Party Planning Tips: Expert Advice for Hosting Successful Events

We have created a couple of templates that you may print out and reference below. Each of these is a "guide" showing recommended quantities for a party of 100 guests for a 5-hour party.

Party Guide for 100 Guests (Beer, Wine, and Liquor)
Party Guide For 100 Guests (Beer, Seltzer, and Wine)

Within each category you will find information detailing the approximate number of servings per guest so that you can quickly determine how much to purchase with just a little simple math. Generally, you will land somewhere between 5 and 6 drinks per guest and have plenty! We recommend keeping things simple and not offering too many choices in each category.

Some of the items in the Party Guide will be items you may not need for your event. if for example, you elect not to serve seltzers, then can simply bump up your beer and wine categories a little to compensate.

Some common mixers to round out a bar are also included, but often you will find that your venue, caterer or bartending service will provide some of these items for you.

Below are some useful advice for you in each category.

BEER

We usually recommend serving canned over bottled beer for large parties. Cans are usually more economical than bottles and eliminate the possibility of glass breakage. Certain venues also will not permit glass bottles.

Kegs are also available, check out our menu of kegs. Tap handles and tubs are provided for a refundable deposit.

We usually recommend can over kegs. The cost savings for keg beer is minimal, they are more difficult to transport, and must be kept cold constantly. There is also much more potential for waste (foam), and once a keg leave our store it may not be returned, as we will assume the it has been tapped. Canned or bottle beers are returnable if unopened, not expired, and in their original packaging.

* Please note that we do charge an additional handling fee of $5.00/keg for delivery.

HARD SELTZERS

Hard Seltzers, such as White Claw, Truly, High Noon, etc., are a relatively new product line and are very popular. They are quite a bit more expensive than beer, and some clients choose to omit them, especially if they are offering liquor or a full bar.

We have an enormous selection of both malt-based and liquor based hard seltzers, so we can supply the items you are looking for should you decide to serve them at your event.

LIQUOR

For the most part, liquor is available in three standard size formats:

750 ml = 25 ounces approximately 16 standard pours (1.5 ounces)
1 Liter = 32 ounces approximately 21 standard pours (1.5 ounces)
1.75 Liter = 57 ounces approximately 38 standard pours (1.5 ounces)

Usually, the 1.75 liter is the best price per ounce. However, you need to check with your bartending service as many professional bartenders will not handle the large sized bottles due to their weight. The next best price is usually the 750 ml bottle and is the size we recommend. Don't forget you can return your excess bottles if they are unopened, which is another good reason to utilize the smaller size format.

Browse Our Liqueurs

WINE

We have an extensive wine department and our knowledgeable associates can help you choose the perfect food pairings if you desire that level of service. If you simply wish to provide a few nice wines that will be popular with most of your guests, we have a vast array of excellent economically priced wines.

Most wine bottles are 750 ml, with 12 bottles per case. We do also offer boxed wines and lager size formats, but we again point out that there is more potential for waste and that you'll be unable to return open packages.

Explore Our Curated Wine Collection

For toasting purposes:

We have many excellent sparkling wine options should you decide you'd like to use them for a formal toast. Some of our clients omit sparkling wines completely, while others provide enough for the wedding party or head table only.

Your perfect Party starts with this Checklist!

ALL THE REST
We can supply a wide array of products to complete your bar. It is useful to know which products your caterer, bartending service, or venue will be providing for you and which you need to purchase yourself.

This would include mixers, juices, pop, and water. Sometimes you will need to bring your own ice, which we can supply or deliver depending on the length of the commute.

Also included would be items such as cups, plates, napkins, and straws.

The Party Source also has an in-house laser lab, where our talented designers can create custom labels and engravings for that perfect wedding gift or party favor.

*Please look for one of our friendly associates to assist you once you're in the store! We do our best to be helpful when choosing between products. Our liquor and wine department employees will be able to give you some great advice and can quickly direct you to the products you're looking for! In addition, we can often pull items out of our warehouse for you so that you don't have to haul everything around the store while shopping.

Order your party essentials online and enjoy easy pickup or delivery!

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