Expert: Paul Wagner - 6/23/2009

Question
Hello!  I am having a wedding in July and I want to make sure I will be set for quantities.  We are looking at 160 guests.
I will be serving only Beer and Wine, along with a champagne toast, and various soft drinks/water as non-alcoholic alternatives.
I was looking to have 3 kegs.
For wine, 24 bottles of red (2 cases), 24 white (2 cases), 30 rose (2 cases of 15), and 24 champagne (2 cases).
I know I can return unopened bottles, so I am not worried about ordering too many.  Am I at least in the ballpark?
Thanks!

Answer
HI Jon

This is a really good question--and one that isn't asked often enough!  Here are my thoughts:

1.  Let's start with the most important thing first.  For a Champagne toast, you should figure on about 6 glasses per bottle.  You can usually get by with less, but that's a good safe number.  That means 27 bottles of Champagne.  You can probably get by with  24.  Most people won't want a full glass anyway.

2.  In general terms you can usually figure on 1/2 a bottle per person of wine for a dinner event.  That means 80 bottles total--but you should probably subtract the Champagne from that, because everyone will have some of the bubbly.  Maybe settle for two cases each (which is what you have suggested).  And I am a bit perplexed with the rose---most people would put this as a distant third.  I would go with  2 cases red, 2 cases white, and a case of rose.  Because you still have some people who won't drink wine, but beer instead.

3.  Beer?  People who drink the beer won't be drinking the wine.  You know your crowd better than I, but I usually figure a keg of beer will be enough for at least 50 people, when you also have wine an dother beverages.  

4.  By the way, I would make sure you have PLENTY of non-alcoholic drinks.  First of all, because some people will want to drink them.  And also because a responsible host makes sure that there is always an alternative.  And the best way to make sure people don't overindulge in alcohol is to give them an option.  So it wouldn't be out of line to have more than 160 non-alcoholic beverages on hand for this event.  I would go with 240.

So your numbers are all pretty safe--I bet you will have some of everything left over--and since you can return it, that isn't a bad thing.  

I hope your marriage goes as well as your planning for the wedding!

Paul Wagner