How much wine, beer and spirits should you buy per wedding guest?

Start by thinking about your guest list. Some people drink more, some less, and some not at all. A common approach is to allow half a bottle of wine per guest for each hour of the drinks reception and meal. For beer, one to two bottles per person over the whole day works well. For spirits, two to three measures per guest is a sensible starting point, but it depends on your crowd.

If you are serving a toast, add one extra glass of fizz per guest. Remember that the evening party often needs a different mix. Daytime guests might prefer wine and fizz, while the evening crowd may want beer and spirits. You can always buy a little extra and return unopened bottles to the shop, if your supplier allows it. Ask your venue or caterer for advice too, as they know what usually works. The key is to be generous but not wasteful. You can also ask guests to pre-order drinks at the bar, which helps you manage stock.