
Planning a wedding reception can be stressful, especially when it comes to figuring out how much food and drink to provide. While there are many online calculators to help estimate the amount of alcohol needed, it can be trickier to determine how much soda to buy for non-drinkers. For a wedding of 80 people, it is recommended to have a variety of non-alcoholic options such as Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, and lemonade, and you don't need to serve full cans or bottles. A can of soda can make three drinks when served in a glass with ice. A 2-liter bottle of soda typically yields 6-8 drinks, so you may need about 0.5-0.75 bottles per person. This would equate to approximately 40-60 bottles of soda for 80 guests.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of people | 80 |
| Number of bottles of soda | 30-40 (2L bottles) |
| Number of cans of soda | 48 |
| Number of non-alcoholic options | 4 |
| Types of non-alcoholic drinks | Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, and lemonade |
| Glass size | Small bottles or glasses with ice |
| Number of drinks per person | 4 |
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What You'll Learn
- For 80 guests, plan for 32–40 2-litre bottles of soda
- Offer a variety of sodas, including Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, and local options
- Don't forget other non-alcoholic drinks like water, tea, lemonade, and sparkling cider
- Consider the duration of your reception when planning drink quantities
- Use a drink calculator to estimate the number of bottles of wine and liquor needed

For 80 guests, plan for 32–40 2-litre bottles of soda
When planning a wedding reception, it's important to ensure that all guests are catered to, including non-drinkers and children. While it's better to overbuy than underbuy, you don't want to be left with too many bottles that will go to waste.
It's worth noting that this estimate can vary depending on the duration of your reception and the preferences of your guests. If your reception lasts for three hours, the general rule of thumb is to provide two drinks per guest for the first hour and one drink for each subsequent hour. This would amount to approximately four drinks per guest over the course of the reception.
Additionally, consider offering a variety of soda options to accommodate different tastes and preferences. You may also want to provide alternatives like lemonade, tea, and water, ensuring that your non-drinking guests feel just as valued and catered to as those who opt for alcoholic beverages.
By planning ahead and estimating the number of drinks needed per guest, you can ensure that your wedding reception is a success, leaving your guests refreshed and satisfied.
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Offer a variety of sodas, including Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, and local options
When it comes to drinks at your wedding, it's important to offer a variety of options to cater to different tastes and preferences. This is especially important when it comes to non-alcoholic choices, as some guests may not drink alcohol or may want to alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
For an 80-person wedding reception, offering a variety of sodas is a great idea. Here are some tips and suggestions to help you plan:
Offer a Variety of Sodas
Provide a range of options, including classic choices such as Coke, Diet Coke, and Sprite. These are popular and well-loved sodas that many guests will enjoy. You can offer these in cans or bottles, and they can be served in glasses with ice to stretch the supply.
Include Local Options
In addition to the standard choices, consider including some local or specialty sodas. Seek out local breweries or soda producers who offer unique flavours. For example, you could offer local root beer, or some specialized sodas from the soda aisle at your store. This adds a personal touch and provides something a little different for your guests to enjoy.
Consider Other Non-Alcoholic Choices
In addition to soda, it's a good idea to offer other non-alcoholic drinks. This could include sparkling water, lemonade, iced tea, juice, coffee, and tea. These options ensure that you have a varied selection, catering to different tastes.
Estimate Quantity
To estimate how much soda to buy, consider that people tend to consume more drinks earlier in the event. As a rule of thumb, you can estimate around two drinks per person for the first hour and one drink per hour for each subsequent hour. For an 80-person reception, you may consider buying around 120-160 cans or bottles of soda, depending on how long the reception will last and the expected consumption rate.
Plan for a Variety of Alcoholic Drinks
In addition to soda and non-alcoholic choices, you'll likely want to offer a variety of alcoholic drinks. This could include beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails. Work with your caterer and bartender to select wines that pair well with your food choices. Offer a mix of beer styles, such as lager and pilsner. If you want to include cocktails, consider creating a signature cocktail that reflects the personalities of the couple.
Remember, it's better to have a little extra than to run out, and you can always save any unopened drinks for later. By offering a variety of sodas and other drinks, you'll ensure that your 80 guests have a wonderful time at your wedding reception.
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Don't forget other non-alcoholic drinks like water, tea, lemonade, and sparkling cider
When planning drinks for a wedding reception, it's important to cater to a range of tastes and preferences. While soda is a great option for non-drinkers, it's worth remembering that some guests may prefer other non-alcoholic drinks like water, tea, lemonade, or sparkling cider.
For a wedding reception with 80 guests, it's essential to ensure that everyone stays hydrated, especially if it's an outdoor event or during the hotter months. Small bottles of water are recommended, as people are less likely to waste them. As a guide, it's a good idea to assume that each guest will want at least one water bottle. So, for 80 guests, you should consider providing around three to four cases of 30 water bottles.
Tea is another popular non-alcoholic option, especially if you're having a wedding reception with a sit-down meal. Offering a variety of tea options, such as herbal infusions or traditional black tea, can be a nice touch. For 80 guests, consider providing around four to six gallons of iced tea, depending on the season and the expected duration of the reception.
Lemonade is a refreshing choice for a wedding reception, especially during the summer months. You can make it even more special by adding a twist, such as lavender syrup or mixing it with fizzy water. For 80 guests, aim for around four to six gallons of lemonade. If you want to get creative, you could even set up a lemonade bar with various fruits and additives, such as passionfruit puree or maraschino cherries, allowing guests to customize their drinks.
Sparkling cider is an elegant alternative to champagne for toasting, perfect for guests who don't drink alcohol. It adds a festive touch to the celebrations. It's recommended to purchase flats of cans rather than large bottles to make it easier for guests to serve themselves and reduce the risk of spillage.
In summary, for a wedding reception with 80 guests, consider providing three to four cases of water bottles, four to six gallons of iced tea, four to six gallons of lemonade, and an appropriate amount of sparkling cider in cans for those who prefer a non-alcoholic option for toasting. Don't forget to provide a variety of other non-alcoholic drinks, such as soda, to cater to different tastes and ensure a memorable celebration.
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Consider the duration of your reception when planning drink quantities
When planning a wedding reception, it is important to consider the duration of the event when planning drink quantities. The longer the reception, the more drinks you will need to provide for your guests. A good rule of thumb is to assume that each guest will consume one drink per hour or about five drinks throughout the evening. Of course, some guests will drink less, while others may drink more.
For an 80-person wedding reception, you would need approximately 80 drinks per hour. This means that for a 2-hour reception, you would need a total of 160 drinks. For a 4-hour reception, you would need 320 drinks, and for a 6-hour reception, you would need 480 drinks.
It is important to consider the types of drinks you will be serving as well. The recommended mix for a wedding reception is 50% liquor, 25% beer, and 25% wine. Typically, it is recommended to have a 50/50 split of red and white wine. If you are offering cocktails, you may need to adjust the quantities of liquor and wine to include cocktail ingredients.
In addition to the duration of the reception, other factors such as the season and wedding style will also impact the quantity of drinks needed. For example, a casual backyard BBQ wedding may lend itself to more refreshing beverages and beer, while an elegant cocktail reception may feature more spirit-forward options.
By considering the duration of the reception, the number of guests, the types of drinks, and other variables, you can ensure that you have enough drinks to last throughout the event and that your guests have a variety of options to choose from.
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Use a drink calculator to estimate the number of bottles of wine and liquor needed
Planning a wedding reception drink menu involves many variables, including the guest count, season, style of the wedding, and duration of the party. It is important to calculate the number of drinks needed to stay within your budget and ensure you do not run out during the reception.
A drink calculator can be a useful tool to estimate the number of bottles of wine and liquor required for the reception. These calculators typically require basic information, such as the number of guests and the duration of the party. If you know the exact number of guests who will be drinking wine or liquor, you can input that information for a more precise calculation.
For wine calculations, the number of wine drinkers is used to determine the quantity of standard 750ml wine bottles needed. A standard 750ml wine bottle typically serves five to six glasses. To calculate the number of bottles, divide the number of wine drinkers by 2.15 and then divide that number by two.
For liquor calculations, drinks with an alcohol content of around 30% and higher are typically calculated at 0.5 liters per person. It is important to remember that mixed drinks calculations only account for the alcohol base and do not include the soft drink mixer.
Using a drink calculator will help you estimate the number of bottles of wine and liquor needed for your wedding reception, ensuring you have a well-stocked bar and a memorable celebration.
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Frequently asked questions
You should get around 32-40 2-litre bottles of soda for 80 guests. This estimate assumes that each guest will have around 4 drinks, which is a common guideline for drink planning at weddings.
If the reception is 3 hours, the above estimate of 4 drinks per person is appropriate. This is based on the guideline of 2 drinks per hour for the first 2 hours and 1 drink for the third hour.
Children may drink more due to running around, or they may drink less because they are smaller. It is a good idea to have a variety of drink options for children, including juice, water, and lemonade.
It is a good idea to have a variety of soda options, including Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, and perhaps some local speciality sodas. You could also get some larger jugs of iced tea or lemonade, which are great non-alcoholic options for toasts.
Yes, you can save any unopened bottles of soda for later, or you may be able to return them to the retailer. It is a good idea to check with the retailer before purchasing.











































