Wedding Alcohol Calculator

For a full 8 hour event with 100 guests at average drinking levels, the linear estimate is 68 bottles of wine, 7 cases of beer, and 11 bottles of spirits. Budget 1,246 to 2,003. In practice, guests taper off after hour 4 or 5, so actual consumption may be 15 to 20% lower than these numbers.

Yes. For an 8 hour event, splitting the bar into phases makes sense. Stock a cocktail hour bar separately, shift to a dinner service wine and beer focus, and then reopen a full bar for the evening dancing set. This lets you manage consumption more precisely and avoid buying 8 full hours worth of everything upfront.

Using the linear model, an 8 hour bar costs roughly twice as much as a 4 hour bar. But because of consumption tapering in long events, actual costs are typically 50 to 70% more than a 4 hour bar, not double. Use the duration slider to compare the two scenarios and then apply a 15 to 20% downward adjustment for the tapering effect.

It provides a strong planning baseline using industry averages: 1 drink per guest per hour, a drink split based on your selected event style, plus standard servings per bottle. Use the Event Style selector to match your crowd. A backyard BBQ skews heavily toward beer while a wine dinner needs far less spirits.

Yes. Use the Event Style selector to match your event type. Backyard BBQ skews heavily toward beer (65%), Wine Dinner is 70% wine, and Open Bar puts more weight on spirits (50%). Each preset uses real world crowd averages for that event type.

Use the drinking level toggle. Light works well for daytime or family heavy events, Average fits most receptions, and Heavy is better for bar forward crowds.

Absolutely. Kids, pregnant guests, and teetotalers all reduce your actual alcohol need. Use the Non Drinker % slider to exclude them from the drink calculations. The default 15% is a reasonable starting point for a typical mixed age crowd.

The champagne card accounts for a single toast glass for every guest, including non drinkers, since most people will take a glass even if they don't usually drink. At roughly 6 glasses per 750ml bottle, this is a separate purchase from your reception alcohol.

Yes, a 10-15% buffer is standard for larger weddings. But remember: the best way to protect your budget isn't guessing your buffer. It's having a accurate, confirmed headcount before you head to the liquor store.

No. This calculator estimates alcohol only. Plan mixers, water, soda, juice, coffee, and ice separately based on your menu and venue requirements.

Finalize your major order 4 weeks out, right after your RSVP deadline. (Pro-tip: If you use iDoTogether to collect RSVPs, your dashboard will show you exactly when 100% of your guests have answered, so you aren't guessing when it's safe to buy).