Bar Question

sarahjane222

We're offering a full open bar at our wedding but I really like the idea of the signature cocktail too. I was thinking of printing up a little sign in a gold frame that had fun drinks and their contents in it and placing it on the bar.  (like a Manhattan, Gin Rickey, etc). Or do you think this would just be a waste of time because people are just going to order what they want to order? 

atlastmrsg

This is what I did.  Bar could get people what they wanted, but we suggested two drinks--an Apricot Julep and a Moscow Mule.  The placard had the name of the drink and what was in it.  I saw lots of people carrying them around.  Just don't give them stupid names like the "Sarah Jane Loves John" or the "Gin-I-Do Rickey."  Those have been done ad nauseum.  

Maggie0829

I think signature drinks really only "work" when there is a limited bar.  It gives your guests a chance to have a mix drink if they want when otherwise then wouldn't get one since you are only serving beer and wine.  But with a full open bar a signature drink is almost repetitious because if your guest really wanted a Manhattan or Gin Rickey they could just order one, they don't really need a sign stating that it is a signature drink to know it is available because with a full bar it should just automatically be available.

southernbelle0915

If you're having a full, open bar, I don't really see the point because people will just order whatever they'd normally order.

I sort of view signature drinks as a way to have hard liquor at a beer/wine only or otherwise dry wedding. A way to keep costs down but still offer the hard stuff. 

ETA That said though, it wouldn't hurt anyone to do this and you may have a couple takers. Do it if you want to do it, but I'd keep it simple - to one or two.

nicole4793

Although I think that people will order what they normally like, I love the idea of a signature drink with a sign. So often, people don't incorporate their personalities into their weddings (or at least the past 3 weddings I've been to). I think it would be cute to have a special drink that you like with a sign to tell people what's in it! With a fun name, it can give off a little of your personality. My SIL got married in July; I forget what exactly there drink was, but I remember it was blue in color and malibu breeze mixed with a few other things... It was just really neat to have a summery drink that fit their tastes. Tons of people ended up ordering it, even though they had a full open bar. 

MandyMost

Maggie0829 said:

I think signature drinks really only "work" when there is a limited bar.  It gives your guests a chance to have a mix drink if they want when otherwise then wouldn't get one since you are only serving beer and wine.  But with a full open bar a signature drink is almost repetitious because if your guest really wanted a Manhattan or Gin Rickey they could just order one, they don't really need a sign stating that it is a signature drink to know it is available because with a full bar it should just automatically be available.

SITB:

I disagree, I always check the cocktail menu at a bar, and often will get something that looks good. There are certain go-to drinks, and definitely I like some liquors more than others, but I'm a big fan of trying new and different things--I rarely order the same thing twice at a restaurant, I also like to try new drinks, or something I wouldn't have thought of on my own. 

One thing to keep in mind, though, is if you have it listed, more people are definitely going to order it...so don't create a signature drink that will cost you more, or will take a long time for the bartenders to make!

peachy13

I don't regularly see signature drinks at wedding but the last one I went to that offered signature drinks (also had an open bar) passed them around during cocktail hour. It was kind of cute because it was a seasonal drink, and I definitely had one, but then finished it and went to the bar to order what I normally drink. I did see a lot of people taking them when the waiter was bringing them around on a tray.

klk111415

My catering hall offers a signature drink at no additional cost.  We are having a fall wedding so we are going to have an apple cider cocktail available.  I think it's nice to have the signature cocktail if it's something unusual that you don't think to order during open bar.  My sister-in-law did two signature cocktails for her wedding.  One was a mixed drink that she chose (a blue moon since they got married during the blue moon a couple years ago) and a strong drink of her husbands choice. People did order these drinks throughout the night and they were a hit.  I went to another wedding where they had 4 drink choices which was a little much- but I tried them all because they sounded good.  If you do a signature drink- make it something people wouldn't think of ordering. You can have the cocktail name and ingredients displayed at the bar which is a nice touch.  The frame sounds like a good idea but choose something unique and something the bar tenders can make (and run it by with your caterer).  Most of the weddings I've been to with signature drinks had the mix ready to go behind the bar so you didn't have to wait a long time for your drink.

jenijoyk

I like the idea of a sign, even if you have a full open bar! Sometimes I blank when I get up to the bar and end up just ordering the same thing over and over. Gin and tonic. Vodka tonic. Blah blah. But if there were I sign I would totally read it and be tempted and order whatever was on it if it sounded good.

graciegra

I think signature cocktails are a great idea, just be sure to make it something that is truly a cocktail. Many wedding bars, even if a full bar, that aren't as restaurants can really only make basics- gin and tonic, whiskey ginger, etc and maybe a manhattan or two (though I've even had places that can't make that.) So even though something like a greyhound (gin and grape juice) is something I'll order at a bar, I wouldn't think to order it at a wedding venue unless it was a speciality drink. 

photokitty

I like the idea of a signature drink, even with an open bar bc I usually try it since it typically is something different form my normal choice. I would only suggest doing this if you are paying per person, not per drink...if people don't like the signature drink they will toss it and get a new one. So it could make your bill higher if your are paying by the beverage, not the person

LittlePeachBlossom

I like the signature drink idea. I agree with simple cocktails and no more than two.

esstee33

The last wedding I went to had two signature drinks, neither of which were very creative ("Blushing Bride" and "Golden Groom"), but which were both delicious. Despite the fact that I typically just get a G&T or something standard, I made it a point to try the signature drinks. If it isn't cost-prohibitive to have them, sure, why not? That said, they're definitely unnecessary. 

jacques27

Maggie0829 said:

I think signature drinks really only "work" when there is a limited bar.  It gives your guests a chance to have a mix drink if they want when otherwise then wouldn't get one since you are only serving beer and wine.  But with a full open bar a signature drink is almost repetitious because if your guest really wanted a Manhattan or Gin Rickey they could just order one, they don't really need a sign stating that it is a signature drink to know it is available because with a full bar it should just automatically be available.

I agree with this.  Not that it can't be done when you have a full bar, but I think it really only works in two scenarios:
1. The cocktail is sort of thematically appropriate and/or contains an ingredient you might not see on the average bar and you're paying for the special ingredient (for example, something with blue curacao, midori, or creme de coco might not be on the average bar - or if you're having a fall or winter wedding maybe you're doing a something like a hot buttered rum, or a hot chocolate or cider bar with schnapps, etc.), or
2. You are well known for this drink and it's what you order at every social occasion and EVERYONE knows it.

I think #2 is less successful when you're having a full bar, but can still work.  Something like a gin rickey though...meh.  Making it your signature drink is not likely to make me feel like branching out from my usual bourbon on the rocks or old fashioned.  If it's something a little creative though, I'll usually try one in the name of being festive.

pineapplesmoothie

graciegra said:

I think signature cocktails are a great idea, just be sure to make it something that is truly a cocktail. Many wedding bars, even if a full bar, that aren't as restaurants can really only make basics- gin and tonic, whiskey ginger, etc and maybe a manhattan or two (though I've even had places that can't make that.) So even though something like a greyhound (gin and grape juice) is something I'll order at a bar, I wouldn't think to order it at a wedding venue unless it was a speciality drink. 

I think you mean grape-fruit juice! It would be funny to order a drink at a bar requiring grape juice, not a typical bar mixer in my experience, lol. 

BlueBirdMB

Our open bar package included a signature drink. It's not something I would have paid extra for. We had the drink that we always make for our friends and it's our favorite drink. We didn't come up with any cutsey name or anything, just put out a sign that said "the bride and groom recommend _". They passed them on trays as people entered the cocktail hour.

graciegra

centralcoastbride said:

graciegra said:

I think signature cocktails are a great idea, just be sure to make it something that is truly a cocktail. Many wedding bars, even if a full bar, that aren't as restaurants can really only make basics- gin and tonic, whiskey ginger, etc and maybe a manhattan or two (though I've even had places that can't make that.) So even though something like a greyhound (gin and grape juice) is something I'll order at a bar, I wouldn't think to order it at a wedding venue unless it was a speciality drink. 

I think you mean grape-fruit juice! It would be funny to order a drink at a bar requiring grape juice, not a typical bar mixer in my experience, lol. 

Oh, yes! grapefruit juice! Definitely haven't seen a drink using grape juice before but fresh squeezed grapefruit juice- delicious!