Wedding bar calculator

How much alcohol do you need for a wedding?

Plan on 2 drinks per drinking guest in the first hour and 1 for each hour after, plus about 10% extra. Guests drink fastest at cocktail hour, then slow down once dinner and dancing start. A 5-hour reception works out to 6 drinks per drinker.

Worked example: 100 guests, 5-hour open bar

With 85% of guests drinking, that's 85 × 6 × 1.10 = 561 drinks. A full bar with a signature cocktail needs about 10 twelve-packs of beer, 40 bottles of wine (18 red, 16 white and rosé, 6 sparkling), 9 bottles of spirits, 112 signature cocktails, 11 bottles of sparkling for the toast, and 188 lb of ice (19 bags).

Which bar style saves the most?

• Beer & wine is the cheapest and simplest. There are no mixers, no garnish and no shaker.
• Beer, wine + a signature cocktail feels like a full bar at a fraction of the cost. One batched drink, poured from a dispenser, keeps the line moving.
• A full bar needs the most bottles and a bartender who can keep up. Pick 3 spirits instead of 5 if the budget is tight.

Bartender tips for a wedding bar

• Plan about one bartender per 50 guests for a full bar, and one per 75 to 100 for beer and wine.
• Count the toast separately. Pour 3 oz, not a full flute: it's a few sips, and it saves a quarter of the bottles. See how much champagne for a toast.
• Ice runs out first. Your venue may supply it; ask before you buy.
• Many venues have their own alcohol rules: who can bring it, who can serve it, and when last call is. Check before you shop.
• Always have a real zero-proof option, not just water and soda.