Wedding Drinks Quantity - Calculator for Wedding Drinks

At weddings, the toast is usually served right after the ceremony during the reception. Each guest receives one glass of sparkling wine. A 0.75-liter bottle yields 6 glasses.

For example, at a wedding with 100 guests: 100 ÷ 6 = 17 bottles of sparkling wine for the toast.

Wine is mainly served with the food at the wedding dinner. A good rule of thumb is to divide the number of adult guests by three to get the number of 0.75-liter bottles needed. The ratio of red to white wine depends on the season: summer weddings typically use about 60% white wine, while winter weddings use 60% red wine.

For example, at a summer wedding with 90 adults: 90 ÷ 3 = 30 bottles of wine. This means 18 bottles of white wine (60%) and 12 bottles of red wine (40%).

Avec, i.e. cognac or liqueur served with coffee, is typically reserved for about 80% of adult guests. One serving is 4 cl, and the usual ratio is 50/50 cognac to liqueur.

Example for 90 adults: 90 × 0.80 × 4 cl = 288 cl ≈ 2.9 litres — 1.5 litres cognac and 1.5 litres liqueur.

The evening reception usually begins after coffee is served. Typical drinks include beer, cider and punch. To estimate quantities, multiply the number of adult guests by the duration of the reception in hours.

For example, with 90 adults and a 4-hour reception: 90 × 4 = 360 bottles or cans of beer/cider or glasses of punch.

It's important to consider non-alcoholic options at weddings. For example, drivers, pregnant guests, and sober attendees need their own drinks. Make sure to stock plenty of water, juices, and soft drinks for the entire celebration. Child guests should have their own juices and sodas.

For example, at a wedding with 100 guests (including 10 children): 50 liters of water, 30 liters of juices, 20 liters of soft drinks, and an additional 5 liters of juice/soda for the children.

It’s best to place your wedding drink order well in advance, ideally 2–4 weeks before the big day. This helps ensure that all the products you want are in stock.

During the busy summer season, popular items can sell out quickly and packaging times may be longer than usual due to high warehouse volumes.

Sparkling wines and white wines should be refrigerated no later than the day before the wedding. Red wine is best served at cool room temperature (16–18 °C).

Pro tip: Add an extra 10–15 % to your drink calculations. The festive atmosphere often means drinks disappear faster than expected.

Unopened bottles and cases store well and can be enjoyed after the wedding or even on your anniversary.