Drinks for a Nigerian wedding cost ₦300,000–₦2 million in 2026, depending on guest count and whether you serve alcohol. As a rule of thumb, budget one crate of minerals for every 12–15 guests, plus water, malt, and — if you're serving it — beer, wine, and spirits. For 300 guests, most couples spend ₦500,000–₦900,000 on drinks alone. Get the quantities wrong and you either run dry by 3pm or haul home 20 unopened crates. The drinks line is where DIY couples either save a fortune or overspend badly. Caterers happily supply drinks at a markup; buy them yourself from a distributor and you keep that margin. But then you're the one doing the maths on how many crates 300 thirsty guests actually drink at a Nigerian wedding — which is more than you'd think. This guide gives you the per-crate 2026 prices and a clear quantity formula. Figures are from ElitePlanners.ng's vendor network, updated July 2026.
Drinks are simple to plan once you stop guessing and use a formula: one crate of minerals per 12–15 guests, plenty of water, and a distributor that takes back what you don't open. Do that and you'll neither run dry nor haul home a truckload. Decide early whether you're serving alcohol — it's the biggest cost lever — and sort out chilling before anything else. A cold drink in the hand keeps guests happy long after the jollof is gone. [Browse verified caterers and planners on ElitePlanners.ng](/browse-planners), or [use our Event Cost Calculator](/cost-calculator) to budget drinks alongside your full guest list. Related reading: [Wedding catering cost Nigeria 2026](/blog/wedding-catering-cost-nigeria-2026) · [Small chops price Nigeria 2026](/blog/small-chops-price-nigeria-2026) · [How to plan an owambe on a budget](/blog/how-to-plan-owambe-on-budget)