How to Use the Wedding Alcohol Calculator
- Enter the guests who drink and the reception length.
- Set drinks per guest in the first and later hours.
- Set the wine, beer and liquor shares.
- Adjust pour sizes and toast.
- Read the bottles, cases and cost.
Enter the number of guests who will drink, not the full guest list, and the length of the reception in hours. The drink rate is a common planning rule: about two drinks per guest in the first hour, when cocktails start, and one per guest for each hour after that. Change either number to suit your crowd.
Set the drink mix as shares of wine, beer and liquor that add up to 100%. A wine-heavy dinner might be 60/25/15, while a party crowd might lean on beer and cocktails. Adjust the pour sizes if your bartender pours differently, choose whether to include a sparkling toast, and add prices. The result lists bottles, cases and the total cost.
How the Drinks Are Calculated
total drinks = guests × drinks per guest × (1 + buffer)
wine bottles = round up (wine drinks × pour ÷ 750 mL)
beer cases = round up (beer servings ÷ beers per case)
liquor bottles = round up (liquor drinks × pour ÷ 750 mL)
A standard 750 mL bottle holds about 25.4 US fl oz, so it pours five 5 oz glasses of wine, about 17 shots of 1.5 oz liquor, or about six 4 oz flutes of sparkling wine. Beer is counted as one can or bottle per serving and bought by the case.
Worked Example: 100 Guests for Five Hours
With 100 drinking guests, a five-hour reception at two drinks in the first hour and one per hour after that gives 2 + 4 = 6 drinks each, or 600 drinks. A 50/30/20 mix means 300 glasses of wine, 180 beers and 120 liquor drinks.
Wine at 5 oz per glass uses 300 × 147.9 mL = 44.4 L, which is 60 bottles. Beer is 180 servings, so 8 cases of 24. Liquor at 1.5 oz uses 5.3 L, so 8 bottles. A 4 oz toast for 100 guests needs 16 bottles of sparkling wine. At the example prices the bar costs $1,788.00, about $17.88 per drinking guest.
Servings per Bottle
| Drink | Container | Pour | Servings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wine | 750 mL bottle | 5 fl oz (148 mL) | About 5 |
| Sparkling wine | 750 mL bottle | 4 fl oz (118 mL) | About 6 |
| Liquor | 750 mL bottle | 1.5 fl oz (44 mL) | About 17 |
| Liquor | 1.75 L bottle | 1.5 fl oz (44 mL) | About 39 |
| Beer | Case of 24 | 1 can or bottle | 24 |
The calculator rounds every count up to whole bottles and cases. If you plan to buy 1.75 L liquor bottles, divide the 750 mL bottle count by about 2.3.
Many couples also buy a little extra of the most popular choice in their group, such as a favorite red wine or a local beer, and keep it unopened as a reserve so the bar does not run short late in the evening.
Tips for Stocking a Wedding Bar
- Ask your supplier whether unopened bottles can be returned. If so, a small buffer costs little.
- Plan mixers, garnishes, ice and plenty of water alongside the alcohol.
- Offer appealing non-alcoholic drinks for guests who do not drink, and for designated drivers.
- Check your venue's rules and any licensing or insurance requirements for serving alcohol.
Assumptions and Limits
The drink rate is a planning rule, not a prediction. Crowds vary with age, culture, the time of day and how much food is served. Pour sizes at a real bar also vary. Use the result as a starting point, adjust it with what you know about your guests, and always encourage responsible drinking and safe rides home.
Frequently asked questions
How much alcohol do I need for a wedding of 100 guests?
For 100 drinking guests over five hours at two drinks in the first hour and one per hour after, plan about 600 drinks. A 50/30/20 mix needs about 60 bottles of wine, 8 cases of beer and 8 bottles of liquor.
How many drinks per guest per hour at a wedding?
A common planning rule is two drinks per guest in the first hour and one drink per guest for each hour after that. Lighter-drinking crowds may need less, and lively crowds more.
How many glasses of wine are in a bottle?
A standard 750 mL bottle holds about 25.4 US fl oz, which pours five glasses of 5 oz each. Smaller pours of 4 oz give about six glasses.
How many bottles of champagne for a toast?
With a 4 oz pour, a 750 mL bottle fills about six flutes. For 100 guests, plan about 16 to 17 bottles for a single toast.
How many shots are in a bottle of liquor?
A 750 mL bottle holds about 25.4 US fl oz, which is about 17 standard 1.5 oz shots. A 1.75 L bottle holds about 39 shots of the same size.
Should I count guests who do not drink?
No. Count only guests old enough who are likely to drink alcohol. Plan non-alcoholic drinks separately so everyone, including designated drivers, has something good to drink.