How Much Barware Do I Need For My Chigago Wedding?
Let us help you understand the in’s and out’s of barware rentals!

When thinking about barware there are a few things that you need to consider: how many people will be drinking, what will they be drinking, and how much will they be drinking.
When you have a rough number of how many people will be drinking, you can use this formula to get a good estimate at how much barware you may need:
2 glasses per person for cocktail hour followed by 1 glass per person every hour after, minus beer drinkers while the bar is open.
This is a good calculation for understanding how many glasses you will need to order for your guest, though many clients will opt to prioritize glassware during cocktail hour only depending on their budget. This calculation is not an exact science, but it is one that we have used for many years and helps to avoid being short on glassware during your event. Through years of experience, we can help to ensure you are ordering what you need!
It is also important to know what your venue provides and allows. All venues are different on what they provide, so make sure to ask these things about the bar! Is there a bartender included? Are there glasses included? Are the glasses glass or plastic? All of this will help you make a decision on what you want or need to bring in. It is also common for venues to require all glass to be removed from the event room by 8 or 9 pm when the dancing gets started. This switch to plastic glasses is for the safety of you and your guests and avoids the chance of broken glass making its way onto the dancefloor and interrupting the party!
There are various glasses that all hold different purposes, so let’s look at the differences!
- Rock glasses are a short and wide tumbler that is usually used for spirits over ice or for popular cocktails such as Old Fashioneds, Negronis, Margaritas, or Whiskey sours.
- Highball glasses are a taller and thinner version of the rock glass and are used primarily for long drinks. These drinks include any spirit and mixer (rum and coke, vodka cranberry, etc.), Mojitos, Palomas, Moscow Mules, and many more.
- Wine Glasses are more self explanatory, and while there is a difference between red and white wine glasses, most rental companies will provide one universal glass.
- Martini glasses are a stemmed glass with a sharp angled base to the cup and a wide mouth. As the name may have suggested, these are great for martini drinks or for other specialty cocktails!




- Champagne Coupes and Flutes are both great options for sparkling drinks like Champagne, Rosé, or Moscato d’asti. A coupe glass is a shorter stemmed glass with a wide and rounded shallow cup while a flute is a tall and narrow stemmed glass. Both are beautiful for a Champagne toast!


Knowing which you need means knowing what your guests will be drinking. If you choose to have a signature cocktail, most guests will order at least one to try at the start of cocktail hour, so it is important to have plenty of the glass that corresponds to that drink. Following that comes with knowing the guests. Event bartenders will say that every wedding is very different, and what is popular at one event may be entirely different from the next, but if mixed drinks are available most people gravitate towards those, followed by wine and then beer.
A good tip is to pay attention early to what your guests enjoy while out to dinner or at other events!
While barware may seem intimidating, it can be a true standout that your guests will remember after the event! We are here to help make sure that it all turns out perfect!
Interested in learning more, make an appointment to come to our design showroom and see first hand all of the beautiful barware offered here at Dish & Decor! This is a great chance to work one-on-one with owner Janet and build your dream bar and tablescape! You can also view our product online here!
With clear pricing, ease of use, and beautiful presentation, you won’t regret choosing Dish & Decor Vintage Rental to recreate this amazing look!
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