Wedding Reception Alcohol

[ffemt128]

Anyone recommend a good site for calculating the amount of alcohol needed for a wedding reception? My son has 138 confirmed, with about 30 of them being kids. Will be serving wine and beer only. I'll be providing some of the wine, but I hate to over buy beer since once the barrel is tapped, you own it and I'm not a beer drinker.

 

[Julie]

Doug, I think I used this one not sure

http://www.evite.com/pages/party/drink-calculator.jsp

 

[Affe]

I've been looking into this for you, and it says to assume approximately 4 - 6 drinks per person.

I found a calculator here. It says:

150 Guests
Beer: 300 bottles
Champagne: 45 bottles
Red Wine: 53 bottles
White Wine: 53 bottles

Of course you can mess with it and get your own answers (I assumed it was beer/wine/champagne only and at night).

 

[ffemt128]

I'm not sure where I heard this or saw it, but they assume that only 65-70% of the people at a reception drink. Using that and assuming 80 people drinking. Using Julie's link I would need 200 bottles of beer and 40 bottles of wine. Bumping up to 100 people at an average drinker it would be 250 and 50. I'm thinking if I have 4 cases of wine and 10 cases of beer I should be good to go. Need to see whether it's worth getting barrels or just go with cases. With cases, anything not drank can be taken home. With barrels, if opened, its lost at the end of the night.

I did take a look at the other calculator as well. I think it's pretty much on for the beer but I don't see needing 100 bottles of wine. Champagne is a one time toast so I was figuring 2 cases of champagne - bottle per table - plus some.

Any other suggestions.

 

[Affe]

Only suggestion I have -- it's better to have just enough than more than enough. It's in my opinion that it would be better off running out of alcohol than to have a case or two left over -- not only for the sake of saving the money, but also to encourage people to go home at the end of the night and not over-drink!

 

[ffemt128]

I agree with that 100%. I know myself, I'll be driving the hour home so after dinner I'll be switching to water as I did at the last wedding. From what I'm told it's mostly family with not too many younger friends so I'm thinking the consumption will be on the lower side. Of the 100-110 adults, my side of the family will make up for 18 of those and only about half of them drink anything and of the half that do, 1/3 will likely only have 1-2 glasses of wine.

Going to have to figure this out....

 

[TJsBasement]

My father-in-law made a few batches just for our recp, I'll agree, to much good tasting wine was a bad thing. People that do not drink got plastered, I'm talking about older less mobile family members were getting funky by the end of the night. When they start carrying bottles around just call it a night.

 

[Julie]

My father-in-law made a few batches just for our recp, I'll agree, to much good tasting wine was a bad thing. People that do not drink got plastered, I'm talking about older less mobile family members were getting funky by the end of the night. When they start carrying bottles around just call it a night.

OMG this sooooooo sounds familiar, I made wine for my son's wedding, had about the same number of guests coming that Doug is thinking of having, we took 8 cases of my wine, I was able to save one bottle of each flavor which probably equated to about 8 different flavors. My wine was the hit of the reception, I got pretty much every 80 year old lady there drunk. We had instructed the bartender to put one bottle on each table with wine glasses and stock the bar with the rest. These old ladies went around to the other tables and took the wines off of those tables that were not drinking it and they were literally hanging on to their husbands/sons/daugthers' arm to stay upright.

It was the best wedding reception I was ever at and not because it was my son's. I so had a blast and I was less than a mile from my home.

 

[ffemt128]

I'll be getting cases of beer. I spoke with our local guy and he said we would probably end up wasting close to 1/2 of a barrel based on needing 250 beer. He's going to cut me a break on the price since I've know him and dealt with him for what seems forever. He also said I can return anything that doesn't get opened. Champaign, we were figuring on 2 cases based on 6 drinks per bottle and wine I was planning on buying 2 cases from Kavic Winery then pulling together some other misc stuff from here so there is a variety. I'll definately be pulling out some pee for this as well. Anything not drank, I'll bring home the next day.

 

[Wade E]

I think the Champagne would be a bigger hit my self and you might want to get a little more then say just for the toast. I know a lot of people that would rather drink that then wine nor beer.

 

[Brew and Wine Supply]

On the beer end, 1/2 bbl = 7.5 cases or about 165 12 oz servings ( you loose some to foam), 1/4 bbl = 3.3 cs or about (80 12 oz servings). After owning a liquor store for 10 years, I think the 250 beers is on the high side. my sug. is get one 1/2 bbl and a few cases of bottles as back up. If that scares you, go with the 1/4 bbl and a few more cases as back up. Thats a great deal to return whats not opened. I think you are good on your wine and champange supply ( most guys who are drinking beer will not do more than a sip for the toast, mixing beer and wine/champange makes for a bad hang over).
Congrads!

 

[ffemt128]

On the beer end, 1/2 bbl = 7.5 cases or about 165 12 oz servings ( you loose some to foam), 1/4 bbl = 3.3 cs or about (80 12 oz servings). After owning a liquor store for 10 years, I think the 250 beers is on the high side. my sug. is get one 1/2 bbl and a few cases of bottles as back up. If that scares you, go with the 1/4 bbl and a few more cases as back up. Thats a great deal to return whats not opened. I think you are good on your wine supply.
Congrads!

I think based on our guest population the 250 is high as well which is why the thought on going with cases. I can get a couple different kinds as well that way. Still toying with this.

Wade, good point on the champagne. Maybe I'll get 3 cases of that. We can always make Mimosas for Orthodox Easter which is the next day...

 

[ffemt128]

I forgot to mention, for the bridal dance, I was thinking of hitting up the local distillary that recently opened for the whiskey for that. With the law that PA recently passed, Wigle Whiskey is now able sell from their distillary location. Trying to keep everything local made other than the beer if possible.

 

[Rocky]

Trying to keep everything local made other than the beer if possible.

What's that?! You mean you are not serving "Iron Stomach?" What is happeining in my 'Burgh?

 

[ffemt128]

Trying to keep everything local made other than the beer if possible.

What's that?! You mean you are not serving "Iron Stomach?" What is happeining in my 'Burgh?

I can honestly say that even when I did drink beer, that was not the go to beer and was only drunk out of necessity. It ws necery really necessary to drink if you get my drift. LOL

I wanted to try the Wigle Whiskey because they are a small local distillary. I think there are only 4 such places in PA and most are out east I believe. I drive past there every day on the way home from work nd had no clue what it was until I saw the article in the Post Gazette. Check it out... http:\\www.wiglewhiskey.com

 

[GerardVineyard]

Trying to keep everything local made other than the beer if possible.

What no Yuengling beer ?

 

[Brew and Wine Supply]

What no Yuengling beer ?

Was thinking that too, or Rolling Rock

 

[Affe]

Just buy Pabst Blue Ribbon in the keg and tell people it's Bud Light. I've successfully held dozens of house parties without anyone ever questioning me on it.

 

[ffemt128]

What no Yuengling beer ?

Yuengling in bottles....Probably coors light and miller light.