How to Calculate How Much Alcohol to Buy for Your Wedding

What To Do Before You Buy

The first step to take when calculating the alcohol for your wedding is to decide on your guest count. Luckily most liquor orders do not have to be placed until closer to the event so you should have plenty of time to finalize the guest list by that time. Once you have the number of people attending your reception, it will be much easier to purchase the alcohol accordingly. Next, determine what number of people attending your reception will be drinking. If 20 out of the 150 people coming are either children or elderly seniors, you can assume that you will be serving approximately 130 of your guests alcohol. Another big determining factor in the amount of alcohol you purchase is the time of day you've chosen for your reception. A lot less alcohol will be consumed at a morning reception than at an afternoon or evening event.

As a general rule for an evening reception, you can estimate that your guests will have 2-3 drinks during the first hour of your reception and one drink per person per hour after that.

Considering that some guests will drink more than others, it is safe to assume that each guest will drink about 5-6 alcoholic drinks each during the course of an evening. Keep in mind that men usually drink more than woman and that the elderly and children are unlikely to consume alcohol at all. Be sure to include soda and water into your drink count for those n/a drinkers.

Understanding Wedding Alcohol Consumption Patterns

When determining how many drinks per person at a wedding, industry professionals use established formulas based on years of event data. The standard calculation assumes guests will consume approximately:

First Hour: 1-2 drinks per person (cocktail hour tends to be the heaviest drinking period)
Subsequent Hours: 1 drink per person per hour
Special Considerations: Add 0.5 drinks per person for toasts and celebrations

This baseline helps establish your foundation, but several factors can significantly impact these numbers.

Factors That Influence Alcohol Consumption

Guest Demographics
Your guest list composition directly affects alcohol needs. A wedding with predominantly older relatives will typically consume less alcohol than a celebration filled with college friends and young professionals. Similarly, if many guests are non-drinkers due to religious or personal reasons, you'll need substantially less alcohol.

Time of Day and Duration
Evening receptions generally see higher alcohol consumption than afternoon celebrations. A 6-hour evening reception requires different planning than a 3-hour lunch celebration. Alcohol for wedding events lasting longer than 5 hours may see consumption taper off as guests pace themselves.

Season and Weather
Summer weddings often see increased beer and wine consumption, while winter celebrations may favor cocktails and spirits. Hot weather naturally increases overall beverage consumption, including alcohol.

Food Service Timeline
The relationship between food and alcohol consumption is crucial. Guests drink more before dinner service and may slow down considerably during the meal. Cocktail-style receptions without formal dining see steady consumption throughout the event.

Let's Crunch Some Numbers...How much you should buy

So you know how many people will be drinking at your reception. You may be asking yourself, what do I do now? Before going out and purchasing the alcohol for your wedding, you will first need to know what you are buying and how much to buy.

Using your guest list, determine which of your guests will be drinking wine, beer, or liquor. In general, you can assume that most men will drink beer with a small portion drinking liquor and wine. On the other hand, most women will drink liquor or wine with a small number drinking beer.

Use this general guide on liquor numbers to help you when determining how much to purchase for your wedding.

Wine - A 750-ml bottle of wine contains about five glasses of wine. For Champagne or sparkling wine, a bottle will fill about 6 flutes. (Example/ If 25 guests are wine drinkers. 25 wine drinkers x 5 glasses each = 125 glasses of wine. 125 glasses / 5 glasses per bottle = 25 bottles of wine. 25 bottles of wine / 12 bottles per case = 2 cases plus one extra bottle.)

Beer - For large weddings, a beer keg is usually the most cost efficient way to go. However, a lot of people may prefer canned or bottled beer. Whichever method you decide on, know that a standard keg will hold approximately 120 beers while a case of canned beer will hold 24 beers. (Example/ For 75 guests drinking beer @ 6 beers each = 450 beers. 450 beers / 24 beers in a case = 19 cases or 450 beers / 120 glasses per keg = 4 kegs)

Liquor - Mixed drinks will contain between 1 and 1.5 ounces of liquor per drink, so a 750-ml bottle will make between 16-22 drinks depending on how heavy the pour. To figure out how many bottles you need, just divide the number of liquor drinks needed by 16 to be safe. Remember that for each bottle of liquor, you will need to figure in about 1 quart of mixers for every 3 guests or for every bottle of liquor figure in 3 bottles of mixers. Also, when stocking a liquor bar, don't forget items like drink straws, cocktail napkins, puckers, grenadine, sour mix, and drink stirrers. You may also want to include fruit and olives at the bar for martinis and cocktails. (Example/ If 50 guests will be drinking liquor. 50 liquor drinkers x 5 glasses each = 250 drinks. 250 cocktails / 16 drinks per bottle = 16 bottles of liquor. 16 bottles of liquor x 3 mixers = 48 bottles of mixers.)

If any doubts arise on numbers, don't be afraid to round up and buy a little more than you think you'll need. It's always better to have too much than too little. Lastly, keep your receipts! Many liquor stores will allow you to return unopened bottles. So if you purchase more than necessary, you can always take back what you don't use. Check with your local stores to confirm their return policies.

Calculating Alcohol by Guest Count

Use this general guide on liquor numbers to help you when determining how much to purchase for your wedding.

Wine - A 750-ml bottle of wine contains about five glasses of wine. For Champagne or sparkling wine, a bottle will fill about 6 flutes. 

• Example/ If 25 guests are wine drinkers. 25 wine drinkers x 5 glasses each = 125 glasses of wine. 125 glasses / 5 glasses per bottle = 25 bottles of wine. 25 bottles of wine / 12 bottles per case = 2 cases plus one extra bottle.

Beer - For large weddings, a beer keg is usually the most cost efficient way to go. However, a lot of people may prefer canned or bottled beer. Whichever method you decide on, know that a standard keg will hold approximately 120 beers while a case of canned beer will hold 24 beers. 

• Example/ For 75 guests drinking beer @ 6 beers each = 450 beers. 450 beers / 24 beers in a case = 19 cases or 450 beers / 120 glasses per keg = 4 kegs

Liquor - Mixed drinks will contain between 1 and 1.5 ounces of liquor per drink, so a 750-ml bottle will make between 16-22 drinks depending on how heavy the pour. To figure out how many bottles you need, just divide the number of liquor drinks needed by 16 to be safe. Remember that for each bottle of liquor, you will need to figure in about 1 quart of mixers for every 3 guests or for every bottle of liquor figure in 3 bottles of mixers. Also, when stocking a liquor bar, don't forget items like drink straws, cocktail napkins, puckers, grenadine, sour mix, and drink stirrers. You may also want to include fruit and olives at the bar for martinis and cocktails. 

• Example/ If 50 guests will be drinking liquor. 50 liquor drinkers x 5 glasses each = 250 drinks. 250 cocktails / 16 drinks per bottle = 16 bottles of liquor. 16 bottles of liquor x 3 mixers = 48 bottles of mixers.

If any doubts arise on numbers, don't be afraid to round up and buy a little more than you think you'll need. It's always better to have too much than too little. Lastly, keep your receipts! Many liquor stores will allow you to return unopened bottles. So if you purchase more than necessary, you can always take back what you don't use. Check with your local stores to confirm their return policies.

How Much Alcohol for 50 Guests

For an intimate wedding of 50 people, your alcohol needs are more manageable but require the same careful planning:

How much wine for 50 guests specifically depends on your crowd's preferences. Wine-loving guests may consume 1-2 glasses during cocktails and 2-3 glasses with dinner, requiring 15-18 bottles total.

For how much beer for 50 guests, calculate based on beer drinkers consuming 2-4 beers throughout the reception. If 60% of your guests prefer beer, plan for 100-120 bottles.

How Much Alcohol for a Wedding of 100

A 100-person wedding represents the most common wedding size, making alcohol planning crucial for budget management:

This size wedding allows for good variety while maintaining cost control. Consider offering 2-3 beer options, 3-4 wine selections, and a basic bar with vodka, whiskey, and rum.

How Much Alcohol for 150 Guests

How much alcohol for 150 guests requires stepping up to wholesale purchasing for better value:

How many bottles of wine for 150 guests calculations should account for cocktail consumption (12-15 bottles) and dinner service (20-25 bottles). How much beer and wine for 150 guests combined typically represents 80% of total alcohol consumption.

How Much Alcohol for 200 Guests

Large weddings require serious planning and often benefit from professional bartending services:

How many cases of beer for 200 guests depends heavily on your crowd, but 18 cases typically covers most scenarios. How much liquor for 200 guests should include premium options since large weddings often have diverse tastes.

Budget Planning for Wedding Alcohol

Average Alcohol Cost for Wedding by Size

Understanding how much does alcohol cost for a wedding helps with realistic budget planning:

Average cost of alcohol for wedding of 150 ranges from $830-1,790, with variations based on quality choices and regional pricing differences.

Cost-Saving Options

You can save a lot by buying wholesale, or buying during save can have you save your budget

Wholesale Shopping:

• Costco, Sam's Club, and BJ's offer significant savings

• Many locations accept returns on unopened alcohol

• Buy cases rather than individual bottles

Seasonal Purchasing:

• Buy spirits and non-perishables months in advance during sales

• Purchase wine during major sales events

• Avoid buying alcohol the week before major holidays

Creating Your Perfect Wedding Celebration

Planning how much alcohol to buy for a wedding requires balancing guest satisfaction with budget realities, but with proper calculation and preparation, you can create a memorable celebration that flows as smoothly as your carefully selected wines.

Remember that alcohol is just one component of your perfect day. The memories your guests take home will be shaped by the love you've shared, the joy you've created, and the thoughtful details you've planned. From personalized napkins that commemorate your special day to carefully calculated drink portions that keep the celebration flowing, every detail contributes to an unforgettable experience.

Your wedding day alcohol planning sets the foundation for celebration, but it's the combination of good friends, family, and thoughtful preparation that creates magic. Trust your calculations, prepare for variations, and focus on creating an atmosphere where love and laughter flow as freely as your perfectly planned beverages.