We don't have a large budget and we're having our reception at a restaurant that has a full bar. They won't allow us to close off the bar so we were thinking about paying $500.00 for the drinks and once that money is used up people will have to pay for their own drinks. What's your thoughts?
P.S. My husband to be, me, his parents and my parents don't even drink!
2007-10-24 20:15:27 · 20 answers · asked by Ash 5 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
There will be about 200 people attending
2007-10-24 20:49:23 · update #1
For our wedding, we also had the reception at a club with a full bar. What we did was purchase beer and wine (I can't remember the budget, but it was actually around $500) -- we got maybe a case of white and a case of red and a couple kegs...anyway, we purchased what our budget could endure, then had a sign listing the beers on tap and saying 'these beers and these wines are on the house, other beverages for a fee' (and we had plenty of nonalcoholic bevs available at the food area) We ended up actually having most of the white wine, a little red and even some beer left over and the bar refunded that amount (we just didn't get refunded for opened bottles of wine, of course) and we gave the bartender a fat tip. We avoided the issue of having to cut people off at a certain hour or when we ran out of money. My sister/maid of honor/hero checked in at one point to see if we were close to running out, thinking she'd pay more if we needed to have more alcohol available, but we didn't...i'm not sure a good way to handle if you do run out of money, but i suppose you could just have someone check in to see how you are doing and if you start to run low let people know it will be turning to a cash bar? i'm not sure there, but i do know that it worked out for us to just get the less expensive alcohol (beer and wine) and let people purchase liquor. have a beautiful and blessed day and marriage!
2007-10-24 20:38:34 · answer #1 · answered by abiona 3 · 8⤊ 2⤋
Cash bar versus open bar is largely a regional thing.
I believe that if you invite someone to a party, you don't expect them to pay for anything. So don't have a cash bar, but find another way to keep within that budget.
Wine on the table is ok, but keeping an atmosphere of moderation in drinking is the best way. If there are a lot of people who will see this wedding as a way to get falling down drunk on your dime, this will be difficult.
2007-10-25 02:23:30 · answer #2 · answered by danashelchan 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your idea sounds good, BUT I would say the first hour or two is on you, anytime after that they need to pay.
I've never been to an open bar wedding reception, and I never had a problem with it.
Yeah you'll get a lot of... "you are hosting it, why invite someone and ask them to pay for drinks?" I compare it to BYOB parties. You are hosting a party with food and nonalcoholic drinks and asking those to "bring your own beer" or, in a reception case, pay per drink.
2007-10-25 11:48:27 · answer #3 · answered by Terri 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Everybody has it's own opinion. But for me, I would rather NOT make it as an open bar if your cash money is only $500.oo and the rest will be paid by the guests. This occasion is to let everyone be happy & to enjoy the celebration. But if they are going to pay if it reached $500.oo, I guess some (from 200 guests) will eventually back out. Or if they will participate as a matter of respect to both of you, I doubt they have negative feelings for that. Regardless that your husband (to be), you, his parents & your parents won't drink, per my assumption, it's not much enjoyable as it could be. Better be honest to your guests that this kind of celebration has no large budget but still you want them to attend. I think you can better explain to them about the budget, in that way, they might offer you some help (like cash for the drinks). If you still have time to think for the possible way, revise it over & over again, or have some thoughts from your supposed to be invited guests/close friends. I know they will give you some advise & help. Don't be ashamed. They will be there for you to help in this kind of trouble.
2007-10-25 00:22:04 · answer #4 · answered by ~o0o~ 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
We had the same thing at our reception. You can do the open bar until it runs out. That is a pretty common thing at the weddings I have been to, or you can purchase a certain amount of alcohol and when that runs out, then they pay for their own. We did both. We bought two kegs of beer from our venue and then put down money to cover rail drinks and such. It worked really well for us, but we all drink. Good luck with this!
2007-10-25 02:03:33 · answer #5 · answered by vaya 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
properly pondering how youthful you're, i think of it relatively is a lovable theory. yet in spite of ways youthful you're, in all honesty, i'm undecided how properly a girl might react to getting a chocolate bar for Christmas from her boyfriend. that is an lovable theory, yet once you acquire a small present alongside with it, that could make it suited. How a pair of photograph of you and her in a lovable physique? Or a small teddy submit to? in basic terms as long as you have some thing else to furnish her alongside with the chocolate bar.
2016-10-13 23:52:09 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We had the same problem. We paid for all the wine with the meal and champagne for the toasts. After that we decided to pay for the first drink for everyone. The bar staff were brilliant and remembered most of the peoples faces. As people arrived for the evening reception we took them to the bar and had the drinks added to our tab. The staff were also introduced to our children so there drinks were put onto our tab too.(second marriage).
2007-10-24 20:46:13 · answer #7 · answered by Dory 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
A $500 budget will go very quickly with that many guests. So even though you think that is a lot of money for drinks, it really isn't.
The average "wedding guest" consumes about $35 worth of liquor during a wedding reception, and that's because SOMEONE ELSE (you, the Bride and Groom) is paying the bill. Wedding guests love FREE LIQUOR . . and they will drink and drink and drink.
And even though I think that asking your guests to pay for their own drinks is improper and wrong, under these circumstances you only have one choice . . and that is to have "a cash bar" during the entire reception. Forget about paying for the first $500 worth of drinks because that's just unfair to the people who didn't get to the bar first (and that will cause resentment).
You will need to pass the word that you are not having "an open bar." If the guests wish to purchase their own drinks, they are welcome to do so.
Answered by: A Certified wedding specialist / A Professional bridal consultant / A Wedding ceremony officiant
2007-10-24 23:49:27 · answer #8 · answered by Avis B 6 · 0⤊ 5⤋
Well, to be honest I agree with your intentions, but the execution is weird. What are you going to tell your guests, that once we hit $500.00 the bar is closed? If $500 is your drink budget then speak to the manager and see if you can pay them $500 to cover 2 hours worth of drinks and then let your guests know that from 6-8 is open bar and after that it is cash. This is not unheard of nor is it unacceptable.
2007-10-24 20:25:47 · answer #9 · answered by ShellyC 3 · 5⤊ 3⤋
Hi Ashley,
I think it's perfectly acceptable for you to to subsidise your guests for a certain amount of alcoholic drinks at your wedding, and then cut it off when the limit of $500 has been reached. From my experience with weddings, some guests seem to see it as a "piss-up" occasion (pardon the expression).
You don't mention the number of guests nor the average price of a mixed drink of say bourbon and coke.
If I attend a wedding, I'd prefer to have some red and white on the table rather than an open bar. You can explain to guests in the wedding invitation that wine, beer and juice (for example) is provided but the cocktail selection is available for purchase as well.
People don't mind spending on a night out.
Enjoy it and don't stress!
2007-10-24 20:47:30 · answer #10 · answered by Miss Sally Anne 7 · 4⤊ 3⤋