A Guide to Wedding Drinks: What to Serve & How Much You’ll Need
Written by Jessica Baber – Engagement Coordinator at Wedding Venues in Cornwall & Devon and wedding business owner (Tide the Knot Wedding Planning)
One of the questions I'm asked most often as a wedding planner is: "How much alcohol do we actually need for our wedding?"
It's one of the biggest decisions when planning your catering budget. Nobody wants to run out of drinks halfway through the celebrations, but equally, no one wants to spend hundreds of pounds on alcohol that never gets opened.
If you've found yourself searching for how much alcohol for a wedding, how many bottles of wine for wedding guests, or even a wedding drinks calculator, you're in the right place.
While every wedding is different, these guidelines will help you estimate how many drinks you'll need for each part of the day.
What Affects How Much Alcohol You Need?
Before ordering your drinks, think about your wedding as a whole. The right amount of alcohol depends on several factors, including:
The length of your wedding day.
Whether you're getting married in summer or winter.
Your guests' drinking habits.
The number of children, designated drivers and non-drinkers attending.
Whether you're providing a complimentary bar or guests will be purchasing their own evening drinks.
These details can make a surprisingly big difference when deciding how much to order.
Wedding Drinks Calculator: How Many Drinks Per Guest?
Although there isn't a one-size-fits-all formula, this simple guide works well for most weddings.
Drinks Reception
Allow 1–3 drinks per guest during your drinks reception after the ceremony.
If you're serving canapés or your reception will last longer than an hour, it's sensible to budget towards two drinks per person.
Wedding Breakfast
A good rule of thumb is to allow at least half a bottle of wine per guest during the meal.
Remember that not everyone drinks wine, so it's always worth offering a mix of beer, cider and alcohol-free alternatives too.
Toast Drinks
Allow one glass of fizz per guest for speeches and toasts.
Whether you choose Champagne, prosecco, English sparkling wine or an alcohol-free sparkling alternative, one serving per person is usually plenty.
Evening Reception
Guests typically enjoy 3-5 drinks each during the evening reception.
The exact number depends on how long your evening celebrations last and whether you're offering a complimentary bar or a paid bar.
If you're providing all of the drinks, it's worth allowing a little extra.
dont forget about soft drinks
When couples are working out how much alcohol they need for a wedding, soft drinks are often overlooked.
Always make sure there's plenty of chilled water available throughout the day, along with alcohol-free options for children, designated drivers and guests who simply choose not to drink alcohol.
Personalised Optional add-ons
Once you've worked out the essentials, why not have a little fun with your wedding drinks? There are plenty of ways to make your bar feel more personal and memorable without completely changing your overall drinks budget.
Cocktail Hour
A cocktail hour can be a brilliant way to add a sense of occasion to your drinks reception. You could choose one or two signature cocktails that reflect you as a couple, perhaps inspired by a favourite holiday, where you met or simply the drinks you love.
For an extra personal touch, create his and hers cocktails, one chosen by each of you. You could even give them fun names that tie into your wedding or personalities.
Champagne Towers
If you're looking for a real wow moment, a champagne tower is hard to beat. Whether you use Champagne, prosecco or English sparkling wine, it's a fun alternative to simply handing guests a glass of fizz and makes a brilliant photo opportunity too.
Just make sure you have enough bottles factored into your overall drinks budget. A champagne tower can use more sparkling wine than a traditional toast.
Pre-Ceremony Drinks
Who says the drinks have to start after the ceremony?
Offering a welcome drink before your ceremony can be a lovely way to get everyone settled and in the celebratory spirit. Think chilled cans of something refreshing, a light spritz, Champagne or even a fun alcohol-free option.
This works particularly well for outdoor or destination-style weddings where guests might arrive a little earlier and have some time to mingle before taking their seats.
Just remember to factor these drinks into your overall quantities, they're an additional serving rather than a replacement for your post-ceremony drinks reception.
Personalised Shot Favours
For something a little less traditional, why not turn your favourite tipple into a wedding favour?
Mini bottles or shot glasses filled with something you both love can double up as place settings or favours. Limoncello, tequila rose, limoncello spritzes or another favourite after-dinner tipple can make a fun little surprise for guests.
You could personalise the labels with your names, wedding date or a tongue-in-cheek message, making them feel much more considered than a traditional favour.
Make Your Drinks Part of the Experience
Your wedding drinks don't have to be limited to wine, beer and prosecco. From signature cocktails and champagne towers to pre-ceremony tipples and personalised favours, these little details can make your drinks offering feel much more you.
The key is to choose the ideas that genuinely suit you as a couple rather than feeling like you need to include everything. A couple of well-thought-out drinks details can have far more impact than an overcomplicated bar menu.
Final thoughts
These recommendations are a fantastic starting point, but every wedding is unique.
Your venue, caterer or wedding planner will be able to tailor your drinks order based on your guest list, your timeline and the style of celebration you're planning.
By getting your quantities right, you'll keep your guests happy, stay within budget and avoid both running out of drinks and over-ordering.
If you're still unsure how much alcohol for your wedding, I'd always recommend speaking to your venue or planner, they'll help you calculate exactly what you need for your day.
Photography Credits:
Photo 1: Ash Powell Photography
Photo 2: We Are The Clarkes
Photo 3: Thomas Hare Photography
Photo 4: Thomas Frost Photography
Photo 5: Verity Westcott Photography
