Wedding Alcohol Calculator (Wine, Beer and Liquor)
Enter guests and hours to get bottles of wine, beer and spirits to buy.
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Wedding Alcohol Calculator (Wine, Beer and Liquor) by TheCalcTools
How the Wedding Alcohol Calculator (Wine, Beer and Liquor) works
Enter your guest count, how long the bar is open and the share of guests who drink.
The first hour is planned at 2 drinks per drinker, then your pace per hour. A buffer is added on top.
Drinks are split into wine (5 glasses per 750 ml bottle), beer (one each) and spirits (about 16.9 cocktails of 1.5 oz per 750 ml bottle). A toast needs about 6 pours per bottle.
The formula
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| Guests | 100 |
|---|---|
| Bar open for (hours) | 5 |
| Guests who drink alcohol | 85 % |
| Drinking pace after the first hour | Moderate (1 per hour) |
| Share of drinks that are wine | 40 % |
| Share of drinks that are beer | 30 % |
| Champagne toast | Yes, one glass each |
| Safety buffer | 10 % |
- 100 guests, 85% drinking: 85 drinkers. 5 hours at moderate pace = 85 × (2 + 4) × 1.1 = 561 drinks.
- That needs 45 bottles of wine, 169 beers, 10 bottles of liquor and 17 bottles for the toast.
Result:
| Total drinks | 561 |
|---|---|
| Wine bottles (750 ml) | 45 |
| Beers (bottles or cans) | 169 |
| Liquor bottles (750 ml) | 10 |
| Sparkling wine for the toast (750 ml) | 17 |
| Drinks per drinking guest | 6.6 |
Frequently asked questions
Why 2 drinks in the first hour?
Guests usually drink faster at the start, so a common planning rule is 2 drinks in the first hour and about 1 per hour after that.
Should I buy exactly this amount?
Buy a little extra of wine and beer, and check whether your supplier takes back unopened bottles. Count mixers, ice and non-alcoholic drinks separately.
Sources and further reading
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This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.