Alcohol is one of those often overlooked costs when determining your wedding budget. Because the cost of drinks is so high, it is important to make as accurate an estimate as possible. Here are a few simple steps, including online calculators, to help determine how much you need:
Step 1: Estimate the number of guests who will be attending your wedding as accurately as possible. Look at your guest list and estimate how many people will be drinking.
Step 2: Plan on roughly three drinks per person for a two-hour reception, which will give you a very generous base to start with. (This should not include champagne for toasts.) Know your crowd! If they’ve proven to be enthusiastic partygoers in the past, you may want to up the drink estimate accordingly.
Step 3: Make rough estimates of servings per bottle of alcohol. A standard wine bottle (750ml) will yield about four to six servings, depending on the class size. Beer is typically served by the pint (and kegs are the most cost-effective way to go). Click here for Evite's online drink calculator.
General Tips:
- Hire one bartender for every 50 guests
- Designate someone who can make emergency runs to restock liquor if you underestimate how much your guests will drink, or stock up ahead of time
- Ask and make sure the vendor will take back unopened bottles of alcohol
- Have the phone numbers of local taxicab companies ready in case any guest needs an alternative method of transportation
- Keep a variety of non-alcoholic drinks available, including water – drinkers and non-drinkers alike still need to rehydrate!
Frugal Tips:
- Create a "signature drink" that is uniquely you; this allows you to personalize your event and cuts back on the variety of items needed at the bar (such as types of alcohol, bar mixes, garnishes, etc.)
- Consider limiting the bar to beer and wine and allow your guests to toast with their drink of choice
- Limit the number of hours the bar is open (say, 2 hours instead of 4 for the typical reception)
Cheers! :)
