Wedding Drink Calculator
Calculate the exact number of wine bottles, beer cases, and liquor bottles needed for your wedding bar by guest count.
Wedding Bar Shopping List
Planning wedding drinks requires estimating how much each type of beverage your guests will consume.
The golden rule: Plan for approximately 1 drink per guest per hour. For a 5-hour reception with 100 guests, that is about 500 drinks total.
Not all guests drink the same way:
- About 50% of guests will drink wine
- About 30% will drink beer
- About 20% will drink cocktails/spirits
- Always have non-alcoholic options available
Standard drink servings per bottle/unit:
- Wine bottle (750ml): 5 glasses
- Champagne bottle (750ml): 6 flutes (smaller pour)
- Beer case (24 bottles/cans): 24 servings
- Liquor bottle (750ml): 16 cocktails (1.5 oz pour)
- Liquor bottle (1 liter): 22 cocktails
- Liquor bottle (1.75L/handle): 39 cocktails
For a champagne toast: Plan 1 glass per guest. One bottle serves 6 guests for a toast.
Mixers and supplies per 100 guests:
- Club soda / tonic: 10-15 liters
- Cranberry juice: 4-5 liters
- Orange juice: 4-5 liters
- Limes: 30-40
- Lemons: 20-30
- Ice: 1-1.5 lbs per person (100-150 lbs total)
Budget tip: Buying from wholesale retailers and returning unopened items saves significantly. Many liquor stores allow returns on unopened bottles if you keep the receipt.
Open bar vs. limited bar:
- Open bar (full selection): The most generous option. Plan for full drink counts.
- Beer and wine only: Reduces cost by 30-40%. Very common and perfectly appropriate.
- Signature cocktails: Offer 2-3 specific cocktails instead of a full bar. Reduces waste and speeds service.