The amount of alcohol consumed at a wedding reception varies widely. Hopefully you and your future spouse know your wedding guests pretty well–this should help you determine what types of alcohol and how much you need for the bar. Will they choose liquor or do you think they’ll go for wine and beer? If your friends are part of the beer drinking crowd, don’t overbuy on hard alcohol, and vice versa. In most weddings, the crowd is multi-generational, and as a result, you’ll probably have a range of preferences.

Many people have found themselves asking, “How much alcohol should I get?” Overbuying is extremely costly and wasteful, and underbuying is a major faux pas.

Here is a great break down for fully stocking the bar at your wedding:

Full Bar Setup for 100 guests:

6 bottles of Coke
6 bottle of Diet Coke
4 Bottles of Sprite
4 Bottle of Ginger Ale
5 Bottle of Seltzer
5 Bottles of Tonic

2 Bottles of Orange Juice
1 Bottle Grapefruit Juice
2 Bottles of Cranberry Juice
2 Bottles of Pineapple Juice
1 Bottle Tomato Juice

1 Bottle Sweetened Lime Juice
1 Bottle Grenadine
1 Bottle Sour Mix
1 Bottle Bitters
1 Bottle Tobasco
1 Bottle Worcestershire

6 Lemons
6 Limes
1 Jar Olives
2 Jars Cherries

200 Cocktail Napkins
200 Stirrer-Straws

2 Cork Screws
1 Bottle Opener
1 Knife
1 Cutting Board
3 Cloth Napkins

15 Bags of Ice

2 Liters Rum
4 Liters Vodka
2 Liters Tequila
1 Liter Scotch
1 Liter Bourbon
2 Liters Gin
Also, maybe – Vermouth, Triple Sec, Kahlua

Red Wine – 3-4 cases
White Wine – 2-3 cases
Champagne – 1 case for toast, 2 case for general consumption

Beer – 4-6 cases of 2-3 brands of beer, or ½ keg equals 7 cases

Remember to always try to purchase what you like to drink.