Plan your reception bar perfectly.
The industry formula: 2 drinks per guest in the first hour, 1 drink per hour after. For a 5-hour reception with 100 drinking guests, plan for ~600 standard drinks. Typical split: 35% beer, 35% wine, 30% spirits (for full bar) or 55% beer, 45% wine (beer & wine only). One bottle of wine = 5 glasses. One 750mL spirit bottle = 16 cocktails. Champagne toast: 1 bottle per 6 guests (small pours). Many caterers and venues offer buyback for unopened bottles, so slightly overestimate. Include 15-20% non-drinkers in your headcount — have sparkling water, lemonade, and mocktails available. Bar costs are typically 15-20% of total reception budget. For budget savings: limit to 3-4 signature cocktails instead of a full open bar.