Wedding Alcohol Calculator
Planning a wedding bar means guessing how many cases to order before the caterer asks. This calculator turns guest count, drinking share, and reception length into a shopping list with beer cases, wine bottles, and spirits — rounded up so you do not run dry.
The worked example uses 100 guests, a four-hour reception, and a full bar split. Use the controls below to match your crowd and download a PDF checklist.
Estimates only — adjust the per-guest rates for your crowd. Serve responsibly.
100 guests · 4 hours · Full bar · 75 drinking · 25 not drinking
| Category | Needed | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Beer | 150 drinks | 7 cases |
| Wine | 112.5 drinks | 23 × 750 ml |
| Spirits | 112.5 drinks | 8 × 750 ml |
Assumptions
- Drinking share: 75% of headcount (75 drinking guests)
- Duration: 4 hours → 5 drinks per drinking guest
- Bar split: 40% beer, 30% wine, 30% spirits
- Pour sizes: 5 oz wine, 1.5 oz spirits, 4 oz sparkling
- Ice: 1.5 lb per guest (60% chilling, 40% serving)
- Mixers: 2 L per 750 ml spirits bottle
Supplies checklist
- Ice — 8 bags (20 lb each)
- Cups — 200 (2 per guest)
- Napkins — 300 (3 per guest)
- Mixers — 16 L
- Garnish (citrus, olives, cherries)
- Serving utensils and bar tools
- Coolers and ice tubs
Estimates only. Adjust the per-guest rates for your crowd.
The Handy Pages · thehandypages.com
How Much Alcohol for 150 Guests?
Larger receptions multiply every line item. This layout uses 150 guests and a four-hour full bar so you can see case counts at scale before you tweak the controls.
Use the controls on this page for duration, drinking share, and category splits. Download a PDF with the shopping table and supplies checklist.
Estimates only. Serve responsibly.
Wedding Bar Calculator: Beer and Wine Only
Many receptions skip spirits entirely. This layout defaults to beer and wine only, 60% beer, 40% wine, not a full bar with spirits on the side.
The worked example is 100 guests over four hours. Use the controls on this page if you add a toast or switch bar style.
Estimates only. Non-drinking guests still appear in ice and cup counts.
Champagne Toast Calculator
A toast is separate from the bar: everyone raises a glass, including guests who are not drinking otherwise. This layout turns the toast control on for 100 guests and adds sparkling bottles beside the bar list.
Use the controls on this page to match headcount and flute pour size. Bar totals still follow your drinking share.
Estimates only. Sparkling is an extra line, not taken from wine share.
Wedding Ice Calculator
Ice counts every guest, drinkers and non-drinkers, for chilling and in-glass serving. This layout uses warmer-weather ice allowance (2 lb per guest) alongside a full bar for 100 guests.
Use the controls on this page to dial ice back to 1.5 lb or change headcount. The checklist prints bag counts rounded up.
Estimates only. Ice is split between chilling and serving in the assumptions block.
More wedding bar presets
What you need behind the bar
- Clear disposable cups sized for wine and mixed drinks (opens in new tab)
- Ice buckets and tongs for bottles on the bar (opens in new tab)
- Bar spoon and jigger for measured pours (opens in new tab)
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