Inputs used
- Adult guests
- Event length (hours)
- Drinking profile
- Wine share (%)
- Beer share (%)
- Spirits share (%)
wedding alcohol calculator
How the Wedding Alcohol Calculator works
Assumptions, formula, inputs, and practical limits for the Wedding Alcohol Calculator.
How this estimate works
The estimate assumes guests drink more in the first hour, less in later hours, then adjusts for the selected drinking profile and rounds bottles up.
- Base drinks = guests x (2 drinks in the first hour + 1 drink per later hour).
- Light, average, and party profiles scale the base total down or up.
- The default result includes a 10% buffer before splitting into wine, beer, and spirits.
Outputs generated
- total drinks
- wine bottles
- beer bottles/cans
- spirits bottles
- mixer estimate
- shopping list
Worked example
For 100 guests over 5 hours with an average profile, the calculator estimates 660 total drinks after buffer. With a 50/35/15 split, that becomes 66 wine bottles, 231 beers, and 6 spirit bottles.
Limits of the estimate
Follow local alcohol laws and venue rules. Do not use this to encourage overconsumption.
Confirm venue rules, supplier returns, glassware, ice, water, mixers, and alcohol-free options before placing a final order.