Wedding Times

You want a classy affair that allows your guests to be comfortable and up for a party. At the same time you also don’t want to be in debt for the next five years just because of the drinks at your wedding. There’s a fine line and finding a balance can be difficult. Here are some smart ways to let your guests enjoy themselves without spending everything you have.

There are generally three basic bar structures at a wedding: a cash bar, a limited bar, and an open bar. A cash bar is just like having your guests order a drink at a restaurant. They will pay for whatever they order. This is the cheapest option, but remember your guests have spent the entire day with you celebrating your wonderful occasion. They have also probably brought a gift. Covering their drinks is a nice way to say thank you and make sure everyone has a good time.

An open bar lets your guest order their drink without ever opening their wallet. You are charged for whatever they take. A limited bar works on a similar concept. You pay for the drinks but the choices are limited as only a few different types of liquor available.

Beyond these structures, there are plenty of ways to tailor them to your wedding and your budget. Speak with your venue or your caterer and ask about how the bar could be set up. The best way to provide the balance between guest satisfaction and a budget in check is to have a limited bar.

One limited bar option is beer and wine only; two broad choices that are almost universally loved. In addition you could serve a signature cocktail. This not only saves money, as you won’t need a fully stocked bar, but will give your reception an extra unique flair.

Another option is to have an open bar for a limited period of time. You’ll definitely want it open during cocktail hour and maybe for two hours while the toasts are being made but shut it down after that and you won’t need to increase your drink budget at all. Keep the cocktail “hour” to forty-five minutes and then invite your guests to sit down to begin the reception. Cocktails often extend over an hour and a half or longer as people linger and mingle. Brief cocktails will cut your bar bill and let you get the party started quicker.

There are a number of ways to pay for whichever bar structure you choose. Speak to your caterer or venue about these. Commonly you will pay on consumption, meaning you will be charged for every drink your guests order. You will not be paying for drinks that won’t be ordered, but could sting your wallet if your guests are heavy drinkers. Paying per head, a predetermined fee based on how many people will be attending the reception, isn’t a good idea if you don’t expect them to drink much. It’s more suitable if you have a lot of guests that like to drink when they get together.

When you pay per hour, it’s actually per guest, per hour. The price per hour will be the highest for the first hour or so and then will continue to decrease as the night goes on. The main benefit of doing things this way is that you can offer your guests an open bar but you will know what it’s going to cost you instead of just adding up the total at the end of the night.