When setting up a bar for a wedding reception what are some questions that I should ask the reception director

Question

Also what kinds of alcohol should I buy if I stock the bar myself & how much?

The place we are looking at is a reception hall in a rural setting in PA. It seats only 200.

Answer 1

First, you need to make sure that you will be allowed to stock the bar yourself. Some reception venues don't allow outside alcohol or food to be brought in. If you are allowed to stock your own bar, you can actually save a lot of money by doing that, because you can get bulk discounts at some places or shop at discount party stores. Next, if you are allowed to stock the bar yourself, ask if there is a corkage fee. If there is, you will have to pay a certain amount to use your own alcohol in their venue. (These fees are often negotiable, but you have to be willing to be firm). Make sure you find out where the bar can be set up, if it is necessary to obtain a temporary liquor license,etc. If they are providing the alcohol, find out what kind of selection they offer. You won't have to worry about how much to purchase as long as you give them a final head count in time. If you purchase your own alcohol, I would reccommend buying basics. Get several bottles of a decent middle shelf vodka, middle shelf rum, middle shelf whiskey, and that should really do it for liquor unless you want to spend a whole lot of money. When purchasing beer, buy a few popular domestics like bud light, budweiser, miller light and mich ultra, and then a few imports like heineken and killians or newcastle. Make sure you have something there that you like. Oh, and if you want wine as well, limit yourself to a selection between a decent red, a decent white, and a blush or white zin. The amount you buy will really depend on the number of guests you expect to have and how much those people like to party. You know your friends, if they're a bunch of party animals, buy a little extra. If most of them are conservatives who only sip the occasional glass of wine or cocktail, you can go a little easier, but warning, open bars are something people often abuse when available, so you might want to think about limiting the time the bar will be open so people can still drive home safely and to prevent any potential drunken hazards. Good luck and congrats!

Answer 2

It depends. If you are having it at a hotel or a rented function space they usually wont let you stock the bar yourself and require a minimim spending amount. Some places charge a fee per hour for a certain garanteed # guests which is usually the better route to go. Can you give more information about the reception site?

Answer 3

Do they allow Kegs, (which are so much more econcomical) If not can the guest take their bottle/can with them or does it have to be poured into a cup? Do they provide glasses or do you have to buy plastic cups. Do they have a blender for frozen drinks. Were also stocking our own bar for our wedding in 2 months, since our family is majority hispanic were buying Corona, Tecate, and Modelo beer. As far as drinks go, to keep the cost down were only going to serve sangria, mojitos, margaritas, and pina coladas, So I'd suggest picking 3 or 4 drinks to serve this way you don't have to buy several misc. liquiors that you may not even use. I hope this helps.

Answer 4

Ask about insurance fees and uncorking fees. Many places SAY they'll allow you to bring in outside alcohol, but then make it prohibitive to do so, by charging all sorts of fees and things. This is a real big place they will hide all sorts of fees, so look carefully and read the fine print closely. Good luck!

Answer 5

Some reception halls do not allow you to bring in your own alcohol so that would be the first question to ask...how much per drink alcoholic, non alcoholic..what do they offer( full service, types of alcohol and soda, water ? coffe? punch? etc) do they provide champagne... any of these would be good questions

Answer 6

Ask him to check with his family and you check with you family to see what they drink and try to get what most drink. Also have in mind someone who is not drinking but old enough to buy that you can use if need be to go get something that way you are more comfortable about what you have bought.

Answer 7

scotch. I prefer Dewars. And heineken beer. And ONLY heineken. Preferrably on tap, served out in pint glasses. TONS OF IT.

Answer 8

whilst a internet site tells you that "they preserve each and every little thing", get the very specifics what their each and every little thing ability (ought to be way diverse out of your each and every little thing.) the place my daughter became into married (she and her fiance picked the area), we've been instructed each and every little thing became into lined, dealt with. As we've been given into the marriage making plans, we found out their each and every little thing became into paper plates, napkins, plastic utensils, plastic table coverings (you have have been given the image). My daughters imaginative and prescient (and mine), became into china, crystal, silverware, gown tableclothes............. nicely we had to bypass out and do all of that on our very own. all the way down to offering the salad bowls and guy or woman packing containers for salad dressings for each table. have self assurance me, it became into far greater then we bargained for whilst they first desperate in this internet site. We even went out and rented a deluxe bathing room as all that they had have been port-a-potties. So, thats my advice, whilst they get each and every little thing, have them certainly inform you or provide you a listing. See if their each and every little thing is appropriate to you, or perhaps achievable to get what you pick. seen something else -- determine you ask them who gadgets up, who decorates. are you able to easily leave your centerpieces, etc. there and have each and every little thing "dealt with". We found out we had to do all that -- set up each and every little thing commencing with the tables, linens, place settings, centerpieces............. wow, it became right into a hugh massive deal, took a ton of time. not likely what I had deliberate doing not purely the day until now the marriage, however the morning of the marriage additionally.