Champagne Pyramid: How-To Guide for Your Wedding

What was the prosecco wall last year has undeniably become this year’s champagne pyramid, almost a MUST-HAVE at your wedding. Truth be told, I’m a huge fan of this wedding trend too. But how does it all work? What shapes exist, and what should you consider with this trend? Today’s blog post ‘How to: Champagne Pyramid’ explains it briefly.

Photographer: Carina Förg Fotografie

Let’s be honest, whether it’s the smaller version with 10 glasses as a special highlight or the grand one for the champagne reception enjoyed by all your guests—a champagne pyramid is an eye-catching delight and simply adds fun to the occasion!

Requirements

Firstly, you’ll need a sturdy table with a smooth surface that doesn’t wobble. Keep in mind that a champagne pyramid might not be ideal for an outdoor garden wedding. In such cases, I’d recommend a champagne wall as a great alternative.

Position the table with the champagne pyramid in a way that it’s easily visible to all guests but not in a pathway where anyone might accidentally bump into it.

Photographer: Vivienne Kahl

Building the pyramid requires time, composure, and delicacy. If you’ve never set up a champagne pyramid before, I’d strongly advise against trying it for the first time at your own wedding. Even though you can set it up the day before, wedding nerves might distract you. Misplacing glasses can lead to quick mishaps.

It’s wise to check with your caterer if they have experience with this setup. If so, inquire if they can handle it, or consider hiring a specialized service for champagne pyramids, as there are several available now.

The shapes of a champagne pyramid

In the classic champagne pyramid, there’s one glass at the top, which can be constructed in two ways: as a triangle or a square.

The smallest version of the triangular shape requires just 10 glasses.

For the first level, place three glasses closely together, then in front, also tightly, position two more glasses. In front of these two glasses, place another. These six glasses form a triangle – your base. When viewed from above, small ‘gaps’ form between the six glasses of the first level. Now, position the next three glasses on these ‘gaps.’ Another ‘gap’ will be created between these glasses, on which you place the tenth glass – your third and final level.

It’s important to ensure that the glasses touch each other at the edges. The triangular champagne pyramid can be expanded in increments of 10 glasses.

Photographer: Vivienne Kahl

The second option is the square shape, which requires at least 14 glasses. The construction is similar to the triangular shape, except the first level consists of three rows of three glasses, forming a square. Again, the glasses are placed very closely together and touch each other at the edges. The second level comprises four glasses, and the third level consists of one glass.

On Instagram and Pinterest, you might occasionally see ‘champagne pyramids’ with two glasses at the top, allowing the couple to pour into their individual glasses and toast together. For this variation, you need to build your pyramid in the shape of a non-square rectangle. For the smallest form, you’ll need 20 glasses. The first level consists of three rows of four glasses, the second level has two rows of three glasses, and the third level includes your two glasses.

All shapes can be expanded according to your number of guests – there are truly no limits upwards. The largest champagne pyramid, for instance, built by Moët & Chandon in 2021 at Atlantis The Palm in Dubai, comprised 54,740 glasses and stood 8.23 meters tall.

Photographer: Vivienne Kahl

Tips

In the end, what you pour into your champagne pyramid is your choice – whether it’s champagne, sparkling wine, prosecco, or crémant – the key is that it tastes good to you and your guests.
Make sure to calculate the right quantity and have the bottles ready. Otherwise, an unpleasant pause may occur, and you’ll have to wait while the service staff replenishes. Estimate around one bottle of your chosen drink for every five glasses.

Photographer: Vivienne Kahl

Even though broken glass is said to bring luck, be careful when opening the champagne bottles – turn away from the pyramid to avoid accidents.

Consider the height of your champagne pyramid when pouring – if it’s on a tall table, you’ll definitely need an elevation to pour the champagne.

If you decide that only one of you will fill the pyramid, your partner can provide extra support, as seen with Florence and Domenico, so you don’t accidentally bump into the table and tip everything over.

Of course, you can also enhance your champagne pyramid’s visual appeal. For a simple touch, adding berries or flowers into the glasses works wonders. For those wanting more, consider placing dry ice in small containers around the pyramid and adding water to create a fantastic misty effect. But, CAUTION: handling dry ice requires expertise; it’s best left to professionals who understand its use.

If you plan to make the champagne pyramid a highlight of the evening, discuss special lighting options with your event technician or DJ. Whether from above or below if the pyramid is on a glass table, the champagne glasses refract light in various ways, creating a sparkling effect. Inform your photographer in advance to adjust for these unique lighting conditions.

Photographer: Carina Förg Fotografie

Conclusion

For me, the champagne pyramid is an absolute must-have for this and probably even the next season. I never tire of watching the newlyweds cheered on and celebrated by their loved ones while pouring. It’s a highlight every time!

But no matter which style of champagne pyramid you choose, as always, it should reflect your personalities as a couple, and most importantly, you should have fun with it!

In that spirit:

Cheers,
Your Lena