How much spirits do I need for 40 guests?

You need 5 bottles of spirits for 40 guests at a wedding shower. This provides 60 total servings with a 15% buffer to ensure you don't run out.

How much spirits per person for a wedding shower?

Plan for 1.5 servings of spirits per person at a wedding shower. This accounts for the fact that not everyone drinks alcohol and consumption naturally slows as the event progresses.

How many servings are in a bottle of spirits?

One bottle of spirits contains 17 servings. For 40 guests, you'll need 5 bottles to provide 60 total servings.

What percentage of guests will drink spirits at a wedding shower?

At a wedding shower with 40 guests, approximately 30 guests (75%) will actively drink. Our formula accounts for this when calculating the 5 bottles you need.

Should I buy extra spirits as a buffer?

Yes! Our calculation of 5 bottles already includes a 15% buffer (1 extra bottles). This ensures you won't run out even if some guests drink more than average. It's always better to have leftovers than to run short.

How long will 5 bottles of spirits last for 40 guests?

5 bottles of spirits will last approximately 3 hours for 40 guests at a wedding shower. This calculation factors in the natural slowdown of consumption as the event progresses.

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How Much Spirits for a 40 Guest Wedding Shower?

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bottles of spirits

For a 40-guest wedding shower lasting 3 hours

15% buffer included

Total servings

1.5

Per person

Buffer bottles

How We Calculated This

Our bartender-tested formula, step by step

Estimate actual drinkers

40 guests × 75% drinking rate

= 30 drinkers

At medium events, about 75% of guests typically drink alcohol.

Calculate base consumption

30 drinkers × 1.5 drinks/hour × 3 hours

= 135 base drinks

Industry standard is 1.5 drinks per person per hour for a 3-hour event.

Apply consumption decay

Adjusted for drinking slowdown over time (decay factor: 2.65)

= 119 adjusted drinks

People drink faster in the first hour and slow down as the event progresses.

Apply wedding shower modifier

× 0.5 (-50% for spirits)

= 60 spirits servings needed

Wedding Showers typically consume 50% less spirits than average.

Convert to bottles

60 servings ÷ 17 servings per bottle

= 3.5 bottles (raw)

Each bottle of spirits provides 17 servings.

Add 15% buffer & round up

3.5 × 1.15 = 4.0, rounded up

= 5 bottles

Always round up and add a buffer. Running out is worse than having leftovers!

* Why trust this formula?

Based on industry standards and refined by bartenders with 30+ years of experience. We factor in consumption decay (people drink less as events progress) and real-world drinking percentages.

📊 Quick Reference: Spirits by Guest Count

Guests	Spirits Needed	Total Servings
25 guests	4 bottles	38 servings
50 guests	7 bottles	75 servings
75 guests	10 bottles	113 servings
100 guests	13 bottles	150 servings
150 guests	19 bottles	225 servings
200 guests	25 bottles	300 servings

* All calculations include a 15% buffer. Amounts for wedding shower.

Your Shopping List

Everything you need, plus essentials you might forget

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Spirits

The main event

bottles

Don't forget these

Mixers (soda, tonic, juice) (Variety is key)

20 liters
Ice (~2 lbs per person)

60 lbs
Cocktail glasses (2 per drinker)

60 glasses
Buy
Garnishes (limes, lemons)

8 pieces

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We'll send your complete list plus pro tips for a stress-free event

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Pro Tips for Your Wedding Shower

Insider advice from experienced bartenders

💡

Mimosa bars are the gold standard. Stock 1 bottle of sparkling per 3 guests, plus orange juice and peach nectar for variety.

⏰

Skip heavy reds. Go 70% white/rosé (Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc) and 30% light red (Pinot Noir).

🎯

Create one signature cocktail (Aperol Spritz, French 75) and batch it ahead of time - plan 2 servings per guest.

🧊

25-30% of guests won't drink alcohol. Offer elegant non-alcoholic options like mocktails or flavored sparkling water.

✨

Afternoon timing means lower consumption - most guests have 1-2 drinks max.

🛒 Buying Guide

For a 2-3 hour afternoon shower, plan for 1.3 drinks per guest. Champagne and wine dominate - stock 1 bottle of sparkling per 3 guests for mimosas, plus 1 wine bottle per 2 drinking guests. Buy 10-15% extra; unopened bottles can be returned or saved for the wedding. Prosecco is cost-effective for mimosas; save real Champagne for the toast.

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