How much beer do I need for 125 guests?

You need 5 cases of beer for 125 guests at a wedding shower. This provides 104 total servings with a 15% buffer to ensure you don't run out.

How much beer per person for a wedding shower?

Plan for 0.8 servings of beer 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 case of beer?

One case of beer contains 24 servings. For 125 guests, you'll need 5 cases to provide 104 total servings.

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

At a wedding shower with 125 guests, approximately 88 guests (70%) will actively drink. Our formula accounts for this when calculating the 5 cases you need.

Should I buy extra beer as a buffer?

Yes! Our calculation of 5 cases already includes a 15% buffer (0 extra cases). 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 cases of beer last for 125 guests?

5 cases of beer will last approximately 3 hours for 125 guests at a wedding shower. This calculation factors in the natural slowdown of consumption as the event progresses.

Calculate a different drink for this event

🍷 Wine 🍺 Beer viewing 🥂 Champagne 🥃 Spirits

How Much Beer for a 125 Guest Wedding Shower?

You will need approx.

🍺

cases of beer

For a 125-guest wedding shower lasting 3 hours

info 15% buffer included

104

Total servings

0.8

Per person

Buffer cases

How We Calculated This

Our bartender-tested formula, step by step

Estimate actual drinkers

125 guests × 70% drinking rate

= 88 drinkers

At large events, about 70% of guests typically drink alcohol.

Calculate base consumption

88 drinkers × 1.5 drinks/hour × 3 hours

= 396 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)

= 350 adjusted drinks

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

Apply wedding shower modifier

× 0.3 (-70% for beer)

= 104 beer servings needed

Wedding Showers typically consume 70% less beer than average.

Convert to cases

104 servings ÷ 24 servings per case

= 4.3 cases (raw)

Each case of beer provides 24 servings.

Add 15% buffer & round up

4.3 × 1.15 = 4.9, rounded up

= 5 cases

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: Beer by Guest Count

Guests	Beer Needed	Total Servings
25 guests	1 case	21 servings
50 guests	2 cases	42 servings
75 guests	3 cases	62 servings
100 guests	4 cases	83 servings
150 guests	6 cases	125 servings
200 guests	8 cases	166 servings

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

The Essentials

🍺 5 cases Beer

60 lbs Ice (Keep those beers cold!)

3 coolers Coolers (2 cases per cooler) Buy

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The Host's Secret

Editorial Curation

ATMOSPHERE

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

Pro Tip #1

PREPARATION

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

Pro Tip #2

TIMING

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

Pro Tip #3

SERVICE

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

Pro Tip #4

PRESENTATION

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

Pro Tip #5

🛒

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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