DayplanlyThe rule of thumb behind the numbers
The calculator uses a common planning rule: about two drinks per guest in the first hour and one drink per guest for every hour after that. You can nudge it up or down with the “crowd” setting. Drinks are then split by your wine / beer / liquor mix and converted into bottles:
- Wine: a 750 ml bottle pours about 5 glasses (5 oz each).
- Beer: one 12 oz bottle or can per beer drink, rounded up to 24-packs.
- Liquor: a 750 ml bottle gives about 16 standard 1.5 oz pours.
- Champagne toast: about 6 flutes per bottle, one per guest.
Tips before you buy
- Only count guests of legal drinking age who drink. Leave out kids and non-drinkers.
- Ask your store whether unopened bottles can be returned. Many will take them back, which makes rounding up low-risk.
- Check your venue's rules on outside alcohol, corkage fees and licensed bartenders.
- Have plenty of water and non-alcoholic options, and plan safe rides home.
Drinks are usually one of the biggest lines in a wedding budget. See how they fit with the wedding budget calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much alcohol do I need for 100 guests?
For a 5-hour reception with an average crowd and a 50/30/20 wine/beer/liquor mix, the calculator estimates about 600 drinks: roughly 60 bottles of wine, 8 cases of beer and 8 bottles of liquor, plus about 17 bottles of bubbly if everyone gets a toast.
How many glasses are in a bottle of wine?
About 5 glasses of 5 oz from a standard 750 ml bottle.
How many drinks are in a bottle of liquor?
About 16 standard 1.5 oz pours from a 750 ml bottle. Cocktails with larger pours will use more.
Should I count every guest?
Count only drinking-age guests who drink alcohol. Use the “light” setting if many guests drink little.
Is this exact?
No. It's a planning estimate based on a rule of thumb. Your crowd, the season and the menu all matter, so check with your caterer or bartender.
Last updated 2026-10-26. Runs entirely in your browser; see our privacy note.