Stocking an Open Bar

jappler

We will be hosting an open bar at our July wedding in Vancouver.  All the wedding websites I look at state to budget one drink per hour per guest.  My friends aren't alcoholics, but one drink per hour seems really low to me.  Has anyone looked into this?  On friend suggested that American weddings generally aren't like Canadian ones.... we tend to drink a little bit more?  How much alcohol are you supplying your bar for, with guest count?  Thanks in advance!

holmest

I just received the following breakdown for an open bar, based on 200 guests:

Vodka, 1.75 L, 6 bottles
Gin, 1.25 L, 2 bottles
W.Rum, 1.25 L, 4 bottles
D. Rum, 1.25 L, 2 bottles
Rye, 1.75 L, 6 bottles
Scotch, 1.25 L, 4 bottles

Corona, 12 pack, 8 cases
Pipers, 12 pack, 8 cases

Red Wine, 1.5 L, 8 bottles
White Wine, 1.5 L, 8 bottles

Orange Juice, 1 L, 10 bottles
Clamato Juice, 1 L,  8 bottles
Cranberry Juice, 1 L, 10 bottles
Apple Juice, 1 L, 8 bottles

Coke, 2 L, 20 bottles
Diet Coke, 2 L, 10 bottles
Ginger ale, 2 L, 6 bottles
7-up, 2L 20 bottles
Root Beer, 2 L, 6 bottles

This was the breakdown that I received from our decorator, because I too had no idea where to start. There are a few areas that I would bump up personally, Coronoa's for example--and then we are also palcing 2-4 bottles of wine on tables, so the numbers behind the bar will probably be slightly different that above.
The other recommendation that I was given was lots of ice--we will be supplied some ice through the venue, but apparently it tends to be one of those things that runs out quicker than you would think (especially on a hot day in the summer).

Hope that helps.

jappler

Thanks for the breakdown, it's exactly what I need to start the planning!

TangoKelsea

May I also reccomend Iced Tea? I know it frustrates me when i go somewhere and its either all alcohol and fizzy pop.