Reception, food & music3 min read
How much alcohol for a wedding? The formula and a calculator
Drinks per guest per hour, splits for wine, beer and spirits, sparkling for toasts and non-alcoholic options.
Free tool · Reception, food & music: Wedding drinks calculator
How much wine, beer, spirits, sparkling and soft drinks to buy for your guest count and reception length — adjusted for your crowd.
Cocktail hour plus the reception.
Alcoholic drinks5406 per drinking guest: two in the first hour, then one per hour.
Wine54 bottlesAbout 5 cases · 5 glasses per bottle
Beer108About 5 cases of 24
Spirits (750 ml)11 bottlesAbout 16 drinks per bottle
Soft drinks & water175Servings, plus water on every table
Ice150 lbAbout 1–1.5 lb per guest; more in heat
A planning estimate. Ask whether unopened bottles can be returned, follow your venue’s licensing rules, and make sure everyone has a safe way home.
Saved automatically in this browser — nothing is sent to us.
How to use it
- 01Enter your guest count and how many hours the bar is open.
- 02Set how many guests drink and your wine, beer and spirits split.
- 03Print the shopping list and check return policies.
Good to know
How much alcohol for 100 guests?
For five hours with most guests drinking, about 540 drinks: roughly 54 bottles of wine, 110 beers and ten 750ml bottles of spirits.
How many glasses in a bottle of wine?
About five 5-ounce glasses per 750ml bottle.
Read with this tool
The thinking behind the numbers.
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