Stocking a Bar for Your Wedding

If you are planning to set up your own open bar  for your wedding, there are some basics that you'll need -- and that's more than just glasses  and beer.  Below you'll see a breakdown of everything that you'll need for a 100 person wedding. Keep in mind though that this is a rough guide and you may need to adjust it depending on your guests' drinking preferences. If you know that the guys are all beer  drinkers and that the ladies won't touch the hard stuff, keep that in mind. Wine coolers  might have to be part of your shopping list. The same goes if your guests have a refined palette and only like the best top shelf scotches,  fine cognac,  and vintage wine. 

Keep in mind that, while you want to throw the best celebration you can, this doesn't mean you necessarily need a full open bar. Many weddings are plenty fun with a selection of good wines and beers and nothing harder. Eighteen-year-old scotch  is not a requirement; the important thing is to offer a selection. No one will fault you for it! 

How Much Is Enough?

Below is a rough estimate of the things you'll need for a 100 person wedding. However, a really quick way of estimating your beer and liquor needs is to use this handy alcohol and beverage calculator at the Wedding Channel. Simply enter the number of guests you'll have, click calculate, and the computer does the rest. All you have to do is shop for supplies.

  • Champagne -- 1 1/2 cases  (or 9 bottles minimum) but if your guests like bubbly, you should get between 12 and 24 bottles. Opt for Prosecco,  Cava,  or sparkling wine  in lieu of champagne  to cut costs.
  • Red wine -- 12 to 48 bottles or 1 to 4 cases of red wine. 
  • White wine -- 48 to 72 bottles or 4 to 6 cases of white wine. 
  • Beer -- 2 cases minimum, but you may have up to 4 or 5 cases if your pals love brewskies. Be sure though to vary the selection according to people's tastes. Offer domestics,  lites,  and imports.  Remember that while Budweiser  might fly with some, beer lovers who have traveled the world and tasted new and exciting suds will appreciate a classy Belgian ale.  Then again, remember the time of the year. Summer months deserve a light hoppy IPA  or a zippy wheat beer,  while a nuttier, richer stout  could do wonders in a winter wonderland wedding. For a great guide on how to choose beer for your wedding, see this guide, Re-Thinking Beer at WeddingChannel.com.
  • Vodka -- 6 liters of vodka. 
  • Gin -- 2 liters of gin. 
  • Light rum -- 2 liters of rum. 
  • Tequila -- 1 liter of tequila. 
  • Whiskey -- 1-2 liters of whiskey. 
  • Scotch -- 2 liters of scotch. 
  • Bourbon -- 1-2 liters of bourbon. 
  • Dry vermouth -- 2 bottles of dry vermouth. 
  • Sweet vermouth -- 2 bottles of sweet vermouth. 
  • After Dinner Liquors to Consider as an Option -- 1 liter each is plenty to create an international coffee bar or to serve these delicious drinks straight up or on the rocks.

If this guide isn't enough, you might want to buy a bartending book  or guide to bartending  to help you outfit the bartender with everything that he or she will need for the big day.

Bar Accessories

In order to prepare drinks, you'll also need a bar stocked with the following items:

Glassware,  including martini glasses,  high balls,  and collins glasses.  You can probably rent these.

Plenty of ice in a bucket 

A beer cooler  or large bin filled with ice.

A trash can  or two: one for behind the bar and one for the guests in front.

Several cocktail shakers,  jiggers,  cocktail strainers,  and spoons. 

Mixers: coke,  diet coke,  OJ,  cranberry juice,  soda water,  tonic water,  ginger ale,  grenadine,  lime juice,  and angostura bitters. 

Straws  and cocktail napkins.  (You can have the napkins monogrammed. ) Drink umbrellas  are optional.

A bar condiment tray  filled with: cherries, olives, lemons, limes, oranges, and onions.

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