Hosted Well Brand Bar

dncrditzx22

My FI and I are hosting a well brand bar, and our venue suggested that we make signage letting our guests know.  Has anyone done or seen this in the past?  I tried to find some ideas online and all I could find were signs that said "Open Bar", which I thought kind of implied that it was all kinds of alcohol when we are only doing well brand drinks.

mysticl

In my world "Open Bar" means I don't have to pay for it.  It has nothing to do with brands/types of alcohol being served.  I really don't see the need for a sign. Just make sure that the only alcohol at the bar is what you are hosting and if people ask for a specific brand the bartender will just tell them they don't have it available.  

theartistformerlyknownas

"Open bar" simply means that everything that is available is free. It shouldn't matter to your guests what brand you're hosting. It's rude of people to be picky about brand when they're someone's guest. If they simply don't drink anything but Captain and ask for it, they'll have to go without.

Any brands of alcohol which you are NOT hosting should be removed from the bar - hopefully the venue coordinator wasn't suggesting you make a sign saying Mohawk is hosted but Stoli is $6? That would be very rude.

JennyColada

I've never assumed that "open bar" means that every liquor ever is available. It simply means that I don't pay. Whether my choice is a single red wine for 50 spirits, if I don't pay then it's an open bar and I wouldn't be confused.

LondonLisa

I assume when I go to the bar at the wedding that what is displayed is hosted. Open bar just means that spirits as well as beer and wine are hosted, not the level.  As PP said, just have the bar remove what is not hosted. No sign needed. If someone asks for a hendricks and gin and you have beefeater, just have the bartender explain that.

tammym1001

Open bar definitely means that your guests don't have to pay. It doesn't suggest the level of alcohol. The only thing I would suggest is that if someone orders a specific drink; i.e. crown and ginger ale, that the bartender lets them know they don't have that and what kind of whiskey is available. Some people are picky about their hard liquor. 

chibiyui

What everyone else said. Also, if I'm ordering liqour at a wedding, I just say "rum and coke" not "Captain and Coke" or "Jack and coke" (I'm aware Jack is not rum). Only the picky will have an issue with this, and if they are picky, they are probably used to having a back up drink order. 

mysticl

chibiyui said:

What everyone else said. Also, if I'm ordering liqour at a wedding, I just say "rum and coke" not "Captain and Coke" or "Jack and coke" (I'm aware Jack is not rum). Only the picky will have an issue with this, and if they are picky, they are probably used to having a back up drink order. 

If you don't have the stuff to make my usual (I don't care about brand, just type) then I move on to white wine.  No big deal.  

tammym1001

mysticl said:

chibiyui said:

What everyone else said. Also, if I'm ordering liqour at a wedding, I just say "rum and coke" not "Captain and Coke" or "Jack and coke" (I'm aware Jack is not rum). Only the picky will have an issue with this, and if they are picky, they are probably used to having a back up drink order. 

If you don't have the stuff to make my usual (I don't care about brand, just type) then I move on to white wine.  No big deal.  

Me too!

M9Chambers

Like everyone else said, when I see "open bar" I just assume whatever is displayed is what is available and order accordingly. 

Are you having beer and wine in addition to liquor? In that case you may want a sign saying what is available (Budweiser, Bud Light, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel) just to make it easier on your guests.

Lizzieyounce

We had our reception in an upscale bar, and hosted wine, beer and well brands. The bar wouldn't take the rest away, so for our pickier drinkers we opened a tab so that no one would be out of pocket. That could be an option for you if not able to have well brands only at the bar.

Britni&Bobby

I am a somewhat picky drinker (I do order Crown and sour and specifically ask for "sour, not squirt"). But I do have back up drink orders if those things aren't available since even normal bars/clubs you go out to don't have everything ever made. While I "prefer" certain liquors, if it's not available, I'm not gonna throw a temper tantrum.

I would definitely make sure that the venue has removed (at least from sight) the alcohol you won't be hosting. Not sure what to do if the venue won't remove these from sight...

MandyMost

How about a sign that says "Hosted Bar" and then lists the types available....

Hosted Bar

Smirnoff Vodka

Bacardi Rum

Jack Daniels Whiskey

Bud Light

Coors Light

Beringer Sauvignon Blanc

Beringer Carbernet Sauvignon