Wedding Alcohol Calculator

For 100 guests at a 5-hour reception with moderate drinking, you'll typically need about 400-500 drinks total. This translates to roughly 30-40 bottles of wine, 150-200 beers, and 5-8 bottles of liquor. Our calculator adjusts these numbers based on your specific event duration and guest drinking preferences.

The industry standard is approximately 1 drink per guest per hour for the first hour, then 0.5-1 drink per hour after that. For a 5-hour reception, plan for about 4-5 drinks per drinking guest. Remember that not all guests drink alcohol - typically 15-20% will abstain.

A common split is 40% wine, 40% beer, and 20% liquor/cocktails. However, this varies by crowd. Younger guests tend to prefer beer and cocktails, while older guests often prefer wine. Consider your guest list when adjusting these percentages.

A standard 750ml wine bottle yields 5 glasses. A 750ml liquor bottle makes about 16 cocktails (1.5oz per drink). Beer is typically 1 serving per bottle/can. For champagne toasts, one bottle serves 6 flutes.

Yes, we recommend buying 10-15% more than calculated to account for spillage, heavier-than-expected drinking, and unexpected guests. Most stores allow returns of unopened bottles within 30 days, so there's little risk in over-buying.

Buy in bulk from warehouse stores, choose house wines and beers over premium brands, limit the cocktail menu to 2-3 signature drinks, and skip the top-shelf liquor for mixed drinks. Consider a beer and wine only bar to significantly reduce costs.

For events with more than 50 guests, professional bartenders are recommended. Plan for 1 bartender per 50 guests. They ensure responsible service, manage the bar efficiently, and can handle complex drink orders.