Wedding Beverage Calculator
One of the first things guests ask when they are invited to a wedding…what’s the bar situation?
An open bar is all a wedding guest could hope for, but it can get pretty expensive. Deciding how much alcohol you need at your wedding is based on a few factors - how many guests you’ll have, what kind of bar you want, and what type of alcohol you would choose. Then you can depict how much you will actually need, and then some extra just in case.
While caterers or a bar service providers usually offer assistance with beverage calculations, if you’re providing your own wedding beverages, you’ll need to know how much of each item/ingredient you will need to buy.
*All of the numbers below will vary based on your preference and budget
[ STEP 1 ] The number of people on your guest list
Only you know your crowd. Depending on the number on your guest list, you can adjust accordingly for how many non-drinkers vs. drinkers you are going to have at your wedding. You should also have an idea what your drinkers prefer, whether its beer, wine or liquor. So these factors will obviously influence the numbers based on your wedding.
[ STEP 2 ] The bar setting
There are typically 2 different types of bars at weddings - modified full bar or an only beer & wine bar. Of course there are also cash bars and dry bars, but we are to talk about alcohol.
Modified Full Bar: This is the more expensive option, of course because it requires more alcohol. This option also means that your guests will get drunk faster.
Beer & Wine Only: The less expensive option, where your guests won’t get as drunk as quickly.
[ STEP 3 ] The type of alcohol
Beer: Select at least two different types, one light and one darker. Also consider bottles vs. keg - bottles can be more expensive, but kegs require a tap system which you’ll need to rent from the liquor supplier. Keg leftovers are also harder to deal with and don’t keep for more than a day or two.
Wine: At least one red wine and one white wine, and one blend if you would prefer. If you’re going to serve bubbles as a toast-only option, you want about 4-5 ounces per person, per toast.
Liquor: Choose about 3-4 liquors based on budget and preference: vodka, rum, tequila, whiskey or gin. *On average, for every liter of hard liquor, you need 3 liters of mixers like soda, juice etc.
[ STEP 4 ] The amount of alcohol
Serving Sizes Per Bottle: Liquor (18 glasses), Wine (5 glasses), Champagne (8 glasses), Beer (1 glass)
Modified Full Bar: 50% wine, 20% beer, 30% liquor (*these percentages will change slightly based on your preference)
Beer & Wine: 75% wine, 25% beer (*these percentages will change slightly based on your preference)
EXAMPLE:
100 guests, 6 hour reception, about 600 servings (1 serving per person, per hour)
Modified Full Bar: 300 servings (wine), 120 servings (beer), 180 servings (liquor)
Beer & Wine: 450 servings (wine), 150 servings (beer)
WHAT TO BUY:
Modified Full Bar: Wine (10 bottles), Beer (120 bottles), Liquor (10 bottles)
*Mixers: Tonic water (1 case), club soda (1 case), cranberry juice (2 gallons), orange juice (1 gallon), ginger ale (1 case), coke (2 cases), diet coke (2 cases)
Beer & Wine: Wine (112 bottles), Beer (150 bottles or 1 keg)
[ STEP 5 ] Buy some extra!
Better to be safe than sorry!
*Things to Consider:
How Long Your Reception Is: The amount of time your guests have to drink will determine how much alcohol they will drink. The average reception is 5 hours long. So you can assume that each guest will have 2 drinks in the first hour, and then 1 drink every hour after that (add 1 more each for accidents and misplacements of beverages).
Time & Location:
People will most likely drink a little less at a day time wedding (get one less case). Consider the season your wedding is in also. If it is a spring or summer wedding, you should have more bubbly and light beverages, whereas in the fall and winter, serve red wine and darker beverages.
Signature Cocktails: Subtract 1 hour from all of your calculations if you have a cocktail hour. During cocktail hour, you can assume that the majority will be drinking the signature drink. If you’re only offering a signature drink in addition to wine and beer, consider having 2 signature drinks (1 with brown liquor and 1 with clear).
HAPPY DRINKING!
