How to Calculate Alcohol for a Wedding Reception
Throwing a wedding reception is a time to celebrate with family and friends. It is an occasion of joy, and one of the main concerns is to ensure that everyone has a good time, and enough to drink. Planning for the drinks at a wedding reception can be a daunting task, especially if you are not sure how much alcohol to purchase. Here are some tips for figuring out how much alcohol will be needed for a wedding reception:
1. Determine the number of guests
The first step in figuring out how much alcohol to purchase is to determine the number of guests that will be attending the wedding reception. This will give you a rough estimate of how much alcohol is needed. You can ask the couple to provide you with their guest list, or you can determine the number of guests based on the number of invitations sent out. It’s important to keep in mind that not every guest will drink alcohol, so you don’t need to purchase alcohol for every guest.
2. Know your guests and adjust accordingly
It’s important to know the people you are inviting to your wedding reception and adjust the amount of alcohol accordingly. For example, if you know that a large number of your guests don’t drink alcohol, you may not need to purchase as much alcohol as you would if most of your guests were drinkers. Similarly, if you know that your guests are heavy drinkers, you may need to purchase more alcohol than you would if most of your guests were moderate drinkers.
3. Decide on the type of alcohol
The next step is to decide on the types of alcohol you want to serve. This can include beer, wine, and liquor. Keep in mind that different types of alcohol have different serving sizes. You might want to consider offering a variety of drinks to cater to everyone’s preferences. For example, you could offer a selection of beer, wine, and cocktails.
4. Calculate the serving size
Once you have determined the types of alcohol you want to serve, you need to calculate the serving size. A standard serving size for beer is 12 ounces, while a standard serving size for wine is 5 ounces. A standard serving size for liquor is 1.5 ounces. You can use these measurements to determine how much alcohol you will need for each guest.
5. Determine the duration of the reception
The duration of the reception will also play a role in determining how much alcohol is needed. If the reception is only a few hours, you will need less alcohol than if the reception is an all-day event. You should also consider the time of day when the reception will take place. If the reception is in the afternoon, you might not need as much alcohol as you would if it were in the evening.
6. Calculate the amount of alcohol needed
To calculate the amount of alcohol needed, multiply the number of guests by the number of servings per person and then multiply that number by the number of hours of the reception. For example, if you have 100 guests and plan to serve two drinks per person per hour, and the reception is five hours long, you will need 1,000 drinks.
It’s important to note that a full keg of beer contains 15.5 gallons, which is roughly equivalent to 165 12-ounce servings. A half keg contains 7.75 gallons, or roughly 82 12-ounce servings. Additionally, a 1.75L bottle of liquor contains approximately 39 1.5-ounce servings.
7. Round up
As mentioned earlier, it’s always better to have extra alcohol than not enough. Therefore, it’s a good idea to round up when purchasing alcohol. You don’t want to run out of alcohol halfway through the reception. Keep in mind that not everyone will drink alcohol, so you don’t need to purchase alcohol for every guest.
8. Consider hiring a professional
If you’re not comfortable with figuring out how much alcohol is needed, consider hiring a professional to help. A professional can help you determine how much alcohol is needed based on the number of guests, the type of alcohol, and the duration of the reception. They can also provide you with a variety of options to choose from, and help you stay within your budget.
In conclusion, planning the drinks for a wedding reception can be a challenging task. However, by following these tips, you can ensure that your wedding reception is a success, and that everyone has enough to drink. Remember to plan ahead, and take into account the number of guests, the type of alcohol, the duration of the reception, and to round up when purchasing alcohol. Finally, if you’re unsure about how much alcohol to purchase, consider hiring a professional to help. With these tips, your wedding reception is sure to be a memorable occasion for everyone involved.
