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How many drinks do you need for a 100 person wedding?


Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, and one of the most confusing things to figure out is how much alcohol to buy. You don’t want to run out of alcohol mid-reception, but you also don’t want to end up with too much leftover. So, how many drinks do you need for a 100 person wedding?

As a general rule of thumb, plan to serve one drink per guest per hour of the reception. In other words, if you’re having a four-hour reception with 100 guests, provide 400 servings of alcohol. Full bars typically offer beer, wine, and liquor.

Here’s a breakdown of how much alcohol you need for each type of drink:

Beer

If you’re offering beer, plan to serve two to three drinks per person per hour. A typical bottle of beer is 12 ounces, and a keg typically contains 165 12-ounce servings. So, if you’re serving only beer, plan to buy two or three kegs for a 100 person wedding.

Wine

If you’re offering wine, plan to serve one to two glasses per person per hour. A typical bottle of wine contains five glasses, so plan to buy 20 to 40 bottles for a 100 person wedding. You may want to offer both red and white wine to accommodate different tastes.

Liquor

If you’re offering liquor, plan to serve two to three drinks per person per hour. A typical bottle of liquor contains about 17 drinks, so plan to buy six to nine bottles for a 100 person wedding. You may also want to provide mixers like tonic water, soda water, and soft drinks.

Non-Alcoholic Drinks

Don’t forget about non-alcoholic drinks! You should have at least one non-alcoholic option available for guests who don’t drink, as well as for designated drivers. Plan to provide about two non-alcoholic drinks per person per hour. You can offer options like soda, juice, and water.

Conclusion

Planning how much alcohol to buy for a wedding can be stressful, but with a little bit of math and some careful planning, you can ensure that your guests have a great time without running out of alcohol or ending up with too much leftover. Remember to offer a variety of options, including non-alcoholic drinks, and always drink responsibly. Cheers to a happy wedding day!

FAQ

How do you stock a bar for 100 guests?


Stocking a bar for 100 guests can be a challenging task, especially when you are not sure about the quantities to be needed. But with proper planning and calculation, you can ensure that your bar is well-equipped to handle the needs of 100 guests. Below are some tips to help you stock a bar for a party with 100 guests:

1. Determine the duration of the party: The first step in ensuring that you have enough drinks for the party is to determine how long the party will last. For example, if the party would last 5 hours, you can estimate that each guest will have an average of 5 drinks.

2. Choose the type of drinks to offer: The types of drinks you offer at the bar can vary depending on the occasion. For a casual party, you can stick to beer, wine, and a few basic mixed drinks. On the other hand, for a formal occasion, you may want to raise the bar and offer more premium drinks like champagne, top-shelf spirits, and fancy cocktails.

3. Estimate the quantity of drinks: To stock a bar for 100 guests, you need to estimate the quantity of drinks based on the duration of the party. Using the 5-hour duration, you can assume that each guest will consume an average of 5 drinks, giving you a total of 500 drinks.

4. Stocking up on beer: To serve beer for 100 guests, you would need to either stock up on 7 cases of beer or one ½ barrel sized keg. Assuming that each guest will consume an average of 2-3 beers, 170 beers should suffice for the party.

5. Stocking up on wine: Assuming that each guest will consume an average of 1.5 glasses of wine, you will need approximately 37 bottles of wine. This quantity will also depend on the types of wines you choose to serve, as different varieties come in different bottle sizes.

6. Stocking up on liquor: To serve 150 mixed drinks, you will need approximately four 1.75ml bottles of liquor, assuming each bottle would provide approximately 39 servings per bottle.

7. Mixers and garnishes: You will need to stock up on mixers such as tonic water, soda, juice, and garnishes like lime wedges, lemon slices, and olives.

Stocking a bar for 100 guests requires careful planning, calculation, and preparation of the right drinks, mixers, and garnishes. By following these tips, you can ensure that your bar is stocked with the right quantity and types of drinks to serve your guests.

How many appetizers for 100 guests cocktail hour?


If you’re hosting a cocktail hour for 100 guests and planning to offer appetizers, it’s important to know how many appetizers to prepare. Serving too few appetizers can leave guests hungry and dissatisfied, while serving too many can lead to waste and increased costs. So how many appetizers should you plan for?

A good rule of thumb is to plan for approximately six appetizer portions per guest. This means that for 100 guests, you should prepare around 600 appetizer portions. However, there are a few factors that can influence this estimate.

First, consider the length of your cocktail hour. If it’s only going to last an hour or two, you may not need as many appetizers as you would for a longer event. On the other hand, if your cocktail hour is going to last several hours, you’ll want to make sure you have enough appetizers to keep guests satisfied throughout the evening.

Second, think about the type of appetizers you’re serving. Some appetizers, such as cheese platters or dips, may be more filling than others, like small bites of sushi or bruschetta. If you’re offering heartier appetizers, you may need to prepare fewer portions per guest than if you’re offering lighter bites.

Finally, consider the time of day and the other food that will be served. If your cocktail hour is taking place during a mealtime, such as lunch or dinner, guests may be more hungry and expect more substantial appetizers. On the other hand, if your cocktail hour is in the mid-afternoon or evening and will be followed by a full meal, guests may be content with lighter snacks.

When planning appetizers for a cocktail hour for 100 guests, it’s best to err on the side of caution and prepare more rather than less. By estimating around six appetizer portions per guest, taking into account the length of your event, the type of appetizers, and the time of day, you’ll be sure to have enough to keep your guests happy and satisfied.

How many people can 1 bartender serve?


The number of guests that a single bartender can serve will depend on a number of factors, including the type of event, the duration of the event, the size of the venue and the level of service that is expected. As a general rule of thumb, it is recommended to have one bartender for every 35 guests in order to ensure that the bar runs smoothly and guests are served in a timely and efficient manner.

For example, if you are hosting a 150-person wedding reception, it would be advisable to have four or five bartenders available to serve your guests. This will allow each bartender to focus on a smaller number of guests, ensuring that everyone has a chance to be served promptly and that lines do not become too long or unruly.

It is worth noting that the number of bartenders needed may vary based on the type of event you are hosting, and the level of service you expect. For example, if you are hosting a casual backyard BBQ with self-service drinks, the number of bartenders needed may be much lower than if you are hosting a formal cocktail party where guests expect more personalized and attentive service.

The key to determining how many bartenders you need is to think carefully about the needs and expectations of your guests, and to be realistic about the workload that each bartender can reasonably handle. By planning ahead and carefully staffing your bar, you can help ensure that your guests have a great time at your event, and that your bar runs smoothly from start to finish.