How Much Alcohol Do You Need for Your Wedding?

The one thing you absolutely do not want to experience on your wedding day? Running out of alcohol (if you're choosing to serve it at your event). In general, alcohol will likely be one of the most costly line items on your wedding budget sheet, but even so, it's essential that you plan for the appropriate amount of spirits and bubbly for your ceremony, reception, after-party, or all of the above.

So, how much alcohol do you really need for your wedding? Ultimately, the answer will vary from couple to couple. As a general rule of thumb, however, assume that each guest will have at least one alcoholic drink per hour. This means you should have a clear idea of what your guest count will be, in order to inform your vendors or to reference when purchasing alcohol on your own.

To help you determine exactly how much alcohol you need for your guests, as well as what types of alcohol to serve, we consulted with two experts for the best formula to follow and their top beverage tips. Here's everything you need to know.

Wedding Alcohol Calculations

It is challenging to accurately calculate exactly how much alcohol is right for your wedding without factoring in location, time of year, preferences, service style, etc. (more on that below). However, as a general, loose guideline, hospitality expert Patrick Davila suggests the following ratios: 

Beer: .5 beers per guest
Wine: 1 bottle per 2.5 guests
Champagne: 1 bottle per 6 guests (toast only)
Liquor: 1 bottle per 5 guests (based on a 3-hour open bar)
After-party: 1.5 drinks per person per hour

For specific guest breakdowns, here are our recommendations:

50 guests

• Beer: 25 bottles
• Wine: 20 bottles
• Champagne: 8 bottles
• Liquor: 20 bottles

100 guests

• Beer: 50 bottles
• Wine: 40 bottles
• Champagne: 16 bottles
• Liquor: 20 bottles

200 guests

• Beer: 100 bottles
• Wine: 80 bottles
• Champagne: 32 bottles
• Liquor: 40 bottles

300 guests

• Beer: 150 bottles
• Wine: 120 bottles
• Champagne: 48 bottles
• Liquor: 60 bottles

The Top Factors to Consider When Buying Alcohol for a Wedding

As mentioned, many factors contribute to how much alcohol you actually need to buy for your big day, such as your guest count, time of year, and location. Here, the experts explain those specific factors to ensure your bar is properly stocked once the celebration begins.

The Order of Events

“One very important thing to consider is that guests, outside of the seated meal, are always on the move and are notorious for setting down their half-drank beverages and just get another one after say…dancing for a bit or going to saying hello to someone,” shares Davila. “I would program the offerings to lower the ABV as the event goes on. Offer cocktails at reception, wine with dinner, lower alcohol specialty cocktails for dancing and the after-party, or stick to wine and beer after the reception.”

Event Time, Duration, and Season

The time of your wedding and the season will certainly have an impact on the amount of alcohol you need. If it’s a daytime event, for example, you probably won’t need as much alcohol as you would for an evening affair. If it’s the height of summer, you might want to consider ordering more white and rosé than red wine, and the reverse if it’s a winter celebration. Choosing to serve only wine and beer? Then you won't need to worry about mixers.

Keep in mind that the longer your party lasts, the more alcohol you are going to need, too. “Most of the weddings I run last seven hours and are open-bar for the first five hours, which includes: Hospitality, cocktail hour, reception, and after-party,” says expert Juan Castillo. Meaning, you’re going to want to have a service strategy throughout the whole affair—and if you're planning to have any traditions tied to alcohol during your celebration, such as a champagne toast or libation ceremony, you'll need to factor in the appropriate amounts of alcohol necessary for those, as well.

Mixers and Garnishes

Additionally, ingredients—like mixers and garnishes—should also be considered when ordering alcohol, and they're usually tied to the season of your wedding. For example, if you're hosting a winter event, garnishes could include preserved oranges, cranberries, and cinnamon sticks. Alternatively, for a summer fête, mixers like lemonade and garnishes, like mint and cucumbers or fresh tropical fruit, are the perfect fit. If you're hiring a full-bar service, they will likely provide mixers and garnish, but make sure you check that they're bringing the supplies you're envisioning for seasonal cocktails.

Type of Wedding Bar Service

Will you have a full open bar, or are you offering just a few different pre-selected cocktail options? “There is a stark difference between having a full bar and allowing guests to select their preferred beverage versus choosing a few specialty cocktails that are dear to the couple,” says Davila.

Also, are you providing an open bar where guests can have as much to drink as they want? Or, will you have a cash-only bar where guests have to pay for their own drinks? (Cash bars are a less popular option and they're generally not recommended. However, it's a good place to cut down on costs as guests will definitely drink less.) “For cash bars, I will use half of the product that I would use for an open bar,” says Castillo.

One final tip? “Avoid shots at all costs. Not only does the volume of alcohol needed go way up but it rarely ends well," advises Davila.