The "One Drink Per Hour" Rule
The standard formula used by caterers and wedding planners is straightforward: expect each guest to consume one standard drink for every hour of the reception.
However, this is just a baseline. We adjust this formula based on:
- Light Drinkers: ~0.8 drinks per hour (Daytime weddings, Sundays, older crowd).
- Average Drinkers: ~1 drink per hour (Standard evening reception).
- Heavy Drinkers: ~1.2+ drinks per hour (Saturday night, younger crowd, heavy partying).
Ratio Breakdown
Knowing the total number of drinks is only step one. How do you split that between beer, wine, and spirits?
Full Bar Ratio
If you are serving everything, a safe breakdown is:
- 45% Wine
- 25% Beer
- 30% Liquor (Vodka, Gin, Whiskey, etc.)
Beer & Wine Only
If you skip the hard stuff, people will drink more wine:
- 60% Wine
- 40% Beer
Pro Tips for Buying Alcohol
- Check Return Policies: Many big-box liquor stores will allow you to return unopened, unchilled bottles. Buy extra (10-15%) and return what you don't use.
- Don't Forget Ice: You need roughly 1 lb of ice per guest for cooling drinks and serving.
- Mixers & Garnishes: If doing a full bar, don't forget Club Soda, Tonic, Coke, Ginger Ale, Lemons, and Limes.
- Keg vs. Bottles: Kegs are cheaper but harder to return leftovers. Bottles/cans are easier to manage and recycle.
More Planning Tools
Planning the rest of your event? Use our Finance Calculators to manage your wedding budget. Also, ensure you look and feel your best for the big day with our Health Calculators.