Wedding drinks calculator
How much wine, beer, spirits and champagne your wedding or party actually needs, from a caterer's real consumption data.
Published 29 August 2026 · Updated 29 August 2026
| White & vinho verde | 55 bottles |
| Red wine | 30 bottles |
| Beer | 189 units |
| Spirits for cocktails | 8 bottles (70cl) |
| Sparkling for the toast | 15 bottles |
| Still & sparkling water | 150 litres |
Based on real consumption at Portuguese weddings and events: 2 drinks in the first hour, 1 per hour after, heat-adjusted, 5 glasses per bottle, 7 toast flutes per bottle. Buy 10% over; unopened bottles return.
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How this wedding alcohol calculator works
The numbers come from real consumption at weddings and events we cater across Portugal, not from generic planning charts. The model: 2 drinks per guest in the first hour, 1 per hour after, adjusted for season and crowd, split across wine, beer, cocktails and soft drinks in the proportions Portuguese receptions actually pour. Heat is the biggest variable most calculators ignore: a July wedding drinks measurably more, and drinks whiter, than an October one.
It also counts what non-drinkers and drivers replace alcohol with, which is why the water line is not decorative. A hot outdoor reception without abundant water ends early.
When the bar is our problem, not yours
This calculator exists for couples running their own bar. When we cater a wedding, drinks service comes as a package: open bar from €18 per guest with staff, glassware, ice logistics and returns handled. The math above still applies, we just do it for you, in writing, in the proposal.
Wedding drinks, questions
How much alcohol do I need for a wedding of 100 guests?
For a 6-hour summer reception: roughly 650 drinks total, which is about 46 bottles of white and vinho verde, 25 of red, 160 beers, 6 bottles of spirits and 15 of sparkling for the toast, plus 150 litres of water. The calculator adjusts all of it to your numbers.
How many drinks per guest per hour?
Plan 2 drinks per guest in the first hour and 1 per hour after that, the standard caterers actually use. Summer heat adds roughly 8 to 10%, and party-heavy crowds add 20%.
How many glasses in a bottle of wine?
Five 150ml glasses per standard 75cl bottle at reception pours. For toasts, count 7 flutes per bottle of sparkling, one glass per guest.
What is the white to red split for a summer wedding in Portugal?
About 65/35 white (including vinho verde) to red in summer, moving to 50/50 in cooler months. Portuguese summer weddings drink far more white and sparkling than most planning guides assume.
Should I buy more than the calculator says?
Buy 10% over the estimate from a retailer that accepts unopened returns, which most Portuguese wholesalers and supermarkets do. Running out mid-party is remembered; returning six bottles is not.