Another alcohol question

[MaitlandGirl]

We're tentatively costing up our wedding and trying to work out alcohol quantities.

We are looking at a venue that would need outside caterers and would be providing our own alcohol.

I'm thinking for 70 adult guests:
15 bottles of sparkling (for the toast) - 5 x glasses per bottle
18 bottles of red (1 per table plus 5 spare)
18 bottles of white (1 per table plus 5 spare)
140 bottles of beer (2 bottles each)

Obviously there will also be bottled water on the tables, fruit juice and soft drinks as well.

The guests aren't really big wine drinkers and will be bringing their own alcohol (it's legal here) so I'm confident on the amount of wine but wondering if we should get more beer?

I know that a lot of the guests would happily drink a carton (24 bottles) if someone else was paying for it but a) we don't have that much money and b) there's limited overnight accommodation and most of the guests will have a 2-3 hour drive home.

We thought about a ticket system for the beer, we're paying for bar staff for during the meal.

I think the wine amounts are spot on if people are also able to BYOB. We did 4 bottles per table at our wedding and there was so much left over. I also think the beer is okay. Not everyone will drink it so those who really enjoy it will be able to have 4 or even more.

However, confused about what you are doing for arrival drinks? Unless you are using the 'spare' wine to provide 40 glasses and adding in beer and soft drinks for non wine drinkers? Or is the toast on arrival before sit down?

If you are not doing arrival drinks maybe reconsider this and order the same again of fizzy wine. It doesn't work well to have people go straight to tables as they will mingle, chat take frinking ages to sit so they will need a drink in hand. Logistically their BYOB will be too much of a clusterfuck to start the event with. Hope this made sence!

What's the format of the day?

If this is just for the sit down meal bit, that's fine. If you are also anticipating welcome drinks etc, I think you need to increase the wine or add in something like fruit punch

We're looking at ceremony at 4pm then meal at about 5.30pm (depending on how long the photographer wants). Meal will be over by about 8pm ish and then it's outside onto the verandah and the lawn areas for a gossip and general relaxing.

The ceremony would be held at the reception venue so there's no travel time between the end of the ceremony and the start of the reception.

Totally forgot about arrival drinks - I'll add in the cost of more sparkling something and fruit punch.

Thanks :)