How much alcohol is needed for a wedding: principles of calculation per person, how much to buy for 40 people, how much wine, vodka, champagne is needed for 50 guests

What to consider?

There are several key factors that will help you determine the required amount of alcohol for your wedding. The following tips will help you purchase the required quantities of alcohol:

Determine the duration of the banquet in advance;
If possible, identify among the total number of guests groups of light drinkers and those who want to have a good drink in honor of the celebration. Count the number of those who, as a matter of principle, do not drink a drop, so as not to take them into account in the calculations;
Consider the age of the guests. Young people tend to drink more. Elderly people – less, but prefer stronger drinks;
When choosing an assortment, be guided by the season in which the celebration is planned. At a winter wedding, guests enjoy strong cognac and vodka with a bang, while a summer celebration makes do with lighter options: wine, champagne, liqueur;
Taking into account who is more numerous among the guests: men or women can also help you choose drinks. Representatives of the fair sex usually prefer light alcohol.

Important! Among the majority of those invited there will be close people. Newlyweds are usually aware of their tastes, so calculating the amount of alcohol will not be so difficult.

How to calculate alcohol for a wedding: main points

To calculate alcohol, guests are divided into 3 groups: men, women and non-drinkers.

It is traditionally believed that strong alcohol is mainly consumed by the strong half of humanity, and the minimum amount that should be present at a wedding is 0.5 liters per man.
For the fair half, they most often purchase good wines and other alcoholic drinks with less alcohol and more sugar. For women you will need from 1 liter. guilt.
Non-alcoholic drinks are prepared for non-drinkers.

If guests are light drinkers, then the calculation formulas differ in the amount of alcoholic beverages. For women, take 0.3 liters of wine, for men – 0.2 liters of vodka.

The same meanings apply when the celebration takes place in a narrow family circle or when the event takes place for a short time.

To understand how to carry out calculations correctly, you can look at examples.

For a wedding of 30 people: with 10 men, 15 women and 5 children you will need:

10 men * 0.5 = from 5 liters of strong alcohol;
15 women * 1 = 15 liters of wine;

If guests drink little:

10 men *0.2 = 2 l;
15 women * 0.3 = 4.5 l (rounded to 5).

For a wedding of 40 people, with an equal number of men and women, without the presence of children and non-drinkers, you will need:

20 men * 0.5 = 10 liters of strong drinks;
20 woman * 1 = 20 liters of low-alcohol alcohol.

20 men * 0.2 = 4 l;

20 women * 0.3 = 6 l.

You will need either 10 liters and 20 liters, or 4 liters of strong and 6 liters of weak alcohol, depending on the preferences of the guests.

For 50 guests you will need:

18 men * 0.5 = 9 liters of vodka or whiskey;
22 women * 1 = 22 liters of wine;
10 people don't drink alcohol.

For light drinkers:

18 men * 0.2 = 3.6 l (rounded to 4);
22 women * 0.3 = 6.6 l (7).

Red wines are more popular at weddings than white wines. But you shouldn’t buy just one type of wine for a banquet. Therefore, we will now calculate the correct ratio of these two types. And remember that some of your friends/relatives do not drink strong alcohol at all, some will be ready to drink half a glass of this or that wine, and then “switch” to strong alcoholic drinks. Therefore, again, we make an average calculation for all guests without exception.

Red: 300 gr. * number of guests / 700 gr. = pcs. bottlesWhite: 150 gr. * number of guests / 700 gr. = pcs. bottles

In order not to make mistakes in the calculations, many nuances should be taken into account. But even with the most careful calculations, unpredictable moments are possible, since it is impossible to predict in advance what and how much a particular guest will want to drink. Therefore, it is always recommended to have a small reserve, which can then be left for the second day of the wedding, honeymoon or any other upcoming celebration

A few rules:

Therefore, it is always recommended to have a small supply, which can then be left for the second day of the wedding, honeymoon or any other upcoming celebration. A few rules:

You need to take into account not only the number of guests, but also their age and gender. When calculating alcohol, you can exclude children, pregnant women, and people who warn you in advance that for one reason or another they will not drink. In this case, the amount of alcohol decreases, but the amount of soft drinks increases.

Find out in advance who drinks what, or at least prefers it. It makes no sense to spend money on vodka if almost all the guests will drink wine.
It should be taken into account that guests will want to drink not only at the banquet itself, but also at the redemption and during the wedding walk. After the registry office, as a rule, they also open a bottle of champagne. In some registry offices, champagne is included in the price of the ceremonial registration. This question is worth clarifying.
To save on alcohol, you can buy it in bulk at trading centers or hypermarkets. For large purchases in a regular store they can give a discount.
Be sure to look at the brand of alcohol, take only proven ones. If you have never tried it, grab 1 bottle in advance to try. If you buy a large amount of wine and it turns out to be bad, your guests will quickly taste it, no one will drink it, and the money will be wasted.
Remember that in the summer, when it’s hot, you usually consume less alcohol and more soft drinks.
Among the guests will be your friends and relatives about whom you know quite a lot. Mark in advance those whom you would call light drinkers and calculate the maximum amount of alcohol for them separately.

It is traditionally believed that strong alcohol is mainly consumed by the strong half of humanity, and the minimum amount that should be present at a wedding is 0.5 liters per man.
For the fair half, they most often purchase other alcoholic drinks with less alcohol and more sugar. For women you will need from 1 liter. guilt.
Non-alcoholic drinks are prepared for non-drinkers.

Champagne

At a banquet, sparkling wine is in demand in minimal quantities , but it flows like a river:

at bride price competitions;
during and after painting in the registry office;
throughout the entire wedding walk.

To calculate the required amount of champagne, take one bottle for each invitee. There are about six glasses in it, so you get two glasses for each part of the day - for buying, painting, walking. You should not abuse the sparkling drink, because drinking it is symbolic.

Remember that traditionally it is customary to leave two bottles of champagne untouched on the newlyweds' table. One of them will be drunk on the anniversary, the second - in honor of the birth of the first child. If you like interesting customs, add these two bottles to your calculations.

Menu Features

It is not customary to save much on the menu - it is necessary that everyone remains full and happy, since on average the banquet lasts 7 hours, and during this time anyone can get hungry.

As a rule, the following order of serving dishes is observed:

cold cuts and snacks;
2-3 different portioned salads, served alternately;
cold and hot snacks from meat, fish, vegetables or mushrooms;
main course with side dish;
Dessert;
cake.

During the entire banquet, there should be different drinks on the tables, for example, mineral water and 2 types of juice. Waiters must ensure that communal plates and pitchers are full at all times. If the banquet is not organized in a cafe or restaurant, then this task is transferred to the newlyweds themselves and their parents.

Interesting!

Wine

General recommendation: choose semi-dry and semi-sweet wines. There are rarely fans of dry ones, and dessert ones are unlikely to be combined with hearty snacks. As for calculations, take one bottle for each guest so that there is enough for everyone, but no more than three different brands.

How to choose between red and white wine?

If you don’t know the guests’ preferences, the simplest solution is to take equal parts of both red and white. Or choose a universal option - rose wine. It goes with all appetizers;
Will there be meat dishes for main course? They are better complemented by red wine, served chilled to 16-18°C;
If the main dish is fish and seafood or poultry, it is better to choose white wine. Before serving, be sure to cool it to 10-14°C.

Martini also has the right to be on the wedding table, but, frankly speaking, this is not a drink for everyone. Even those who like it (usually the female half of the guests) do not use it in its pure form, but as part of cocktails. Therefore, if you buy martinis or other vermouths, budget for suitable juices (pineapple, grapefruit, orange).

Self planning

This is perhaps the most difficult option, but, as a rule, the most optimal. Of course, if you have the time and desire to do such calculations. To get started, decide on the following:

The exact number of guests + spread (this happens when you don’t know exactly whether a person will arrive, etc.). Let's say 40 + 5 people;
Try to find out more about their drinking options. Here it is easiest to divide people into four groups: heavy drinkers, moderate drinkers, light drinkers and non-drinkers. Based on these types, you need to make a list;
People's taste preferences are also important. For example, Uncle Vanya drinks only vodka, you don’t have to buy wine with him, but Aunt Alla, on the contrary, prefers only white wine - there is no need to buy other alcohol;

For other guests, take an average amount of alcohol.

Traditional drinks at a festive feast are: vodka, champagne, wine and cognac. Keep in mind that you will need extra bottles. For example, the first bottle of champagne is drunk at the registry office, the second immediately after leaving, and two bottles must be put aside. The first is opened on the anniversary, the second - after the birth of the child.

There should be a lot of champagne. It is traditionally poured for everyone, since you need to drink to the newlyweds when making a toast. Therefore, there should be at least 250 ml per person. It’s better, of course, to take 0.5 or even 0.75, if other preferences are not indicated. Also, don’t forget that this drink is often used in various competitions, so buy an extra 5-7 bottles “just in case.”

Also within the framework of the question of how to calculate alcohol for a wedding, it is worth noting the determination of the amount of wine. As a rule, 0.75 liters per person is taken into account. Again, you need to subtract or add people who have a special relationship with this drink. If there are no special preferences, then the ratio of red and white wine should be one to one.

But with vodka the question is more complicated. So, for example, at many weddings there are men who can drink a couple of bottles, so everything is more interesting here. However, practice shows that 0.5 liters per person is quite enough, if not too much. Experienced organizers say that 300-500 ml per person is enough to provide decent drinking for all guests.

If you want to buy cognac, whiskey, gin or any other drinks, then their amount must be subtracted from vodka. For example, if you calculated 0.5 liters of vodka per person and decided to buy 100 milliliters of cognac, then there should be 400 milliliters of vodka left for each person.

Vodka

The strong drink is considered the most popular. At some wedding banquets there is no other alcohol at all, but this is a sign of bad taste , because guests must have a choice.

Although traditionally it is customary to drink vodka warm, guests at weddings in the summer heat often complain that they would like the alcohol chilled. It is better to discuss the issue with the administration of the establishment in advance so that at least some of the bottles are kept in refrigerators or a sufficient amount of ice is prepared.

Advice! Calculating the required amount of vodka is very simple: take one bottle for every two guests who don’t mind drinking. You can't go wrong!

Juice

Juice is the main focus in the purchase of soft drinks

It is important to take into account that for non-drinking guests it is necessary to increase the volume of this drink. Sour flavors are considered the best choice.

Most often, the following types are chosen in equal proportions: apple, cherry, orange, multifruit, pomegranate. It is very rare that tomato or grape juices are present at a wedding banquet.

If non-drinkers prefer a certain type of juice, then it is necessary to increase the volume of it

It is also important to consider that the presence of other non-alcoholic drinks reduces the consumption of a particular drink

Don't forget about children - they should get enough of their favorite juice so that during the event they can quench their thirst and not be capricious. Before holding a banquet, it is important to find out what allergies the guests have, otherwise some difficulties will arise in the turmoil of the celebration.

Cognac and whiskey

Cognac is less popular, so you shouldn’t replace it with 100% clear 40-proof drinks, although there will certainly be its connoisseurs among your guests. If finances allow, after calculations you can replace 30% of vodka with expensive cognac: this will emphasize the high status of the celebration.

Whiskey is even less in demand; you can purchase several bottles only for those guests in whose tastes the newlyweds are confident. In addition to it, you will have to take cola and apple juice. Recently, tequila has gained popularity - both in pure form and in cocktails, as well as rum and brandy.

Soft drinks

On average, each guest drinks one and a half liters of soft drinks during a wedding banquet , but if the celebration is planned on a hot summer day, it is better to take extra juices and water (about 30% more).

If there are many children among the invitees, it is also worth revising the calculations towards increasing the number of juices, compote, fresh juices and other harmless drinks.

You can replace juices with kvass and fruit drinks, and take half of the mineral water with gas. And remember that small glass bottles of mineral water look much more aesthetically pleasing on a wedding table than liter plastic containers.

Banquet

Usually the banquet menu immediately includes a certain number of drinks - a glass of water and fruit drink, tea and coffee, but this quantity is almost always not enough, and the cost of additional soft drinks in the restaurant price list is too high. For this reason, almost every restaurant has the opportunity to independently purchase alcoholic beverages and have them delivered the day before or on the day of the holiday.

Alcohol-free drinks:

Lemonade – 300-400 ml per person;
Morse – 200-300 ml per person;
Water – 200-300 ml per person;
Juice – 700-800 ml per person.

If many guests prefer to drink strong alcohol along with drinks that do not contain alcohol, you should increase the amount of cola and apple juice by 15-20%. If there are a large number of children among the invitees, on average, calculate 0.5 ml for each.

Read: Making a moonshine still from a keg with your own hands - step-by-step instructions

Alcohol:

Sparkling wine – 150 ml;
Wine – 500 ml;

Strong alcohol (250-300 ml/person):

Whiskey - 25 percent;
Vodka - 40 percent;
Cognac – 35 percent.

If there is a large number of young people, the amount of whiskey should be increased to 35%.

One woman - 0.5 liters of juice, mineral water and soda, as well as one third of a bottle of champagne; One man - 0.5 liters of juice, vodka, wine, mineral water and soda, as well as one third of a bottle of champagne; One child - 0.5 liters of juice and 1 liter of sparkling water.

One woman - 0.5 liters of juice and mineral water, 0.3 liters of vodka, 1 liter of sparkling water, 1 bottle of champagne and 2 bottles of wine; One man - 0.5 liters of juice and mineral water, 1 bottle of vodka and wine, 1 liter of sparkling water and ½ bottle of champagne; One child – one third of a bottle of champagne, 0.5 liters of juice and 1 liter of sparkling water.

One woman - 0.5 liters of mineral water and juice, 0.5 bottles of vodka, 1 liter of sparkling water, 1 bottle of champagne and 2 bottles of wine; One man - 0.5 liters of mineral water, 1 liter of juice and sparkling water, 1 bottle of wine, one-fifth of a bottle of vodka, one-half of a bottle of champagne; One child - 0.5 liters of juice, one second bottle of champagne and 1 liter of sparkling water.

Conclusion

Finally, I would like to give some useful tips:

The best places to purchase alcohol are wholesale stores and large hypermarkets, due to their lower cost and greater reliability;
If you have doubts about the quality of the taste of the drink you have chosen, take one bottle to try in advance;
If possible, ask your guests about their taste preferences;
If there are doubts that the calculated volume of alcohol will be enough until the end of the feast, take it with a reserve or ask the administration for permission to purchase the required amount of alcohol;
To avoid hangovers and poor health of guests, buy alcohol only from reliable stores;
It is advisable to take care of alcohol certificates in advance, as some restaurants may require them;
Buy disposable glasses for walks with guests or for a mini buffet near the registry office.

Calculation per person for the first half of the day

Traditionally, only champagne is taken from alcoholic beverages for ransom, registration at the registry office and wedding walk. In this case, it is assumed that there is one bottle for each guest (about six glasses, two for each part of the event).

Additionally, juice (half a liter for each guest) and mineral water (a small bottle for each) are purchased. When calculating the required number of soft drinks, take into account the drivers of the motorcade.

Don't forget to bring glasses for your guests. If plastic ones don’t seem aesthetically pleasing enough to you, choose glass ones, but in this case, take them in excess. A few will definitely break, luckily.

In some registry offices, a light buffet is included in the registration price. Please clarify this point in advance and take it into account when making calculations.

How to calculate alcohol for a wedding: main points

Therefore, it is always recommended to have a small supply, which can then be left for the second day of the wedding, honeymoon or any other upcoming celebration. A few rules:

Find out in advance who drinks what, or at least prefers it. It makes no sense to spend money on vodka if almost all the guests will drink wine.
It should be taken into account that guests will want to drink not only at the banquet itself, but also at the redemption and during the wedding walk. After the registry office, as a rule, they also open a bottle of champagne. In some registry offices, champagne is included in the price of the ceremonial registration. This question is worth clarifying.
To save on alcohol, you can buy it in bulk at trading centers or hypermarkets. For large purchases in a regular store they can give a discount.
Be sure to look at the brand of alcohol, take only proven ones. If you have never tried it, grab 1 bottle in advance to try. If you buy a large amount of wine and it turns out to be bad, your guests will quickly taste it, no one will drink it, and the money will be wasted.
Remember that in the summer, when it’s hot, you usually consume less alcohol and more soft drinks.
Among the guests will be your friends and relatives about whom you know quite a lot. Mark in advance those whom you would call light drinkers and calculate the maximum amount of alcohol for them separately.

Table of quantities for 30, 40 and 50 people

If your head is already spinning from solving organizational issues, you can use a ready-made table to simplify the calculations. The amount of alcohol in the table is recommended for an average banquet lasting six hours.

Vodka bottles	Bottles of wine	Liters of drinking water	Liters of juice
30 people	15	30	15	30
40 people	20	40	20	40
50 people	25	50	25	50

Champagne is excluded from the table because it is in minimal demand at the banquet.

Recommendations from restaurateurs

To ensure that the range and quantity of drinks does not disappoint, follow a few useful tips when purchasing:

Take one bottle of each alcoholic beverage to sample before making your final purchase;
Buy alcohol in large hypermarkets or wholesale stores : it’s safer and more economical;
If possible , try to ask your guests in advance what drinks they prefer to please everyone. Satisfied guests are the key to a fun wedding. It is clear that it is impossible to adapt to everyone’s preferences, but it is worth taking into account the tastes of the main participants. If, for example, the father of the bride drinks exclusively whiskey, and there is no drink on the table, an awkward situation will be created and resentment may arise;
If you are in doubt about the calculations, it is better to take more than less . As an option, agree with the restaurant that you will buy the necessary drinks during the banquet, but this will cost you too much. The initiative of guests making additional orders can be especially unpleasant. This will negate all your attempts to save money when purchasing in advance;
For a themed wedding, the set of drinks may be different. For example, a pirate wedding cannot do without rum and ale.

Advice! Agree in advance with the administration of the establishment that you will take all the remaining alcohol with you at the end of the banquet.