterproof glassware, usually made of high-quality plastic or plastic substitutes, you'll ensure no one has to pick up glass shards at your event. (We promise no one will be able to tell the difference.)
Determine How Many Champagne Bottles You'll Need
The most important step to making the champagne tower of your dreams is getting the right amount of bubbly. "You need to determine how many glasses you have and multiply that by how many ounces each glass holds, and that will tell you how many ounces of champagne you'll need," Brian A.M. Green, planning expert and owner of By BrianGreen, explains. "Then you divide that by the quantity per champagne bottle." Green advises you always get extra bottles to make up for any mishaps. And remember, the more bottles you need directly impacts your wedding bar budget, especially if you're buying expensive champagne.
Since we're already talking about champagne bottles, you should know there are two ways to pour them. The first option is to start with empty glasses and pour the champagne into the top glass so it overflows and spills all the way down the tower, filling the glasses below. "This requires lots of champagne, and while a show stopper, it takes a very long time to fill the glasses this way," Green says. The other method is what Green recommends, which is building the tower with most of the glasses already full and leaving the top tier empty for a ceremonial pour. The overflow from the top will gradually cascade down to the other glasses below, which decreases the chance of the tower falling from being too top-heavy, but still leaves you and your partner with some beautiful wedding pictures.
Decorate the Champagne Tower's Surroundings
Yes, the tower is a marvel, but that doesn't mean you can't enhance its beauty. Below are four ways Hoyle suggests you make your display more unique.
- Color-Coded Champagne: Once the tower is built, pour small drops of food-safe dye into the top-tier glasses. The color will trickle down, gradually mixing and creating a gradient effect through the tower. Choose colors that blend well to avoid muddy tones.
- Molecular Mixology: Add molecular elements like spherification beads or edible pearls into the top-tier glasses. Pouring the champagne over these components will cause them to flow down with the liquid and disperse throughout the tower
- Aromatic Mists or Smoke: Load a small diffuser or smoke gun with edible aromatic mist or smoke and place it near the tower's base. As the smoke rises, it will wrap around the glasses and infuse the champagne with its aroma.
- LED Lights: Place small, submersible LED lights around the tower's base or into the lower glasses. This creates an illuminated effect from the bottom up, highlighting the tower in low-light conditions. This decor idea is particularly noticeable at evening receptions.
How to Make a Champagne Tower
Building a champagne tower can be a fun activity for you and your partner, but it must be done properly. And if you're thinking about doing a big DIY champagne tower, Green suggests hiring an experienced catering team or wedding bartenders to help. But if you're determined to make one on the smaller side, follow these steps (please note, these instructions are only for coupe glasses):
- Find a stable place to create your tower. "Ensure you have a solid base to build the tower on. The table cannot be wobbly or too narrow. Ensure you have lots of room because that'll be your lowest base," Green says. Also, ensure the floor or base is stable and level, so avoid grass, gravel or uneven surfaces.
- Now it's time to use your wedding alcohol calculator. Do a little math based on the number of glasses needed and how tall you want your tower to be, which should always have one glass for the top tier. Green offers a great example of how to set one up: "The tier below the first tier should have four (2x2 = 4) glasses. Then the third tier should have nine (3x3 = 9), 16 (4x4 = 16) on the tier below that one and finally 25 glasses on the bottom tier." Need more than five tiers? "If you want to keep going, you will need to add tiers that are one number bigger, multiplied by itself," Green adds. For example, if you want six tiers, do 6x6, which equals 36 glasses for the bottom tier.
- Now that you know how tall your wedding champagne tower will be, you can start building. Green's final tip for how to build a champagne tower is to carefully place the glasses in a square as close together as possible. Then, keep layering one tier at a time.
