Your Wedding Advice - StrictlyWeddings.com Blog

Wedding Bar Advice

When budgeting your bar and stocking your beverages, averaging the number of drinks per guest can be a bit of a gamble.  Your reception venue will offer advice, we’re sure, yet it doesn’t hurt to know a few things ahead of time as well.
 
Wine
There are 4.5 glasses to a bottle. For your reception figure 2 people will drink one bottle. These days you can buy equal amounts of red as you do of white. If you have leftovers some stores or vendors will allow you to return unopened bottles. Or if your venue is supplying they should be able to place it back into stock.

Beer
Select one regular and one light. Purchase one bottle of regular and one bottle of light beer per guest. Choose your favorite beers or choose beers that are universally popular.

Liquor
Plan on getting fifteen drinks from each 750ml bottle. These portions are generous but the last thing you want to have to do is run out in the middle of your event! For your basic full bar, you want Vodka, gin, rum (light and/or dark), tequila, triple sec and whiskey. 

Soft Drinks
We typically go with the usual cast of characters that everyone knows: Coke, Diet Coke and Sprite (add a few Dr Pepper products if you’re in the South). For a two-liter bottle, figure ten to twelve people per bottle. This assumes that your cups are not 20 ounces and that you’re serving other beverages besides just these.
 
Bottled Water
It’s good to have some on hand in case your guests need to hydrate after hitting the dance floor and keep extra on hand for the end of the evening when guests have had a bit of alcohol beforehand. With the plethora of water brands on the market look over your budget and figure out the brand that works best with your budget. Tip: Serve discount store brands in pitchers or from the back of the house but do not stock visibly on the bar.

Mixers
99% of the time everyone will ask for at least one of the following: Tonic, Soda, Cranberry, Orange, and Grapefruit Juice (with a full bar). Orange juice is a big mixer, but it isn’t cheap. Some lower end brands don’t taste great, so, don’t include it with the bar unless the budget requires it.

Garnish
Limes, lemons, olives, onions (with a full bar). But also take into consideration what you’re serving. If you’re pouring cosmopolitans, why not float a few frozen cranberries? Or top off your cocktails by rimming the glasses with sugar.

Ice
Figure 2 pounds per person for serving and chilling. Get it delivered an hour or so before the party begins (at least). Select either cubes or crushed and store extras in either a cool place or freezer. If the party is outside, plan on keeping in large coolers.

There is no exact science to stocking your bar. You’ve got to take into consideration how warm or cold it is outside (if you’re having an afternoon party in the summer, up your ice quantity.) Don’t forget to factor in your menu (if you’ll be eating steak, ease up on your white wine quantity). And be sure to figure in your friends’ and family’s preferences. If you know you’ve got a heavy drinking crowd who loves martinis, stock up on some extra vodka, olives and lime juice. Experience counts, so ask the experts and consult with your caterers to make the most educated calculations that you can. 

Looking for great advice? Contact one of our StrictlyWeddings.com event planners or catering partners.