Okay, I'm getting married at the end of June, and my fiancee and I want to follow this itinerary for the reception. We have to bring in our own alcohol for the reception, and we cannot charge for it, since the reception hall only has a consumption license, not a sales license for liquor.
5-6pm Open bar, whiskey, vodka, gin, brandy, scotch, rum and mix available, along with keg beer and various wines.
6-7 Dinner hour - no alcohol available except for champagne toast.
7-9 Open bar, same as 5-6pm.
9-? No liquor, but beer and wine will be available.
We can't afford to feed everyone hard liquor all night long, not to mention worrying about drunks gettiing behind the wheel. We're getting our kegs for practically nothing.
My question is - does this sound reasonable, and also, how should we communicate it to the guests. They can bring in their own liquor if they need to drink hard alcohol after 9pm.
Thanks for any help/advice you can provide.
2007-03-09 05:38:08 · 30 answers · asked by MJ MCK 4 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
This is not being held at a bar. It's being held at a hotel with a reception hall, but the hotel does not have a restaurant or a bar in it. We will be catering food in.
2007-03-09 05:48:02 · update #1
In stead of limiting the liquor after a certin hour, why don't you just limit the drinks to 3 or 4 mixed drinks. That's what were doing. We picked margaritas, pina coladas, mojitos, and sangria, along with beer. We figured guys for the most part tend to drink beer. The liquor drinkers tend to be women, so we decided on the above drinks. We tried to pick a drink that would please most. This way we'll be really limiting what we have to buy. i hope this helps.
2007-03-09 09:29:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am currently planning my wedding as well and this has also been a concern to me, but after talking to many friends and realatives they have brought up some very good suggestions and points.
If cost is a concern, you can have a donations box up at the bar, there is nothing against people offering donations to thank you for the drinks.
You don't have to have any hard liquor, beer, coolers, wine and chapange should cut it if you decide you can't afford the hard liquor.
Do not shut the bar for dinner, people lose track of time at celebrations, you don't want to ruin the mood this way. If the reason for doing this is because you are concerned about the amount of alchol you have, don't worry, people will be busy eating anyways. No big deal if you run out at the end, just do what you can afford.
Althought I am not charging for my alchol (this one is my choice) I will have a donations box and someone sercing the alcohol from the bar so we can regulate it a little better, nothing worse than someone getting so sloshed they pass out at the table or on the dance floor, lol.
Can you ask either of your parents to pitch in a couple hundred to help out with the liqour?
Hope you have a fabulous wedding :)
2007-03-09 16:43:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That could work, but I think you are making it harder for yourself than it needs to be. Why don't you do what we do at formals (we have a similar situation) and buy a bottle(s) of the alcohol and when it is out it is out. When the bar is out of rum, you can have vodka, scotch, or whatever. We also limited ours to just a few types of liquor: Jack Daniels, vodka, and rum. What I found is that most people like a drink for the pre-party, beer and wine with dinner, and then a drink or two afterwards, so if you keep it simple you will be fine.
Good Luck!
2007-03-09 14:29:08 · answer #3 · answered by emp04 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as there is still beer and wine after nine I dont see a problem with that. They will have something to drink. Write on a seperate paper what is going on and when open bar will be as well mention there will be no hard liquor after nine only beer and wine and that if they would want they can bring their own alcohol. Have this note slipped in with the invitations. So that way they get a heads up. Your being generous with having a open bar for those hours to being with, they should be greatful for that.
Congrats
2007-03-09 14:13:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Usually the bars close about 1/2 hour to an hour before a wedding ends and just serve soda, thats not unusual at all. I would suggest you dont tell people they can bring their own for after 9, thats not the best of ideas with driving and everything. Just tell the Bartenders that at 9 it changes to soda, they will handle anyone who asks for alcohol, its a wedding so you wont get any craziness from people who are being cut off.
The only other change I would make is during the dinner hour to maybe have a bottle of wine on each table, I think that would be nice, but ONLY if you can afford it.
2007-03-09 13:52:34 · answer #5 · answered by kateqd30 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had an open bar and you'd be SHOCKED at how much people drink when it's free! Ours was at a country club and it was all night(6pm cocktail hour while they waited for us and then it went until 12am)...we almost passed out when we got the bill! I suggest having liquor for the 5-6 and call it "cocktail hour" and then just have beer and wine from 7on. You are going to save a huge amount by cutting out the liquor and your guests will still be happy with a beer/wine selection. If you do go ahead with your plan, then get with the band/DJ and have them announce the different times as they happen. I hope this helps! Good luck! You're nice hosts for having an open bar....watch out though!
2007-03-09 15:46:24 · answer #6 · answered by emrobs 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds very reasonable. I don't think you have to worry about advising anyone of time frames. I also agree that having a bottle of wine on the table is nice during dinner, and you could even skip the champagne toast and just let people toast with whatever they are drinking to save some money. If you buy the liquor and wine at a wholesale place (costco, sams, etc) you can usually save quite a bit of money, and even return whatever is unopened after the reception. good luck!
2007-03-09 16:41:58 · answer #7 · answered by leslie s 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't bother putting a time on it. Simply buy the amount of alcohol you can afford & let people drink it till it runs out. My friend had to do the same at her wedding. They bought 2 kegs of beer, and 2 bottles (cheap) of each kind of liquor, and they had about 60 guests. They had some left over too.
PS- If the venue does not provide a bartender, ask some of the waiters/bartenders at your favorite hangout. They would probably be more than happy to make some extra cash.
2007-03-09 16:22:53 · answer #8 · answered by dani77356 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're offering plenty to drink. Guests should not feel any need to have anything more than what you're offering here. A good host never asks their guests to provide the party so there is no need to communicate food or drink options to guests. (cash bars are an etiquette nightmare - host the party you can afford) Just let them come and enjoy what is offered.
However, you may want to actually stop serving all alcoholic beverages after 9 to allow guests time for sobering before they drive. I have seen many reception hosts set up a coffee bar at the end of the night offering all sorts of coffees such as flavored, espresso and cappuccino. It's a rather nice way to end up the party.
2007-03-09 14:24:11 · answer #9 · answered by weddingqueen 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That sounds perfect. You should have a sign posted at the bar that lets guests know when the bar is open and when it isn't. That way, when they go to the bar, the info is right there and they won't get confused. I don't know if bringing their own alcohol would be such a good idea though, it sounds like you're providing more than enough and outside alcohol could lead to some problems with guests getting too drunk and trying to drive. Good luck and congrats!
2007-03-09 15:10:17 · answer #10 · answered by tehuskey513 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋