Question 1

How much alcohol do I need for my wedding?

Accepted Answer

The rough rule is one drink per guest per hour for the first hour, dropping to about half a drink per hour after. This calculator goes further: you split guests into light, moderate, and heavy drinkers, and set separate durations for cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing. For 100 guests over 5 hours, that typically lands around 350-500 drinks.

Question 2

How do the different drinker types affect the calculation?

Accepted Answer

Light drinkers average about 0.5-0.75 drinks per hour, moderate drinkers 0.75-1.5, and heavy drinkers 1.0-2.0. Rates vary by phase: people drink faster during cocktail hour than at dinner. Splitting your guest list this way gives a better estimate than assuming everyone drinks the same.

Question 3

What's included in the cost estimate?

Accepted Answer

We use average retail prices for wine, sparkling, beer (standard/craft mix), spirits (vodka, gin, whiskey, rum averaged), soft drinks, juice, and ice. Prices update when you change your country. You can click any price in the shopping list to replace it with what you'll actually pay.

Question 4

Should I include a champagne toast?

Accepted Answer

Up to you. If enabled, the calculator adds one glass of sparkling per guest on top of the regular estimate. Many couples skip it, since guests often don't finish the glass anyway. Prosecco or cava work well if you want the toast without the champagne price tag.

Question 5

How much non-alcoholic drink do I need?

Accepted Answer

Non-drinkers get about 1.75 soft drinks per hour. Drinking guests also need water, roughly 0.5 glasses per hour. The total splits into about 40% water, 35% soda, and 25% juice. Summer or outdoor weddings: bump the water buffer up a bit.

Question 6

What is the safety buffer for?

Accepted Answer

It adds extra on top of the calculated quantities so you don't run short. +10% is a safe default. Go with +15% for long receptions, hot weather, or a crowd that likes to party. The buffer applies to everything, including soft drinks and ice.

Question 7

Can I customize the prices?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Click any price in the shopping list to type in what you'll actually pay. The total updates right away. Useful if you're buying from a specific store or getting bulk pricing.

Question 8

How accurate is this calculator?

Accepted Answer

The consumption rates are based on common bartending and catering guidelines. Real consumption depends on your crowd, the weather, what food you serve, and how long the party runs. Profiling your guest mix gives you a better starting point than a flat per-head number, but it's still an estimate. Use the +10% buffer to cover the gap.

Wedding Drink Calculator

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