How much booze should we buy?

Perhaps try one of the online drink calculators to help compile a rough estimate? For example: https://www.evite.com/pages/party/drink-calculator

Liquor biz gal here. Have had to prep and plan for events for years.

Sometimes those drink calculators can be hit or miss.

I always break it down to what I'm offering.

Sounds like beer and signature cocktails ?

I love to keep it simple to better predict cost. I love the idea (since it's traditional Mexican) to perhaps have the beer, 1 signature cocktail (paloma), and one alternative cocktail (maybe margarita maybe sangria - sangria is cheaper to produce)

If you keep it simple and "Prebatch" your cocktails, you can virtually just have the bar person pour without much effort.

If only beer and 2 cocktails are available, I would predict half the crowd probably will do a cocktail or 2 and then move onto beer, some will only drink beer, and a small portion will not drink beer at all.... so an average for an event


Per person (this is Average)
2.5 cocktails for 2 hours
3.5 cocktails for 4 hours
4.5 cocktails for 6 hours (average wedding)

150 people at 4.5 cocktails each is 675 total cocktails.
*Half of which would be beer. [One 1/2 barrel keg capacity (average size) is about 195 9-10oz pours (wedding size pour) ] so that only leaves 285 cocktails.
[Cocktail pours are about 5oz (on top of ice). Average 1425 ounces]

Keep in mind that if you brepatch your cocktails, mixers will account for ounces as well, not just alcohol. This saves money. Bartenders have 8 quart containers with cocktails and fill pitchers and refill and pour as needed. Easy execution.

Sangria is simple - wine, orange juice, fruit, and a splash of ginger ale. [4oz per cocktail of wine, 1.5oz oj, 0.5oz gingerale = 5oz cocktail]

Your signature cocktail - tequila, lime and grapefruit soda. [1.5oz tequila, 0.5oz lime, 3oz grapefruit soda = 5oz cocktail.


If you split the ratio of cocktails signature cocktail 2to1 sangria being less ordered : 190 palomas, 95 sangria.

= 126oz tequila [4 1L bottles]
= 95oz lime juice
= 570oz grapefruit soda [48 12oz bottles / or 2 24 case packs]

= 360oz wine [15 750ml bottles of wine]
= 135oz oj [4 1L jugs]
= 45oz of gingerale [1.5 1L bottles]
= cut fruit [limes, apples, peaches or mango, strawberries]

*a lower cost better product wine is ck mondavi red blend or merlot (tends to make better sangria than cabernet). About 5.99 average per bottle cost retail.

I feel like the rainman. Lol but I hope this makes sense.

I would add in some extra just to be safe since people typically loosen up more at weddings lol.

(Also - prebatched marg mixes at Costco have less alchohol then the average cocktail pour)

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This is not my post but I just want to say thank you! We are also serving Palomas at our wedding. My FH is a bartender and says he makes them with grapefruit juice then adds seltzer - but everywhere I see says to make them with grapefruit soda!! I can't convince him that just getting grapefruit soda will be easier for our bartender. He's so damn stubborn.

View Quoted Comment You're most welcome

Lol and yes its just one extra step