WedPlanner

Wedding alcohol calculator

How much wine, beer and spirits to buy for your reception, from the guest count, the length of the party and your crowd.

Drink mix

Your shopping list

About 561 drinks in total, or 6.0 per drinking guest.

  • 57bottles of wine 750 ml, 5 glasses each
  • 169beers ≈ 8 cases of 24
  • 8bottles of spirits 750 ml, about 16 drinks each
  • 15bottles of sparkling wine for one toast pour each
  • 167litres of water and soft drinks rule of thumb, not a formula

Split wine roughly 60% red to 40% white for evening dinners, or the reverse for summer daytime weddings, and adjust for your crowd.

Why the first hour counts double

Guests arrive thirsty and cocktail hour is the busiest bar period, so caterers typically plan two drinks per guest in the first hour, then one per hour after that. Step through your reception to see the total build.

Hour 12drinks
Hour 21drink
Hour 31drink
Hour 41drink
Hour 51drink

After 1 hour: 2 drinks per drinking guest × 85 drinking guests = 170 drinks at a typical pace, before the buffer.

How much alcohol for a wedding: the assumptions

This calculator uses planning rules common among US caterers: about two drinks per guest in the first hour and one per hour after, a standard drink of 5 oz wine, 12 oz beer or 1.5 oz spirits (the sizes the US National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism uses for a standard drink), and a buffer so the bar doesn’t run dry. Treat the result as a planning estimate and compare it with your caterer’s or venue’s advice.

  • Beer-and-wine bar: set spirits to zero; the calculator rebalances the mix.
  • Signature cocktail: count it as spirits and add mixers and garnishes to your list.
  • Serve food and water: it slows drinking and keeps guests safe. Arrange rides or shuttles home.

Questions couples ask

How much alcohol do we need for 100 guests?

Using the common one-drink-per-guest-per-hour rule for a five-hour reception with most guests drinking, 100 guests need about 500 drinks. With a 50/30/20 wine/beer/spirits split that is roughly 50 bottles of wine, 150 beers and 6 bottles of spirits (750 ml), before any buffer.

How many glasses are in a bottle of wine?

A standard 750 ml bottle pours five 5-ounce (150 ml) glasses, the US standard drink size for wine. A sparkling wine toast pour is smaller, so you get six to eight toast glasses per bottle.

How many drinks are in a bottle of spirits?

A 750 ml bottle holds about 25 fluid ounces, or roughly 16 drinks at 1.5 ounces each. A 1.75 litre bottle holds about 39.

Can we return unopened bottles?

Many liquor stores accept returns of unopened, undamaged bottles bought for events, but policies and local laws vary. Ask before you buy, and check whether your venue allows you to supply your own alcohol and charges corkage.

Keep planning