Providing alcohol for reception

My family aren’t big drinkers and since my venue has a no shots policy, we were focusing on just beers and wines, some liquors for mixed drinks. So just plan according to how much you know they drink? Another thing to plan for is: how and who will bring the drinks to the venue. I have yet to figure this out, as it’ll be quite a number of cases to bring. I may need to rein in a few different friends to help out. If you wanna get drunk, we need that car trunk!

I'm a big believer in 'better too much than not enough'. We're using that for everything for our wedding, because the idea of running out is something that actually gives me full on panic attacks.

Think about your friends - when you go to a party, what is everyone's go to? Do they mostly drink beer, or hard alcohol? Does anyone bring wine? Give yourself rough estimates in %. Then calculate as this:

2 drinks in the first hour, 1 drink per hour after that. IE: for a 6 hour reception: 2+(1x5)=7 drinks per person x 60 people = 420 drinks.

Then go back to your % - 30% drink beer? Awesome - 420x30%=126 beer.

Then for me, I added 15% - 126x1.15=145 beer

Yes, it means we'll buy more than we need, but that means we won't run out. No, it's not exact, but if I'm wrong on my % (say, 35% drink beer instead of 30%) I've still got enough.

Hey Stephanie! The ladies gave you amazing tips! I also found these ideas for you: Creative ways to serve drinks for an outdoor wedding What do you think you'll go for?

That works... A few always sneek through especially if they bring their own... A bus person could cut down on that... Are your bartenders mixing the drinks or just measuring out the alcohol and guests mix their own? Because if they are just measuring they could also bus.

That's honestly my biggest struggle thinking of bottles vs glass lol. I was thinking bottles then have the bartender open and pour into a cup?

They have all these neat little calculators on pinterest to try and figure out your alcohol needs for your wedding

Pinterest

Calculate

I have volunteer bartended at a few community events... I don't know about the amounts you would need, but what do you intend to do with your empties? Beer and coolers in bottles are nicer but cans are safer and easier to clean up.

Much better to be prepared. I attened a backyard wedding where they ran out of beer before cocktail hour was over! The best man had to scamper to the beer store before it closed to stock up....All was well, but ti was a tense 40 minutes!

Your estimates seem OK- I might order more Rum...but Gin I agree would be a lesser- consumed drink.I like the idea of having coolers and fun liquors, that adds a little more "zazz" to things. Maybe have a fun flavoured signature drink in a dispenser so the bartenders can keep moving? I would get more than 2 cases of beer...that would only be 96 beers (if you get 24 bottle cases)...How many guests do you expect? Iw ould probably buy 8-10 cases for 100 people. Seems like a lot, but beer is a go to for a lot of people who are going to "go the distance" and drink all night. I don't know if you will have a nice bar built/ set up for the wedding, but maybe getting a keg or two might be easier on your budget?

Melissa gave some GREAT information! I also found this article on A Practical Wedding with some great info (talks about how much garnish and what not to get as well as mix suggestions)

https://apracticalwedding.com/how-to-buy-alcohol-for-your-wedding/

Thank you! Very helpful, I think I'm way over shooting on quantities but better to be prepared lol. That's about the same estimate I saw on pinterest. So far I'm thinking 4 x 26 of whiskey and vodka, 2 each gin and white rum then a few cases of coolers/ceasars and like a peach schnapps for funs. The beer will be the hardest I think maybe 2 cases of 2 kinds?

I also feel like a few people will BYOB as well. I might make a little mention on the wedding website that we will have the basics/domestics but they are free to bring anything special that they want.

As far as licencing goes, if you are in a hall/ restaurant (anywhere that is not privately owned property) y6ou will need a special occasions permit. If your reception is on your own property, you will not need a permit as long as you are not charging for the alcohol BUT you are 100% liable if anyone gtes hurt or drinks and drives...so please be so so SOOOO careful. Make sure to post lots of taxi numbers, maybe have an UBER code guests can use and a block of hotel rooms!

Also, for your bartenders....be careful having guests serve drinks. On your own property, again, you are OK. Anywhere else, they will have to be SMARTserve certified....which is pretty easy to get if you do want to go that route....but if your bartender/guests start to drink and serve you might end up with drink over- poured and people served long after they should have been cut off. Might be worth considering hiring pros. (Unless the cousins won't drink, then you might be OK).

Finally, the amounts! Nomally, you would estimate 2 drinks for the frirst hour per guest, and then 1 drink per hour after that. Example: 6 hour reception= 7 drinks per person. Calculating this way allows you to get a good estimate, because some people, like you said, will drink much less, and some, a few more. As for the amounts of each thing, make life easy for yourself! Pick one red, and one white wine, and two or three types of beer, and a vodka, rum, whisky, gin....depending on your guest count a few cases of wine & beer and a few bottles of each liquor should get you by. As you said, in Ontario unopened bottle can be returned, so buy more than you think you'll need!

I hope this help, let me know if you need any clarification ( I typed fast on lunch break!)