Wedding bar shopping list
The guide version of the calculator: every line item a wedding bar needs, in the order a store — or your venue — will want to see it.
Step by step
1. Count the drinks
Guests × hours × 1 drink/hour, minus non-drinkers, plus a 10% buffer. For 100 guests over 5 hours that is about 468 drinks. Full method: how the formula works.
2. Split by bar style
Full bar: 35% beer, 35% wine, 30% spirits. Beer & wine only: 50/50. Wine only: all wine, and lean on soft drinks for variety.
3. Convert to things you can buy
| Item | Conversion |
|---|---|
| Wine | 5 glasses per 750 ml bottle |
| Spirits | ~17 drinks per 750 ml bottle (1.5 oz pour) |
| Beer | Cases of 24; or ~165 pours per half-barrel keg |
| Champagne | 6 toast glasses per bottle; 1 glass per guest |
4. The 100-guest reference list
| Line item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Beer | 164 cans/bottles (7 cases of 24) |
| Wine | 33 × 750 ml bottles |
| Spirits | 9 × 750 ml bottles |
| Champagne | 17 × 750 ml bottles |
| Soft drinks | 113 servings (15 non-drinkers × 5 h × 1.5) |
| Ice | ~100 lb |
| Mixers | ~1 litre per 3–4 spirits drinks (≈35–45 litres across soda, tonic, cola, juices) |
5. Add the forgotten items
Water — out all nightSparkling alternative for the toastLemons & limesNapkins & strawsA bottle opener & wine key at every bar pointBins for empties
6. Send it to your venue
Generate your own list with the calculator, copy it, and send it to your venue or caterer. They make the final call — they know your crowd, your local rules and what their bar can actually serve.
Frequently asked questions
What else goes on the list besides alcohol?
Mixers (soda, tonic, cola, juices), garnishes, soft drinks, water, ice at about 1 lb per guest, cups or glassware if your venue does not provide them, and a sparkling alternative for the toast.
When should I buy the alcohol?
Two to four weeks out is the sweet spot for most weddings: early enough to catch sales and fix mistakes, late enough that storage is not a problem. Confirm delivery or pickup with your venue's schedule.