One of the questions we get all the time is, "How much alcohol do I need at my event?" Here we have some tips and tricks for ensuring you have enough of the right drinks for your crowd.
Know your audience
The number one rule is to know your crowd. Hosting a group that is 70% beer drinkers? Make sure you double up on what you thought you’d need. Have a crew that love the crafty cocktails? Be sure to pick up extra of the necessary ingredients. If you are not really a drinker, or stick to one standard, ask a few of your guests what their drink of choice is to get an idea of preferences of your attendees.
Tips & Tricks
Red & White table wine – Having a sit down dinner? You will want 1 -2 bottles of each red and white per 6 person table.
Non-table wine – 1-1.5 bottles per wine drinker (some will drink more, some will drink less). We also recommend having a few different varietals of each. While you might love an oaky Chardonnay, others may love a fruity Moscato. Give people a few options.
Beer – 10-15 beers per beer drinker (again, some will drink more, some will drink less). Be sure to have both light and regular.
Bubbly – Are you doing a champagne toast? You want to have 1 bottle of bubbly per 4 guests. And remember, it doesn’t need to be expensive champagne. Try substituting Prosecco or Cava, for an equally delicious but less costly option. If you are offering bubbly as a drink option beyond the toast, you will want to go with 1 bottle per champagne drinker.
Craft cocktails – more is more. People may not typically order an Aperol Spritz, but if that is the signature cocktail of the evening, you can guarantee you will be serving a ton of them. Be sure to have extras of all ingredients on hand. Even your beer and wine drinkers may want to start with a cocktail.
Shots – Everyone loves to toast the wedding party/birthday person/star of the day – be sure to have something on hand you want to drink, otherwise you’re going to be stuck with shots of vodka. One or two bottles of each drink you want to have as shooters. The most common are Sambuca, Amaretto, Tequila and Tequila Rose.
Coolers & Cider - There are so many great premixed drinks to choose from, why not grab a few coolers and ciders to have on hand. And while you're at it, even better if you can support your local small craft breweries.
Water – don’t forget your water! You need this for your designated drivers, under-agers, non-drinkers, and just to help pace your guests. Make this easy to access – self-serve is even better.
We recommend holding on to your receipt from the liquor store, and only opening what you need as you need it so you can return the extras. It might seem like a time saver to open a bunch of bottles ahead of time, but if you don't use them, you are stuck with them.
Download our handy alcohol checklist to make sure you have what you need for your big day!
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