Post # 1
Member
582 posts
Busy bee
Hey all!
So, our venue is cash bar or open bar by consumption ONLY. We are definitely having a champagne toast with dinner, but need to figure out the rest. Reception is 5 hours total and we’re anticipating about 110 guests.
If you had this guest count and wanted some form of open bar for 4 hours (our wedding is on a Sunday/holiday weekend and cops are out in full force in the area…so stopping the open bar one hour before is our decision)…what would you do?
More importantly, with a budget of around 3K…house brand wines are $8/glass, beer $5/bottle and liquor $8-10/drink.
taxes and gratuities are INCLUDED in those prices 🙂
Your input and experiences are very much appreciated!!!
Post # 3
Member
3967 posts
Honey bee
Could you do just wine and beer? I think that’s a great compromise (what we’re doing 🙂 ) An “open bar” just wine and beer the whole time, and anything else is cash?
Post # 4
Hostess
7547 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I would do just wine and beer for all 4 hours. Having everything for two hours then just wine and beer for two hours would be kind of confusing for guests. Also I wouldn’t offer anything for cash as I don’t ever bring cash to a wedding.
Post # 5
Member
582 posts
Busy bee
I’m leaning more towards the beer/wine option…it’s just that Fiance (and a lot of his family) enjoy the hard alcohol/mixed drinks. Would full open bar for cocktail hour and then beer/wine once the dinner/dancing is underway work for 3K?
There is an ATM on location near the restrooms for the guests 😉
Post # 6
Member
3967 posts
Honey bee
@babycakes24: I’m not sure about budget. There are some websites that help you calculate total drinks consumed… But honestly, if people want hard liquor in my opinion (coming from a not big drinker), if you want something above and beyond what’s in the budget, you’re coming to 1) my party and 2) if you’re worried about drunkenness then no hard liquor readily available just seems like a natural decision. Then again, I don’t think you need alcohol to have a great time.
Post # 7
Member
3967 posts
Honey bee
Let’s say… 110 people (all adults) ALL drink 1 drink every hour. 4 hours times 110 drinks (let’s do beer here) *5 dollars (assuming this includes taxes and grat) = $2200. With ALL wine, 4 *110 *8 = 3500. So assuming people do somewhere in the middle, it makes sense that it might work for $3000 without any hard liquor at all.
Post # 8
Member
582 posts
Busy bee
@love108, that makes sense. And if we (are able/can afford) to add $500 worth of a “signature cocktail,” that should be more than enough, no?
Fiance is okay with 2 hours of full open bar in addition to our champagne toast….if this is what we end up with in the end, I guess that is alright. Although, in my opinion, the hard alcohol drinkers end up driving up the cost (which stinks for people who might just want 2-3 glasses of wine and shouldn’t have to open their wallets).
Post # 9
Member
3967 posts
Honey bee
@babycakes24: Yeah you can’t please everyone. I guess that’s why I’m more conservative with “if you want hard liquor you can pay for it.” The average person who wants to have a little alcohol will have maybe 2-3 wines or beers, enjoy themselves, and not let things get out of hand. To me (and this might be a controversial opinion), I understand the importance of alcohol, especially in some cultural/family expectations of “what a wedding is,” but guests should not be taking advantage of an open bar to fuel their blood alcohol percentage 🙂 Beer and wine is a nice offering, and if anyone expects more than what you feel you can provide— PONY UP THE CASH 🙂
Post # 10
Hostess
8572 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I would do drink tickets, honestly. Maybe give each guests 3 tickets, and if they drink more than that, then its cash.
Post # 11
Member
582 posts
Busy bee
It’s funny because I’ve read a lot of strong opinions on WB about the open bar…and the argument that “if you’re having a dinner party, then you wouldn’t charge your guests for alcohol.”
Well, if we’re having people over, we usually have beer and wine on hand and maybe a little of the hard stuff. But if our guests want to do shots of Patron…it’s all on them to buy it/bring it! lol
Post # 12
Member
3967 posts
Honey bee
@babycakes24: You’re not charging for alcohol. You are hosting wine and beer. If people want something different, they can purchase it themselves. Hopefully they are not attending your wedding just for the free booze. I guess in terms of the bar, that’s why I’m like, if you really have a problem with my bar choices, you’re not here for the right reason ahaha
Post # 13
Member
582 posts
Busy bee
haha…or, just bring a flask, lol!