Post # 1

Member
189 posts
Blushing bee
How much beer and wine should I order with my venue for 150 people? My FH and my family are not huge drinkers, but are friends can be!
I was thinking of ordering two kegs, one light one regular beer and then 3 cases of wine (36 bottles). Is this enough? We also have a cash bar on hand for hard alcohol and anything not offered by us.
What did you do for your weddings? I want people to have a good time, but I don’t want to pay to get them annihilated!!! LOL
Post # 3

Member
224 posts
Helper bee
No clue on the kegs I have never delt with them before. But for the wine 36 bottles=144-180glasses of it before your out. The 144 is just in case you are using large wine glasses and filling them (that way your only getting 4 servings per bottle). But as long as you are using normal sized wine glasses and not over pouring you will be able to bet 180 glasses out of the 36 bottles. So everyone will be able to get 1 glass of wine with 30 glasses remaining for seconds. Really I would say you know your guests best. If you think they will be happy only getting one glass of wine then leave it as is, if not I would reccomend ordering an additional case.
As for what I am doing personally, we are having a very small wedding of four people including us. With only one of the four being a big drinker. So we are going to be having 2 bottles of wine/champange (one of each), one mini keg (the mini hinkin ones you can buy anywhere), and then having lots of red bull, monster, sweet tea and coke on hand.
Post # 4

Member
609 posts
Busy bee
we have 150 people and we have 12 cases of wine and 3 kegs. not to mention the vodka, rum, whiskey that is being served during the cocktail hour. but from what we figured it’s 2 drinks an hour from when then bar opens.
Dont worry we have a shuttle going to and from the hotels in the area so no one is drinking and driving!
Post # 5

Member
3253 posts
Sugar bee
We are just ordering two kegs and when it’s gone or if they want hard liquor, people can head to the cash bar. Unlimited virgin lemonade available all night, though- lol! 🙂
Post # 6

Member
63 posts
Worker bee
I was told:
1. Figure one drink per person per hour of the reception;
2. Then divide that between wine and beer — figure out how many beers per keg, and figure 5 glasses per wine bottle.
If you don’t want people to get “annihilated,” the solution is not to order too little alcohol and run out so they can’t drink anymore. Other solutions to that can be the cash bar, telling bartenders to cut people off at a certain point, or having a groomsman who will speak to people who are getting too rowdy or overly intoxicated.
Good luck!
Post # 7

Member
189 posts
Blushing bee
@MrsJules10:Wow! So you bar is entirely hosted? We are just doing a partially hosted bar. But 12 cases of wine? Makes me think maybe I should bump mine up a little! LOL
@brideatbeach:This seems like more my style, how many people though? We have a cash bar and then the 2 kegs- for a hundred and fify, maybe 5 cases of wine.
@solsticedark:Thanks for the math! I am thinking I am going to need to increase it a bit. Thankfully, there will be alot of old people!
Post # 8

Member
189 posts
Blushing bee
Thanks for the rule of thumb. I was hoping that we will use the hosted bar until we run out and then the cash bar will suffice. I can just see what happens when there is too much free alcohol! If people start to have to pay part way through the night, then I believe it will slow them down a little.
Post # 9

Member
609 posts
Busy bee
@soontobemrsjohnnyb: i think we went a little overboard on the wine myself. but we did red and white and i didnt want to run out. plus i do love me some wine, so i figure it wont go to waste even if we dont drink it all that night.
Yes we are doing an entirely hosted bar, but we are allowed to bring our own booze and not go through the caterer to get them so we bought them at cost. We only had to rent bartenders who have permits to serve it. we ended up saving a ton of money this way, so i think that is why we were able to get so much.
Post # 10

Member
609 posts
Busy bee
@soontobemrsjohnnyb: Also i’m having a little chat with our bartenders before the cocktail hour opens up. I do not want people getting out of control or wasted. i’m telling them to keep the drinks light and to cut people off! i can just imagine what kind of mess it would turn into. hopefully things go well. i will let you know in 4 days!!!!!
Post # 11

Member
2 posts
Wannabee
Evite has a fantastic drink calculator. It lets you plug in how long the reception is, how many light, medium and heavy drinkers you have and what kind of alcohol will be served and viola…the number of drinks you need.
http://www.evite.com/pages/party/drink-calculator.jsp’ defer=’defer
Post # 12

Member
189 posts
Blushing bee
@MrsJules10:How EXCITING!!!!!! I hope all goes wonderfully and lots of good thoughts your way!!! YAY!!
Post # 13

Member
189 posts
Blushing bee
Thanks! I will check it out!