Wedding Bar Setup Checklist

Looking for a wedding bar setup checklist? We’ve collected the best free templates available online.

It is important to prepare for your wedding, and it is always best to do so well in advance of the big day.

Alcoholic or non-alcoholic, ​​it is always essential to have a careful, thorough, and well-thought-out bar set up for the wedding, and it is imperative that you get your guests happy and excited with the bar service.

We all love the idea of having our wedding bar setup checklist to make sure we don’t run out of drinks on this big day!

Wedding Bar Setup Checklist

Whether you’re getting married this year, have been planning for a while or are looking for things to do to make your wedding day special, there are plenty of things to consider.

One very important aspect of a wedding is the bar.

Here you will find a wedding bar checklist to help you plan, organize and execute the perfect wedding bar setup.

Wedding Bar Setup Checklist 101

What is a wedding bar setup checklist?

A wedding bar setup checklist will help you organize the setup of everything you need to create a well-stocked bar for your wedding guests.

Why is a wedding bar setup checklist important?

When it comes to the bar at your wedding reception, it’s important to get the basics right, and with a wedding bar checklist you can make sure nothing is forgotten.

What should be included in a wedding bar setup checklist?

A bar setup checklist is the ultimate guide for you on the day of the big event.

It should include the following: the shopping list, number of guests, mixers and sodas etc.

Wedding Bar Checklist

Don’t worry too much about what to include in your checklist.

Here are a collection of useful wedding bar setup checklists to use for inspiration:

How to stock the bar at your wedding

As a rough rule of thumb, plan on each guest consuming one drink per hour of your reception.

This basic equation of how much alcohol each visitor consumes is a good starting point.

For a five-hour wedding celebration with 100 guests, you’ll need 500 drinks.

Keep in mind that these are just rough estimates to help you get started with your preparations.

If you want to be more precise with your estimates, go over your guest list one by one and note what kind of alcohol they typically consume.

Then make the necessary adjustments to the percentages.

Overestimating is a good rule to follow when in doubt.

It’s better to have a few extra bottles at the end of the night than to run out of alcohol before the end of reception.

Get the checklist →


Wedding Bar Setup FAQs

One bar per 100 visitors is a decent rule of thumb.

If you have 500 guests consider setting up five bars across the space, or setting up two bars at the rear of the ballroom, each with two bartenders and one extra for overflow.

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Summary

Think I’ve missed a wedding bar setup checklist? Or maybe you’ve made your own that isn’t on the list? Just let me know and I’ll add it.

Remember, I didn’t make any of these things, I just collected them. So please thank the creators themselves if you find them useful for your wedding 🙂

Still want more? Check out the other wedding checklists