Drinks Per Person Wedding
The definitive guide to calculating how many drinks each guest will consume at your wedding - with formulas, adjustments, and real-world examples.
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TL;DR - The Core Formula
1 drink per person per hour
For cocktail hour: 2 drinks per person. Then 1 drink per hour for the reception. A 5-hour wedding = 6 drinks per person on average.
Calculate your exact needsThe Wedding Drink Formula Explained
The standard industry formula for wedding alcohol is simple: 1 drink per person per hour. But weddings aren't uniform events. Drinking patterns vary throughout the celebration:
Cocktail Hour (Hour 1)
Guests are excited, mingling, and thirsty after the ceremony. This is peak drinking time.
- Rate: 2 drinks per person
- Why: Arrival excitement, no food yet, social energy is high
Early Reception (Hours 2-3)
Dinner service begins, toasts happen, and drinking moderates.
- Rate: 1 drink per person per hour
- Why: Food absorbs alcohol, attention on speeches and dinner
Late Reception (Hours 4-5+)
Dancing takes over, some guests slow down, others pick up.
- Rate: 0.75-1 drink per person per hour
- Why: Mix of dancers (active, drinking) and tired guests (slowing down)
Drinks Per Person by Event Length
| Event Length | Drinks/Person | 100 Guests Total | With 15% Buffer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 hours | 4 drinks | 400 drinks | 460 drinks |
| 4 hours | 5 drinks | 500 drinks | 575 drinks |
| 5 hours (typical) | 6 drinks | 600 drinks | 690 drinks |
| 6 hours | 6.5 drinks | 650 drinks | 750 drinks |
Skip the math
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Use the CalculatorAdjusting for Your Specific Wedding
The base formula works for most weddings, but several factors can shift consumption up or down:
Increase Drinks Per Person (+15-25%)
- Evening events: Guests drink more after dark
- Heavy-drinking crowd: College friends, party-loving family
- Open bar with top-shelf: Premium alcohol encourages more drinking
- Long gap between ceremony and reception: Guests arrive thirstier
- Hot weather: Guests drink more to cool down
Decrease Drinks Per Person (-15-25%)
- Daytime/brunch weddings: Less drinking when the sun is up
- Religious or cultural factors: Many non-drinkers expected
- Older crowd: Grandparents and elderly relatives drink less
- Family with children: Parents with kids often limit themselves
- Cash bar: Guests drink 30-40% less when paying
Splitting Drinks by Type
Once you know total drinks needed, split them across alcohol types. The standard split:
Higher for casual, outdoor, or beer-loving crowds
Higher for formal events or wine-loving guests
Higher if offering craft cocktails or signature drinks
Real-World Example: 100 Guest Wedding
Let's walk through a complete calculation for a typical 5-hour evening wedding:
Step 1: Calculate Total Drinks
- Cocktail hour: 100 guests × 2 drinks = 200 drinks
- Reception (4 hours): 100 guests × 4 drinks = 400 drinks
- Total: 600 drinks
- With 15% buffer: 690 drinks
Step 2: Split by Type (Standard)
- Beer (35%): 242 drinks = 11 cases
- Wine (40%): 276 drinks = 37 bottles
- Liquor (25%): 172 drinks = 7 bottles
Step 3: Add Champagne Toast
- 100 guests = 15 bottles of champagne
Drinks Per Person for Different Wedding Styles
- Increase to 1.25 drinks/hour
- Shift to 50% beer, 30% wine
- Double ice requirements
- Add extra water/non-alcoholic
- Standard 1 drink/hour works
- Shift to 50% wine, 25% beer
- Plan premium champagne for toast
- Consider passed hors d'oeuvres wine
- Reduce to 0.75 drinks/hour
- Mimosas and Bloody Marys popular
- Plan extra sparkling wine
- More coffee and juice needed
- Standard to +10% drinks/hour
- 60% beer is common
- Kegs can be cost-effective
- Batch cocktails work well
Don't Forget Non-Alcoholic Options
Plan for 15-20% of guests to prefer non-alcoholic drinks. Stock:
- Sparkling water and club soda
- Soft drinks (cola, lemon-lime, ginger ale)
- Juices (orange, cranberry, pineapple)
- Mocktail ingredients for a non-alcoholic signature drink
- Coffee and tea for late reception
The Buffer Factor
Always add 15-20% to your calculations. Here's why:
- Spillage and waste: Not every pour is perfect
- Unexpected guests: Plus-ones and last-minute additions
- Heavy drinkers: Some guests exceed averages
- Peace of mind: Running out is worse than having extra
Most liquor stores accept returns of unopened bottles. Buy extra, return what you don't use.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many drinks per person for a 4-hour wedding reception?
Plan for 5 drinks per person for a 4-hour reception. This follows the formula: 2 drinks for the first hour (cocktail hour) plus 1 drink per hour for the remaining 3 hours. For 100 guests, that equals 500 total drinks.
Do all guests drink the same amount at weddings?
No. Expect about 15-20% of guests to be non-drinkers or light drinkers. Heavy social drinkers may have 2+ drinks per hour. The 1-drink-per-hour average accounts for this variation across your guest list.
How do I adjust drinks per person for a daytime wedding?
Reduce by 15-20% for daytime events. Guests typically drink less when the sun is up. A brunch wedding might need only 0.75 drinks per person per hour instead of 1.
Should I count children in my drink calculation?
No, exclude children under 21 from alcohol calculations. However, remember to stock non-alcoholic options for them and for adults who prefer not to drink.
How many drinks per person for just the champagne toast?
Plan 1 glass per adult guest, plus 10-15% extra for spillage and seconds. One 750ml champagne bottle serves about 7 flutes. For 100 guests, you need 15 bottles.
What if my wedding is longer than 5 hours?
For events over 5 hours, the drinking rate typically slows. Use 1 drink per hour for hours 1-5, then 0.5-0.75 drinks per hour after that. Food service also reduces drinking rate.
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