Wedding drinks: what quantities to plan for

Quantities are calculated moment by moment and per adult: the bubbles at the drinks reception, the wine at the meal, the water throughout the day. Be generous with water and soft drinks, and ask your supplier whether they take back unopened bottles.

Think moment by moment

Drinks reception, dinner, party: people don't drink the same things or at the same pace. Do three separate calculations, based on the number of adults present at each, then add them up. Children count for water and juice only.

Common benchmarks

• Bubbles at the drinks reception: one bottle for every three to four people if it's the only alcoholic drink served, half that with beer and wine.
• Wine at dinner: three glasses per adult who drinks it, i.e. one bottle for two.
• Bubbles at dessert: one glass each, which is one bottle for six.
• Water: 1 to 1.25 litre per guest over the day, up to 2 litres or more in very hot weather.
• Non-alcoholic: 0.45 to 0.6 litre of juice and soft drinks per guest.

These are rough orders of magnitude. For 100 guests, that comes to about 34 bottles of wine at dinner and 100 to 125 litres of water. In hot weather, increase the water and soft drinks, never the alcohol.

Buying it yourself or going through the caterer

Bringing your own drinks often works out cheaper per bottle, but adds corkage, transport, cooling and collection. Do the full sum before deciding, and ask who supplies the ice and glasses.

The evening

Beer, spirits, cocktails: if you offer them, also plan for someone to serve. A self-service bar with nobody behind it empties quickly and badly.

Finally, think about the journey home: shuttle, on-site accommodation, designated drivers.

The detailed figures and their sources: Drink quantities.