Is 3 drinks per person enough?

If they are heavy to moderate drinkers, I would go 4 or 5 drinks.

If you're planning on that many drinks for everyone, and some don't drink, which is usually the case, then there'll be more for the others. I personally think 3 is plenty. Are you wanting to let them be sociable or drunk? I'd get them started and let them pay for the rest. As for us, we're providing champagne, but if they want anything else, they can buy it themselves. I know many will want drinks, and that's fine, but I'm not paying for them to get drunk. They can do that on their own.

I would also factor 4 or 5 drinks in that time frame.

With my friends it would be 5 or 6 for most of the night. My friends are heavier drinkers, so I have seen them drink even more on some nights. How are you going to tell your guest they only get so many drinks then they have to pay for their own?

Is this cockatil hour only, or cocktail hour until the limit is up?

3 drinks I think should be sufficient. 1. Some people won't drink and 2. I figure if people want to get trashed, they can do it with their own money X-D (understand I come from an extended family of alcoholics. While my parents aren't alcoholics, jack daniels and tequilla have always been "guests" at our family functions.) So yeah, that's mho.

Wow, were we off. Here is what I found on a google search:

How to Plan Drinks Per Guest at a Wedding Reception

By Kristie Lorette, eHow Contributor

http://www.ehow.com/how_6217474_plan-per-guest-wedding-reception.html

3-4 non alcoholic drinks per hour.

2-3 alcoholic drinks per hour.

If it is summer, calculate more.

Hope this helps.

That is for the entire time frame of cocktail hour and reception. Drinks are premium alcohol and are $7 each, so we're planning to spend $21pp....I'm considering upping it to 4 drinks, $28pp, but I think thats the most we could afford.

@christine, I wouldn't "tell" them they have to pay, the bartender would after the host bar closed

@carole 2-3 alcoholic drinks per hour seems like a LOT, even for my friends!

I never thought about drinks per guest. I guess, as a guest, my thought is that any beverage you are purchasing for me is a welcome gift. If that means cocktail hour only, great! If that means only beer/soda, fabulous! If it's cash bar all night, that is more than okay.

Now I'm wondering if I should plan drinks per guest, or just a set period of open bar (beer/soda).

You would need to inform them in advance, so they bring money.

@MsL....I was shocked too. Now, I will make it a point to count how many bottles of beer I have when we go out dancing. ; ) $7 a drink is quite expensive, unless they are drinking 18 year old Scotch and Kettle One martinis. My Bottles of Coors Light are about $4 a shot.

Re notifying guests....When I go to a weding, I can tell usually only have $10 or less in my "dress" handbag. I absolutely do not have a credit card or a debit card. While you shouldn't put it on your invites, I would def post it on your website somehow so that guests can prepare.

I would say three drinks pp is plenty and agree if they want to drink more they can buy their own drinks. I also read in a book about planning for an open bar that you need to factor in some people will put down a drink and not remember which is theirs, so they'll get a new drink. That could lead to bigger numbers/hour even if they aren't actually being consumed.

3 drink per person should be fine. Lots of people there probably won't drink so if they have friends, they will give up their drink tickets.

Not to throw any wedding venues under the bus here, but having been to hundreds of Texas weddings I can tell you that when there is an open bar, enough half-full longnecks get left on tables to throw an Animal House style frat party with the leftovers. It's kind of like buying a keg(s) of beer...people have the mentality that it is "free"...and just sit full bottles/glasses of beer down before hitting the dance floor. Then you want a cold one afterwards, or just don't remember where you put your beer.

At my wedding, we pre-purchased $X amount of drinks at the bar, and it was cash after that. Just tell guests it is a cash bar, so they know to bring cash, then they'll be happy to get a drink or two for free. There's also the responsibility factor...an open bar means putting 100+ legally intoxicated people out on the street at the end of the night. I see it all the time, especially for the "college party" receptions lasting more than 3-4 hours.

Good luck!!

I will say as a drinker, that the three drinks are good if you are offering the good stuff...if i get that situation, i get the mixed drinks that are normally expensive and then go to beer if i want to drink some more

I would say up it to 4-5 if you can

It is premium alcohol. Top shelf everything, that is all my venue carries, so I know some people will appreciate that while others would rather have unlimited low quality liquot.

I actually have never been to a fully open bar wedding myself, it's always been beer & wine only, or open bar for only a period, and then turns to cash bar. I'm not too worried about insulting my guests with only 3 drinks, the meal and apps are going to be of fantastic quality and we're having a couple really talented live performers, band and a DJ.

Once my RSVPS come in, I'll know whether I can really afford to up the drink per person or not. Thanks for the feedback!

@liquor

I also feel that for $28 pp you can get open bar at a lot of places... I don't know if this is an option for you, but the prices I have found are from 20 - 40 pp for 5 hours open bar, you might want to check into that

I feel that you need to decide how many drinks you pay for. That will not be per person, but rather, how much money is on your tab and how much is on your guests.

What happens if you plan 3 drinks per person in 5.5 hours, but those who drink faster "eat up" all of the allotment? What happens to the guest who only had one drink?

I think you would be better off doing beer and wine as a complimentary beverage and liquor as a cash bar (notifying guests ahead of time).