How to Calculate Alcohol for a Wedding
2026-08-01 · 5 min read
The formula behind every good wedding bar estimate is simple: guests x hours x drinks per hour x 1.15 buffer. Here is how to apply it without over-ordering.
Start with the Total
For 150 guests and a five-hour reception, the base total is 150 x 5 x 1 = 750 drinks. Multiply by 1.15 for a 15% buffer and you get about 863 drinks. This is your starting point before any category splits.
Split by Category
Beer gets 48%, wine gets 27%, and liquor gets 15%. If you include a champagne toast, champagne takes 10% and the other categories are reduced proportionally.
These ratios come from typical wedding industry data and work well for mixed crowds of 50 to 500 guests.
Add Champagne and Cocktails
A 750ml bottle of champagne pours about six flutes, so divide the champagne drink count by six. Signature cocktails add roughly 1.5 drinks per cocktail type per guest, and those extra drinks should be folded into the liquor estimate.
Turn It into a Shopping List
Beer: divide by 24 for cases. Wine: divide by five glasses per bottle. Liquor: divide by about 17 shots per 750ml bottle. Round every number up, then add soft drinks and water.
Our wedding drink calculator does this in real time, so you can compare budgets before placing an order.