Wedding Alcohol Calculator
Estimate beer, wine and spirits quantities for a wedding reception by guest count.
Last updated · View algorithm, constants and default inputs (JSON)
About this calculator
Estimate beverage quantities for event purchasing from guest count, duration and the share of guests you expect to drink. The pace and drink mix are planning assumptions, not consumption guidance; arrange lawful, responsible service, food, water and non-alcoholic options.
Worked example
calculated with the default values below
Number of guests 100 · Reception length 5 hours · Guests who drink alcohol 70 % · Full bar with spirits Yes Total drinks 322 · Beer bottles 113 · Wine bottles 23 · Spirits bottles 7 · Champagne for toasts 9 · Ice 125.0 lb · Drinks per drinking guest 4.6
General background references
Disclaimer
These calculators give general estimates. Sizing, pricing, availability and standards vary by brand, retailer and country, so treat the output as a starting point and confirm it against the seller's or authority's own figures.
Implementation source
This record describes the implementation used by this page. It is not independent validation. External references, when available, support only the stated formula or definition; estimates and custom rules retain their own assumptions.
Formula and variables
D = G × p ÷ 100 × (1 + 0.9 × max(0, H − 1))
- G
- Guests
- p
- Drinkers (%)
- H
- Duration (hours)
- D
- Total drinks
Per drinking guest: 1 drink in hour one, then 0.9 per additional hour. Shares with spirits: beer/wine/spirits 35/35/30%; without spirits: 55/45/0%. Assumes 5 wine servings and 16 spirit servings per bottle, one champagne bottle per 8 drinkers and 1.25 lb ice per guest. Purchase counts round up independently; all factors are planning assumptions, not consumption guidance.
Frequently asked questions
What assumptions drive the quantity estimate?
The model uses one drink per drinking guest in the first hour, then 0.9 per additional hour, and fixed shares for beverage types. Bottle serving counts and ice per guest are planning assumptions; venue service sizes, local rules and the event plan may differ. It is not guidance on how much anyone should drink.