Entertaining at home question => glassware for party

[Anonymous]

Hello, all. We are hosting a party at our house with food and bartender for around 40 guests. I would like to use glassware instead of plastic cups. The bartender suggested renting 200+ glasses (not including the champagne and wine glasses). This isn’t a formal party - a mix of indoor/outdoor + food that will be grilled on site or possibly a buffet.

In addition to the bar, I plan to put out bottled water and canned sparkling waters for folks to help themselves, we will also have a barback to help the bartender who should be able to pick up glasses when not busy, and we will have backup plastic cups.

This isn’t a formal party - a mix of indoor/outdoor + food that will be grilled on site and served buffet-style. The 200+ glasses seems excessive to me. I would prefer to purchase my own glassware - thinking 50-ish pieces or so, not including the champagne/coupe and wine glasses. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

One thing to keep in mind is that many people at a party put their glass down and use a second one (or third). While 200 glasses might seem excessive, you'll want at least 100 for a party of 40 people.

Renting glasses is pretty inexpensive. While you can certainly purchases glasses at a decent price, the problem I'd have with purchasing them is where to store 100 glasses after the party. If that's not a problem, go for it.

Regarding how many to have on hand, you could plan for 100 real glasses but keep a stash of extra disposable cups on hand in case all 100 are used. The bartender is planning for the "worst case" scenario if guests go through a lot of glasses.

[Anonymous]

Open bar?

Of so, that’s four drinks a person. I don’t think 200 is enough.

[Anonymous]

OP here - I agree it’s inexpensive.

Yes, open bar. It’s like 215ish glasses, plus 60ish wine and champagne flutes.

Okay, maybe I should just rent them.

[Anonymous]

The bartender knows, they do this all the time and are familiar with how many glasses guests typically go through at an open bar.

The offsetting factor is that you also plan to put out bottled water. Make sure the bartender knows this, but if so, I'd trust their count since it's cheap insurance that you won't run out of real glasses at the bar.

[Anonymous]

One glass per person is not enough. They are like $1 each just rent.

[Anonymous]

OP, we host a lot of parties. The bartender is correct. 200+ sounds right. Definitely rent them . You don't want to buy/store that many glasses.

[Anonymous]

Renting is 100% the way to go and always better to have too many. You just load them back into crates and they get picked up the next day. It’s terrific. Rent plates too.