Wedding Alcohol Calculator

For a 5-hour reception with 100 adult guests (assuming 500 total drinks served with a full bar): You need approximately **50 bottles of wine (approx. 4.5 cases)**, **150 beers (approx. 6 to 7 24-packs)**, **7 bottles of 750ml spirits**, and **17 bottles of champagne** for a toast.

Event caterers plan on **2 drinks per person during the first hour** (cocktail hour) and **1 drink per person for every hour thereafter**. For a 4-hour reception, that equals 5 drinks per guest. For a 5-hour reception, plan for 6 drinks per guest.

A standard 750ml bottle of wine yields **5 standard 5-ounce pours**. A standard case of 12 bottles yields 60 glasses of wine.

A standard 750ml champagne/sparkling wine bottle provides **6 toast pours** (about 4 ounces each). For 120 guests, divide 120 by 6 to get **20 bottles of champagne** (approx. 1.7 cases).

Plan for **1.5 lbs of ice per guest** for chilling beer and wine kegs/tubs plus serving fresh ice in cocktail glasses. For 100 guests, order about **150 lbs of ice** (7 to 8 20-lb bags).