How to Build the Perfect Shopping List for Your BYOB Wedding

You have decided on dry-hire bartending. Smart move. Now comes the question that intimidates most couples: how much alcohol do I actually need?

The good news is you do not have to guess. We build you a detailed, customized shopping list, and understanding the rough math behind it helps you shop with confidence.

How We Size It

You will see plenty of "one drink per guest per hour" rules online. They are a rough starting point and an unreliable final answer, so we do not lean on a generic formula at all. Our shopping guide runs a more involved calculation than any off-the-shelf calculator can copy, weighing your guest count, hours, time of day, season, menu, and crowd to size the order precisely.

As a rough sense of scale, a typical 4-hour event lands somewhere around 3 to 4 drinks per guest, heaviest in the first hour and tapering from there. Some guests drink more, many drink less, and some do not drink at all. The exact number is what our guide is built to nail, so you buy the right amount instead of a padded one.

The Split

For a typical wedding with a full bar, the drinks usually land close to:

• 50% cocktails (made with spirits)
• 40% beer
• 10% wine

Non-alcoholic is planned separately, because it does not follow the same curve. We always make sure there is a great zero-proof option on hand for the guests who want one.

By the Numbers: 100-Guest Wedding, 4 Hours

Total drinks needed: about 350 to 360. With our shopping guide, that runs roughly $500 to $600 in alcohol for 100 guests, about $5 to $6 per guest. The guide is built to prevent overbuying, so you are not guessing or padding the order.

Spirits (for about 175 to 180 cocktails)

• Vodka: about 3 bottles (750ml), the most-poured spirit at most events
• Bourbon or Whiskey: about 2 bottles (750ml)
• Tequila: about 2 bottles (750ml)
• Gin: about 2 bottles (750ml)
• Rum: about 2 bottles (750ml)
• Specialty (for your signature cocktails): varies

We always recommend 750ml bottles over 1.75L handles. They are far easier and cleaner for your bartenders to pour from, which keeps service fast and tidy all night.

Beer (about 140 servings)

• 3 cases of a crowd-pleasing lager
• 2 cases of a craft or IPA option
• 1 case of a light option

Wine (about 35 glasses)

• White wine: 3 to 4 bottles
• Red wine: 2 to 3 bottles
• Rose or Sparkling: 1 to 2 bottles

Where to Shop in Oklahoma

"Byron's, Total Wine, George's, Liquor Barn for liquor. Walmart, Sam's Club, or Costco for beer and wine," says Bar-Key founder Patrick Wilson. Here is the breakdown for you:

• Byron's Liquor Warehouse (OKC): Best selection in Oklahoma City, event-friendly service, and knowledgeable staff who can help with your large order
• Total Wine & More: Competitive pricing, free wedding consultations, and a 90-day return window on unopened bottles, the longest around
• George's Liquor: Great for specialty spirits and curated selections
• Liquor Barn: Strong selection for premium and craft spirits
• Walmart, Sam's Club, or Costco: Best value for beer and wine in bulk. Save the liquor store trip for your spirits

The Return Policy Strategy

This is one of the biggest advantages of buying your own alcohol: you can return what you do not use. Most Oklahoma liquor stores accept returns on unopened bottles within 30 days with a receipt.

Our strategy for you: trust the shopping guide, which is built to prevent overbuying, and lean on returnable bottles as your safety net rather than a reason to pad the order. Buy the quantities we give you, and if you want a small cushion on the most popular items, keep it to a few returnable bottles. Worst case, you return the extras instead of guessing high.

You Do Not Need a Full Bar

The most important shopping advice has nothing to do with stores. "You do not need a full bar," Patrick says. "For every guest who only wants a gin and tonic, twenty are reaching for a vodka soda. We want a drink for everyone, but that is not the same as stocking every bottle for everyone."

When you give your guests guidance, and better yet a story behind your cocktail menu, they happily set aside their usual order and try something new. A full bar is focused on the alcohol. A Bar-Key bar, whichever brand you choose, is focused on your people.

What We Handle for You

When you hire Bar-Key as your dry-hire bartender, we provide:

• A customized shopping list based on your guest count, drink menu, and event timeline
• Brand recommendations at every price point. We know which $25 bourbon drinks like a $50 bottle
• Quantity adjustments as your guest count changes
• All mixers, garnishes, ice, and bar tools

You buy the bottles. We turn them into an experience your guests remember.