Post # 1
Member
1161 posts
Bumble bee
First, FI’s parents emailed us yesterday…since the rehearsal dinner venue doesn’t allow alcohol, they have offered to pick up the reception bar tab!!! That was obviously a HUGE part of the budget for us, and so I am SO SO excited and touched by their generosity. YAY future-in-laws!
I’m also terribly excited because after trying about 30 wines, we’ve finally picked out the wines we will be offering. This feels like SUCH an accomplishment.
We’ll offer beer, too, but I have a question about liquor
I keep going back and forth between just having an open bar with your typical mixers and stuff, or having a signature cocktail or two. If we got the signature cocktail route, we’ll offer “Chimayo Cocktails” which are kind of the signature drink in northern New Mexico, so it would be nice for us to incorporate a bit of our home into the wedding. It’s a tequila, apple cider, cassis combo. Then we could do either a vodka or bourbon drink, in additon to the four very thoughtfully chosen wines and a couple of beers.
Our reception will have more of a dinner party. Our guests will all be over 35 (except for the children), and we don’t have to worry about people getting sloshed. I just wonder if people would prefer just ordering their own favorite cocktails….any thoughts? This has been a surprisingly hard decision for me….
Post # 3
Member
4137 posts
Honey bee
if you’re sticking to a budget, i would go with signature cocktails. if you can afford it, i would prefer a full bar. really though, either choice is fine so it’s just a matter of personal preference.
Post # 4
Member
14496 posts
Honey Beekeeper
I always choose a full bar, especially when the drinkers are older. (Speaking as a bartender on and off for twenty years) People, as they get older, become pickier in what they drink. I know if they don’t have what I like, then it’s coffee for me, I am not a substituter. Men especially, for the most part, are not big fans of what I call “fo fo drinks” which signature cocktails tend to be.
Post # 5
Member
1161 posts
Bumble bee
Yeah, that’s kind of what I was thinking. I do think most people will drink wine, but I suppose a full bar makes sense. Thanks.
Post # 6
Member
7975 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I voted full bar, ONLY because your signature drink has tequila in it — and I am SUPER allergic to tequila. Obviously, if you went that route, I would just drink wine, but some nights you’re just in the mood for a mixed drink, you know? And I would be sad if the only option were one I can’t have.
Post # 7
Member
1161 posts
Bumble bee
I’m bumping this because I’m trying to talk Fiance into just going with the full bar, and other opinions might help (he’s actually gotten to the point that whenever a wedding related question comes up he asks ‘what do the weddingbees think’).
Post # 8
Member
2695 posts
Sugar bee
Personally, I don’t drink much so I don’t really like alcohol and from the story I’ve heard about my BF’s family (I still haven’t met them all!) I don’t feel very comfortable having an open bar. I’m going to do signature cocktails, and maybe beer, wine, and a champange toast. Doing it this way will save money!
Post # 9
Member
7174 posts
Busy Beekeeper
We had an older crowd at our wedding – had a full bar and wine/beer. I understand your feat of picking wine – we went through SO MANY to find one we enjoyed and at our price point. That said – most people had mixed drinks. Even at dinner – we didn’t go through as much wine as I thought we would.
And, to answer your question – as a guest, I’d prefer to pick my own drink. I like the idea of having a signature cocktail – but I’d also have a full bar available.
Post # 10
Member
1518 posts
Bumble bee
We went the signature drink route. We had beer, wine and 4 signature drinks. We felt it gave us more control over cost and people getting too drunk. One thing that our bartenders did (that you can ask your venue about) is they offered guests that inquired about something other than a signature drink that they can make anything including rum, vodka and gin (the 3 liquors used in our signature drinks). the bottles were already open so it wasn’t an extra charge.
Post # 11
Member
1757 posts
Buzzing bee
We were permitted to provide our own alcohol. We had three types of beer, a red and white wine, and a full liquor bar at our wedding. Of the beer, the Blue Moon and Oktoberfest disappeared, and no one drank the Miller Lite, which is all still sitting in our basement. The red wine was barely touched, and the white wine was marginally more popular. But the liquor … good lord, the liquor. Our guests sucked that stuff down like it was going out of style, and there was no rhyme or reason to what they drank. I agree with some of the previous posters – people get set in their ways, and if you can afford to just have a full bar, I’d go with that option.
Post # 12
Member
4583 posts
Honey bee
I like the idea of signature drinks, in theory. In practice, I don’t think it always works out so well. I’m not super adventurous when it comes to cocktails, I like what I like. So I’d prefer to choose exactly what I want. Just my opinion. 🙂
Post # 13
Member
2239 posts
Buzzing bee
You could have the open bar but maybe have a little sign by the bar that says “try one of *drink*” and a little cute description or poem about it. Seems like best of both worlds that way
