how to stock a wedding bar

How To Stock A Wedding Bar

• You need to think about how long the bar will be open for and then how many of each of the major drinks can each person drink. ...
• Is there a particular spirit that your guests like to drink? ...
• Shop around as to where you are going to buy your bar stocks, some suppliers will offer a sale or return policy, they will ask for the cases to be ...

Full Answer

How to stock the bar for your wedding reception?

How to Stock the Bar for Your Wedding Reception 1 Put a Personal Stamp on It. Make your drink choices personal. Who says you even have to have a real bar? At an informal... 2 Bar on a Budget. See if the liquor store you get your alcohol from will take back unopened bottles. You don't have to... More ...

Can I DIY my own wedding Bar?

When it comes to your wedding reception, you need to consider things like music, food and décor. Another factor to consider is alcohol. While we reccomend hiring with professional bar services, you can DIY. If you're thinking about stocking your own wedding bar, here's everything you need to know.

Should you choose a cash bar or limited bar for your wedding?

If your guests prefer beer or wine, then a limited bar is a great option. If you and your guests don't love downing drinks, a cash bar could be a possible alternative.

What is the best type of bar for a wedding?

If you and your friends love to sip on cocktails, an open bar might be the best fit for you. If your guests prefer beer or wine, then a limited bar is a great option. If you and your guests don't love downing drinks, a cash bar could be a possible alternative.

How do you stock a bar for 100 guests?

Full bar – Beer, wine and liquor: 100 (guests) x 5 (hours) = 500 drinks. 500 x 0.33 = 170 beers or 7 cases of beer or one ½ barrel sized keg.

How do you set up a bar at a wedding?

Here are our top tips for setting up the perfect wedding bar:Communicate With The Venue.Do Something Unique.Carefully Select Your Beverages.Pick A Stellar Bartender.Don't Forget The Finishing Touches.

How many drinks is 100 guests?

It turns out, there is a magic formula when it comes to calculating the amount of drinks you'll need for your wedding, sort of: Plan for at least one drink per person per hour. (So for a six-hour wedding with 100 guests, you'll need roughly 600 drinks.)

How do you stock a full bar?

Ideally, stock a bottle of each: cognac, white rum, gin, bourbon, vodka, tequila, and blended Scotch. However, if you don't have the room or the budget to collect them all, start with your favorites; after all, it's your bar. Alcoholic mixers to have on hand: triple sec, dry vermouth, sweet vermouth, and bitters.

How do I decorate my wedding bar?

17 Tips on How to Decorate Your Wedding BarMonochromatic Bar Design. ... Simple Bar, Gorgeous Setting. ... Fun Signs & Straws. ... Four-Poster Bar. ... Bold Geometric Bar Design. ... Have a Champagne-Only Bar. ... Display Pun-Intended Signage. ... Create an Inviting Bar Lounge.More items...

How much alcohol do you need for a wedding of 100?

Breaking Down the Calculations. As a general rule of thumb, plan to serve one drink per guest per hour of reception. In other words, if you're having a four-hour reception with 100 guests, provide 400 servings of alcohol. Full bars typically offer beer, wine, and liquor.

How do you calculate wedding drinks?

Here's the basic wedding alcohol calculator equation:Guest Count x Length of Reception = # of Drinks.Wine + Beer: 75% Wine, 25% Beer.Wine + Beer + Liquor: 50% Wine, 20% Beer, 30% Liquor.Keep in mind:Let's keep going:Two more facts to keep in mind:In this case, keep in mind:Let's keep going:More items...•

How do you calculate wedding mixers?

To estimate the amount of mixers needed, figure about 1 quart (1 liter) of tonic water, soda water, or juice for every 3 guests. And don't forget to round up and, if possible, buy a little more than you think you'll need. Check with the vendor you buy from; some will give refunds for unopened bottles.

How do I set up a party bar?

The first row should have liquor bottles, red wine and white wine, in order from left to right. The second row should have a water jug, juices and garnishes. The third row should have soft drinks, jiggers and other bar tools and openers. The fourth and front row should have napkins, an ice bucket and tongs.

How do I stock a bar for 150 guests?

150 Wedding GuestsChampagne (750 ml) - 25 bottles.Red Wine (750 ml) - 15 bottles.White wine (750 ml) - 15 bottles.Spirits (1 liter) - 16 bottles.Beer - 150 cans or bottles.

How do I stock a bar for 200 guests?

200 GUESTS:140 bottles of wine.350 bottles of beer.30 bottles of liquor (750 ml)40 bottles of champagne for toast (optional)

How do I stock a bar for 20 people?

The steps involved make it rather easy:Decide which cocktails you'll offer.Estimate the number of guests you expect.Determine how much of each liquor and mixer needed per drink.There are 25 ounces or an average of 16 shots in a 750-milliliter bottle; Use this to estimate how many bottles of each ingredient you need.

What are the different types of bars at a wedding?

There are four major types of bars at weddings: open, limited, cash and non-alcoholic. To figure out which is right for you, consider your own preferences and your guests. If you and your friends love to sip on cocktails, an open bar might be the best fit for you.

What is the most gracious approach to a wedding?

Open Bar. An open bar is the most gracious approach—no guest should pay for anything at the wedding—but it's also the most expensive. Guests can order any drink at the bar, and you'll have to pick up the tab when the party's done. Because there's no limit, people may drink like guppies.

Can you serve alcohol at a wedding?

Finally, if you don't want to serve alcoholic beverages at your wedding, you don't have to.

Can you have a cash bar without a reason?

Cash Bar. Don't have a cash bar without a great reason (there really isn't one). After all, you don't invite people to your house for dinner and then charge them for the butter. Trust us on this one—it's not a good cost-cutting solution and is way too controversial.

Do waiters have to pay for alcohol?

You'll have to pay for the waiters, but you'll probably save money on alcohol, and fewer guests will go overboard. If you limit the amount of time the bar is open, make sure the waiters circulate during dinner to refill glasses of water and soda.

What is open bar?

An open bar is one of the most popular bar styles for weddings. It functions exactly as its name suggests—the host pays a flat rate and the guests can order as many drinks as they like.

How much do you tip a bartender?

If a service fee or gratuity isn’t included in your contract, the general guidance is to tip your bartender 20% of the final bar tab. If a service fee is included, there’s no need to tip extra unless you’d like to.

What is a signature cocktail?

Having a signature cocktail is the statement piece and we’re all about couples having at least one for their wedding. Wine and beer are great options, but a signature cocktail adds a little personality and fun to your big day.

What to serve at a party if you don't drink alcohol?

If you, your families, and most of your guests don't drink alcohol, skip it. Serve sparkling water, soda, and nonalcoholic mixed drinks instead. If you want some bubbly for toasting, go for some token champagne or sparkling cider.

Can you have a cash bar without a reason?

Don't have a cash bar without a great reason (there really isn't one). After all, you don't invite people to your house for dinner and then charge them for the butter. Trust us on this one. It's not a good cost-cutting solution and is way too controversial.

1. A drink formula is the best way to determine your needs

Our caterer introduced us to the owners of a local wine store who could provide the vino and hard liquor for our wedding.

3. You may have to shop from more than one source

In New York State, you get wine and liquor from one type of store, and beer from another. We had to do the same for our wedding; the former came from a local wine store, while the latter came from a beer distributor.

4. Cans and bottles may be smarter than kegs

We were also trying to keep our wedding as eco-friendly as possible, so I was pretty set on getting kegs of beer rather than cans and bottles. (Yes, they’re recyclable, but that still uses energy!) I was quickly talked out of that by a few friends in the business, though.

5. You have to budget for insurance, bartenders, and extras

The booze itself may be the biggest bar expense, but it’s not the only one. Depending on your venue, your caterer, and your state laws, you may have to purchase extra insurance to host alcohol at your event.

6. You may also have to get the mixers

Speaking of extras, you’ll need mixers and garnishes — like tonic, soda, and limes, for example — to go with your liquor; at the very least you’ll need the ingredients that make up your signature cocktails. In our case, our caterer took care of ordering most of the non-alcoholic beverages himself.