For a 4-hour reception with mixed drinks, I budget 1.5 lb of ice per guest plus a 20% BOH buffer, and our bar captain and stewarding team hit service marks without scramble… Anyone running leaner (or heavier) numbers that still hold up under a July tent?
I run 1.25 lb/guest for 4 hours in July if we “pre-chill everything” to 34–38°F and use block ice for chilling with cubes only at the well. If you’re doing crushed/nugget ice or lots of glass rinses, your 1.5 + 20% is the safer play. July tents eat ice like Pac‑Man — are you counting keg jackets and back-bar chill bins in that buffer?
1.5 lb per guest sounds solid, especially for a 4-hour reception — i’d be wary of higher temps, though — how’s everyone handling the heat with their ice strategies? 
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