How Much Alcohol to Buy for a 100-Guest Wedding? A Phoenix Bartender Breaks It All Down
Planning your wedding bar can feel like trying to solve a math problem you didn’t study for. How many bottles? Which spirits? Will your guests drink more tequila or more wine? What if Aunt Linda suddenly becomes the life of the party?
As a Phoenix mobile bar owner who has bartended a lot of weddings, I’ve seen couples either wildly overestimate (hello, $700 of untouched whiskey) or underestimate (cue: panic run to Total Wine at 8:30 PM).
You don’t need either of those experiences on your wedding day.
So if you’re here wondering “How much alcohol do I need for a 100-guest wedding?” — you’re exactly where you should be. Let’s walk through everything you need to know, using real experience from serving weddings across Phoenix, Scottsdale, and the desert beyond.
The Simple Formula (That Actually Works):
➡️ Plan for 1 drink per guest per hour.
Why this works:
It naturally accounts for non-drinkers
It balances out the friends who start cocktail hour like they’re at Coachella
It keeps your bar stocked without overspending
It matches what we see at almost every Phoenix event
Whether you’re hosting 100 guests in Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale, or on the outskirts near Superstition Mountain — this formula holds.
Before We Calculate: A Reality Check About Wedding Bars
Let me give you a hard-earned piece of bartender wisdom:
You do NOT need a full bar + signature cocktails.
Most couples think guests want options like they’re out at a downtown Phoenix bar.
But here’s what actually happens at weddings:
Guests want a fast drink
They don’t want to stand in line choosing between 12 cocktails
They do not care about variety as much as you think
Most people stick to just 1–2 types of drinks the entire night
A simplified signature cocktail menu (plus beer and wine) means:
Faster service
Happier guests
Cheaper alcohol bill
No decision fatigue
Think: “Which drink gets me back to the dance floor fastest?” — that’s the guest mindset.
So… keep it simple. Your bar (and your budget) will thank you.
What Guests Actually Drink at Weddings (Based on Phoenix Events)
I’ve bartended enough weddings to confidently say:
Tequila and vodka dominate. Every. Single. Time.
Whether it’s a margarita, ranch water, vodka soda, or your signature cocktail — these two spirits consistently outperform everything else.
Whiskey?
People love to talk about it. They don’t drink a lot of it.
Gin?
Here and there.
Rum?
Barely.
Keep the focus where guests actually drink — not where you assume they will.
That being said— if you’re willing to stock it, we’re happy to serve it for that one uncle who likes his whiskey with Diet Coke, just keep in mind you’ll have 3/4 of that bottle and 10 cans of Diet Coke left over at the end.
How Wedding Length Affects Alcohol Consumption
Most Phoenix weddings run 4 hours for bar service.
Here’s the insider truth:
By the fourth hour, the bar slows down dramatically.
We’re talking 1–2 guests coming back for round five.
But there are exceptions.
We once did a 6-hour reception where the dance floor was packed the entire night, and the bar was still busy at last call. Those weddings are rare — but they do happen.
Ultimately, you know your crowd better than anyone.
If you're having:
A dancing crowd
A younger crowd
A cocktail-forward crowd
Strong cultural traditions around drinking
…you may need a bit more.
If your reception is:
Laid back
Board-game themed
Family-heavy
Mostly older guests
…your bar will move slower.
We customize this for every couple, but the 1 drink per hour rule is a great starting point.
Exact Alcohol Quantities for a 100-Guest Wedding
Okay — let’s get to the part you came here for.
Below is your expert-backed, Phoenix-tested, easy-to-shop guide to purchasing alcohol for 100 wedding guests.
This is based on:
100 guests
4 hours of bar service
1 drink per guest per hour (so 400 drinks total)
Two signature cocktails
Beer + wine
Typical Phoenix drink preferences
Tequila + vodka outperforming all other spirits
You can adjust based on your cocktail choices — but this will get 99% of weddings perfectly stocked.
1. Signature Cocktails (Tequila + Vodka Example)
Assuming you serve two signature cocktails:
One tequila-based (margarita, paloma, ranch water)
One vodka-based (vodka lemonade, vodka soda with garnish, citrus spritz)
Wedding guests LOVE signature drinks. Usually 60–70% of drinks come from these.
TEQUILA (for 1 signature cocktail)
Plan for: 10–12 bottles of Tequila Blanco (750 ml)
Why Blanco?
Because it mixes beautifully in margaritas and citrus cocktails. Reposado is better for sipping, not mixing.
VODKA (for 1 signature cocktail)
Plan for: 8–10 bottles of vodka (750 ml)
Vodka cocktails are popular but usually slightly less than tequila-heavy options in Arizona.
2. Beer
Phoenix weddings — especially outdoor ones — have a strong beer crowd.
Plan for:
150–175 cans/bottles of beer
Breakdown:
60% light beer (Coors Light, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra)
40% craft or mid-range (Lagunitas IPA, Blue Moon, Dos Equis, Peroni, etc.)
Beer tends to be popular early in the night, especially during cocktail hour and before dinner.
3. Wine
Weddings typically split wine consumption like this:
40% white
35% red
25% rosé or sparkling
For 100 guests, plan on:
20 bottles white
18 bottles red
8–10 bottles rosé or sparkling
Phoenix weddings skew slightly toward white wine because… hello, desert climate.
4. Mixers, Garnishes & Extras
This is where many couples get overwhelmed — but don’t worry, in Arizona we provide everything except alcohol, because we’re a dry-hire state.
Typical mixers for 100 guests:
8–10 bottles of soda water
6–8 bottles of tonic
4–6 bottles of Coke/Pepsi
4–6 bottles of Diet Coke
3–4 bottles of Sprite
6–8 bottles of margarita mix (if applicable)
Citrus juice (lemon + lime)
Agave or simple syrup
Garnishes:
20–25 limes
15 lemons
2–3 bags of oranges (if needed)
Salt / sugar rimmer
Ice:
1.5–2 pounds of ice per guest in summer
1–1.5 pounds per guest in cooler months
Arizona heat is no joke — always err on the higher side.
5. What NOT to Do When Buying Alcohol
Take it from someone who has watched couples lose hundreds of dollars by accident:
❌ Don’t buy a full bar “just in case.”
You do not need rum, gin, whiskey, bourbon, brandy, and liqueurs for 100 people.
❌ Don’t underestimate how much tequila or vodka you need.
They almost always run out first.
❌ Don’t worry about overbuying.
Unopened bottles can be returned to:
Total Wine
Costco
BevMo
(Policies vary slightly, but most sealed bottles are returnable.)
❌ Don’t try to guess your quantities without a plan.
That’s how shortages happen — and nothing slows a reception down like a disappearing bar.
Real Wedding Observations That Help You Plan Smarter
Even without formal case studies, here are insights from dozens of Arizona weddings:
1. Weddings with dance floors drink more.
High-energy crowds = empty bottles faster.
2. Daytime weddings drink less liquor and more beer/wine.
3. Cocktail-only menus lead to longer lines unless they’re simple.
Keep your signature cocktails easy, fun, and fast.
4. Cultural traditions matter.
Latino weddings? Expect tequila and beer to dominate.
College friends? Vodka goes fast.
More mature crowd? Wine all night.
5. Guests don’t drink much after their plates are cleared.
Dinner slows everyone down.
Why Working With a Phoenix Mobile Bar Makes Alcohol Planning Easier
Since Arizona is a dry-hire state, we can't provide alcohol — but we do provide:
A customized shopping list
Quantities matched to your guest count
Mixers, garnishes, ice, coolers, bar tools
Signature cocktail development
Full bar setup and cleanup
Vendors we trust
Recommendations based on your actual crowd
You buy the alcohol; we handle everything else.
This gives couples full control of their alcohol budget — and avoids the insane markups of venues that charge $12–$20 per drink.
If you’re looking for a full cost breakdown for hiring an event bartender, we’ve got it right here for you.
Final Answer: How Much Alcohol Do You REALLY Need for 100 Guests?
Here’s your one-shot summary:
✔ 10–12 bottles tequila
✔ 8–10 bottles vodka
✔ 150–175 beers
✔ 45–50 bottles of wine total
✔ Enough mixers + garnishes (we provide)
✔ 1.5–2 lbs of ice per guest
✔ Plan for 1 drink per guest per hour
This setup will comfortably cover 100 guests for a 4-hour Phoenix wedding with signature cocktails, beer, and wine.
No guessing. No stress. No last-minute Total Wine run.
need a Custom Alcohol Plan for Your Wedding?
If you’re planning a wedding in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Gilbert, or anywhere in Arizona — I’d love to help you create:
A custom alcohol shopping list
A signature cocktail menu
A streamlined bar plan that fits your crowd
A stress-free experience you’ll actually enjoy
✨ Reach out to Garnished Mobile Bar to get your personalized alcohol guide for your exact guest count.
After all — great weddings deserve great drinks, done the right way. Cheers! 🥂
