Trust
Methodology
Three different kinds of number
An equation describes the calculation. An editable starting value is an editorial assumption. A benchmark describes a named source and population. These are not interchangeable: translating a tool or changing its currency does not turn a starting value into a measured local average.
Budget inputs and published benchmarks
The budget tool labels its starting values and links the source when a national average is available. Its category split is an editable planning allocation. The U.S. cost article separately uses published, rounded category percentages; these can sum differently from the headline total. Compare suppliers' itemized quotes before committing money.
Budget inputs and published benchmarks
Cake: coverage, buffer and sheets
Planned servings are guest count × the coverage percentage, rounded up. Apply the optional buffer to that rounded number and round up again. Coverage starts at 100% and the buffer at 0%. Subtract display-cake servings, then divide the remaining servings by the baker's sheet yield and round up. The editable sheet starter is 48; it is not a universal cutting standard.
A cake example you can reproduce
For 120 guests with 75% coverage and a 10% buffer: 90 planned servings become 99 order servings. If the display cake serves 60, the remaining 39 servings need one sheet at the 48-serving starter. Confirm dimensions, portion size and pricing with the baker before ordering.
A cake example you can reproduce
What gets checked
Release checks compare built pages, internal links, localization and calculator examples. The alcohol model is checked against fixed examples, rounding boundaries and zero-input cases, and guest-count tables and FAQ data use that same model. These are software checks, not evidence of consumption at real weddings or an independent expert endorsement.
How sources and changes are handled
A source link supports only the claim next to it and its named geographic scope. The review date records a content check, not a guarantee that fees or terms will stay unchanged. On 4 September 2026 the alcohol examples were unified and the cake explanation was aligned with the current controls. Report a discrepancy with the page URL and reproducible inputs.
What these quantities assume
The 82% drinking share, five-hour bar, one drink per hour and 35/45/20 beer/wine/spirits split are Weddenly's editable examples, not survey results. Count non-drinkers separately and confirm the order with your bar supplier.
Drinking guests are rounded first. Drinks = drinking guests × bar hours × pace, rounded up. Beer and wine are allocated first; spirits use the remainder. Bottles and cases are rounded up after allocation.
One case = 24 beers. A 750 ml wine bottle gives 5 × 150 ml pours; a 750 ml spirit bottle gives 17 × 44 ml pours. A 750 ml sparkling bottle gives 8 × 90 ml toast pours. Mixers use an editorial 100 ml per spirit drink, rounded up to liters. These are serving assumptions, not safe-consumption guidance.
Cost = bar drinks + individual toast pours, multiplied by your price. This is a service allowance, not the purchase price of rounded bottles/cases. Replace the starter price with your quote; taxes, staff, delivery and corkage are excluded.
Guest-count FAQs use one bartender per 75 guests only as an editorial conversation starter. Ask the bar service to set staffing for your menu, arrival rush and service points. Water, alcohol-free drinks, ice, storage and venue permissions need their own confirmed plan.
Method checked: 2026-09-04. Calculation checks and source policy
Content and linked sources reviewed: 2026-09-04.