4 Tips to Stock the Bar at Your Wedding Reception

If you want to bring your wedding reception vision to life, there are endless tasks that you need to take care of, ranging from deciding on the decor to properly stocking the bar. Yes, the reception bar. It is, undoubtedly, one of the most popular and important elements at any wedding – not just for your guests but for you, too. So, it is only right that you want it to be perfect. While some venues provide their own stocked bars, others don’t. If you are planning to stock your own bar, there are a few crucial things you need to keep in mind. For starters, you need to allocate at least 20 percent of your wedding budget for the bar. That cost will include the alcohol, the bartenders, glasses, tools, mixers, and so on. Since the reception bar can make for such a huge expenditure, you need to be especially careful about how you plan it out. Lucky for you, we have made a list of a few tips to stock your wedding bar. Read on to find out what they are.

  1. What type of bar do you plan to have?

    This is the first thing you need to consider before you start shopping for the alcohol. There are different types of wedding bars: open, cash, limited, and non-alcoholic. You should pick one that best works for you and your guests. For instance, if you are expecting a wine and beer crowd, a limited bar is the best choice. If your loved ones prefer cocktails, an open bar might be just what you need.

  2. Make an alcohol shopping list.

    You should buy your alcohol and all other bar essentials based on the number of guests who will attend the reception. Making a list is the easiest way to ensure that you don’t miss anything. Here are some estimates for 100 guests:
    a. Beer: 5 to 6 cases
    b. Red wine: 2 cases
    c. Whiskey: 1 liter
    d. Vodka: 6 liters
    e. Tonic: 1 case
    f. Club soda: 1 case
    e. Cranberry juice: 1 gallon

  3. Remember the standard volume-to-quantity calculation.

    When buying the alcohol, you should also keep in mind the standard volume-to-quantity ratios. For instance, one bottle of wine (750 ml) serves around 5 glasses. One bottle of liquor makes for 18 cocktails. A keg of beer (15.5 gallons) makes 124 pints. Assuming each guest will have one drink per hour of the reception, you should have enough alcohol to serve 500 drinks if it is a 5-hour long reception.

  4. Try to make exact personal estimates.

    If you want to be more streamlined in your calculations, you can try to get more exact estimates for each guest. While this may be a laborious task, it will help you save on the bar. Go through your guest list and make a note of what kind of drink and how much of it each guest usually drinks, and make your estimates accordingly. If you are unsure, overestimate.

Now that you can buy bar equipment online, it has become easier than ever to set up a bar at any event, whether it is a wedding, birthday party, or corporate event. Ultimate Bars provides a range of portable bar equipment that are designed for ultimate style, convenience, and functionality. Browse through our online store to pick your favorite(s).

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