How Much Alcohol Do You Need for a Wedding? The Complete Guide
Too little and the bar runs dry at 9 PM. Too much and you are returning cases. Here is the exact formula bartenders use.
The bartending industry formula: 1 drink per guest per hour for the first hour, then 0.75 drinks per hour after that. For a 5-hour reception with 100 drinking guests (assume 15-20% non-drinkers from your total count), you need approximately 350-400 total drinks.
The Split by Bar Type
Full bar: 45% beer, 30% wine, 25% liquor. Beer and wine only: 55% beer, 45% wine. These splits vary by crowd — a younger crowd (25-35) drinks more beer and cocktails, an older crowd more wine. An outdoor summer wedding shifts heavily toward beer and light drinks. A formal winter wedding shifts toward wine and whiskey.
Buying and Returning
Buy from a store with a return policy for unopened bottles — most major retailers accept returns within 30 days. Order 15-20% more than calculated and return what you do not open. This costs nothing and prevents the disaster of running out. Buy cases (discounts of 10-20%) rather than individual bottles. A case of beer (24 bottles) at $28 is cheaper per drink than a case of wine (12 bottles) at $120, which is why beer-heavy bar plans save the most money.