How Much Alcohol Do You Need for a Wedding?
Quick answer
Plan on two drinks per drinking guest in the first hour and one per hour after. For 100 guests at a 5-hour reception where three in four drink, that is 450 drinks: about 45 bottles of wine, 135 beers and 6 bottles of liquor with a balanced mix.
Pours per container
- Wine, 750 ml bottle
- 5 glasses 5 oz each
- Liquor, 750 ml bottle
- 16 drinks 1.5 oz shots
- Beer, half-barrel keg
- 165 beers 12 oz each
- Champagne, 750 ml
- 6 flutes 4 oz each
The formula
Count drinks first, then bottles.
The rule behind every number on this page is simple: drinks = guests × share who drink × (hours + 1). The "+1" covers the first hour, when guests arrive thirsty and the bar is busiest. Split the total by your crowd's taste, then convert to containers and round up.
The share who drink matters more than most couples expect. A family-heavy guest list with many children, older relatives or non-drinkers may sit nearer 60%; a young crowd at an evening reception may be close to 100%. Count your list rather than guessing: children and anyone you know does not drink come off the top.
By guest count
Shopping list for a 5-hour reception.
| Guests | Drinks | Wine bottles | Beers | Half kegs | Liquor bottles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 225 | 23 | 68 | 1 | 3 |
| 75 | 338 | 34 | 102 | 1 | 5 |
| 100 | 450 | 45 | 135 | 1 | 6 |
| 150 | 675 | 68 | 203 | 2 | 9 |
| 200 | 900 | 90 | 270 | 2 | 12 |
| 250 | 1,125 | 113 | 338 | 3 | 15 |
By crowd
Wine, beer or a bit of everything.
| Mix (100 guests, 5 h) | Wine | Beers | Liquor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced (50/30/20) | 45 | 135 | 6 |
| Wine-heavy (70/20/10) | 63 | 90 | 3 |
| Beer-heavy (30/60/10) | 27 | 270 | 3 |
Moving from a balanced to a wine-heavy mix adds about 18 bottles of wine for 100 guests and cuts the beer order by a third. If you are serving beer and wine only, set the liquor share to zero and move it to wine: most crowds drift toward wine at a seated dinner and toward beer outdoors.
Length changes the order more than guest count does. Each extra hour adds one drink per drinking guest. For 100 guests at 75%, that is another 75 drinks, or roughly 8 bottles of wine, 23 beers and a bottle of liquor.
Checklist
Before you buy.
- Count adults who will drink, not total RSVPs.
- Decide the bar hours. Cocktail hour plus dinner plus dancing is often 5 hours; a closed bar during dinner shortens it.
- Pick a mix based on your guests, then run the numbers in the wedding alcohol calculator.
- Ask your store about returns of unopened bottles before you buy. It changes how much margin you can afford.
- Add the toast and the ice separately: champagne and ice.
- If anyone will be selling drinks rather than pouring them free, check the event liquor permit rules for your state.
FAQ
Questions people ask.
How much alcohol for 100 guests?
For a 5-hour reception with 75% drinking and a balanced mix: about 45 bottles of wine, 135 beers (one half keg) and 6 bottles of liquor.
How many drinks per person at a wedding?
About two in the first hour and one each hour after for guests who drink. That is six over a five-hour reception.
How many bottles of wine for 50 guests?
About 23 bottles for a 5-hour reception with 75% drinking and half the drinks being wine.
Is it cheaper to buy kegs or cans?
It depends on local prices. One half keg replaces about 165 cans, but kegs usually need a deposit, a tap and ice, and unopened cans are easier to return.
Keep planning