Bar Package Question

inconceivable14

I have a question regarding etiquette around the bar. We are going to be hosting beer/wine/soda for our guests, and I'm currently under the impression that anything we are not hosting should not be available for purchase. Is that the right assumption to follow etiquette?

Our venue is fine with only having what we are hosting available for guests. I guess my question is - is it rude to not have hard liquor for our guests to buy?

Thank you in advance! 

mikenberger

inconceivable14 said:

I have a question regarding etiquette around the bar. We are going to be hosting beer/wine/soda for our guests, and I'm currently under the impression that anything we are not hosting should not be available for purchase. Is that the right assumption to follow etiquette?

Our venue is fine with only having what we are hosting available for guests. I guess my question is - is it rude to not have hard liquor for our guests to buy?

Thank you in advance! 

You are correct with if anything is out for the guests and they can see it, it should be free. There are some users that have come on here and said that their venue will not remove the liquor if they aren't providing it. So they put a sign up and said "Enjoy X, Y and Z! Compliments of the bride and groom!" Which gets the point across that the liquor is not free. Nothing is more embarassing than ordering drinks and then they say "$9 for your drinks" and you have no cash. But if you have the option, just remove the liquor from the bar if you're not hosting it.

poodledoodleooo

Anything that you are not hosting should simply not be available.

lyndausvi

inconceivable14 said:

I have a question regarding etiquette around the bar. We are going to be hosting beer/wine/soda for our guests, and I'm currently under the impression that anything we are not hosting should not be available for purchase. Is that the right assumption to follow etiquette?

Our venue is fine with only having what we are hosting available for guests. I guess my question is - is it rude to not have hard liquor for our guests to buy?

Thank you in advance! 

Correct assumption as far as etiquette goes.    Unfortunately the venue might have a different policy.    If your venue is a restaurant or country club they maybe unable to removed non-hosted items from the bar.

If it's private room or a hall of some-sort, then they should not be available.     That doesn't stop people from going to another bar on the premises (if there is one)

inconceivable14

I am glad I assumed correctly - thank you both for confirming that. We will definitely not have it available and will just have what we are hosting. 

MadHops21

This was a pleasant thread, I like this thread. 

inconceivable14

I tried! The theme for our wedding, besides, ya know, marriage.... is that the only time a guest should reach for their wallet is if they are being carded. 

thespeshulestsnowflake

inconceivable14 said:

I tried! The theme for our wedding, besides, ya know, marriage.... is that the only time a guest should reach for their wallet is if they are being carded. 

QFT.

aurianna

mikenberger said:

You are correct with if anything is out for the guests and they can see it, it should be free. There are some users that have come on here and said that their venue will not remove the liquor if they aren't providing it. So they put a sign up and said "Enjoy X, Y and Z! Compliments of the bride and groom!" Which gets the point across that the liquor is not free. Nothing is more embarassing than ordering drinks and then they say "$9 for your drinks" and you have no cash. But if you have the option, just remove the liquor from the bar if you're not hosting it.

If having other alcohol for sale seriously can't be avoided, that little sign is so important.

I was at a wedding once, and from the beginning, I saw people going up to the bar, giving their credit cards, opening tabs, etc. I honestly had no idea if this was going to be a tacky full cash bar or not.

So I walked up there and this exchange ensued:

Me: Is anything being hosted?
Bartender: Is anything what?
Me: Are any drinks being provided by the bride and groom?
Bartender: Are you asking what's free?
Me: Yes.
Bartender: House red, house white, pop, Bud Light
Me: May I have the house white please.

It was so awkward and I felt like the bartender and the people in line behind me thought I was so cheap. A simple sign would have alleviated some of that.

inconceivable14

I hate that feeling so much. I've been assured by our venue coordinator that they won't have the liquor portion set up at the bar, and it will be written into our contract - but I am thinking of making a sign just in case, or even just having one regardless so that people can see what is being offered. 

I've also told our venue coordinator that we do not want any tip jars at the bar area. We'll already be tipping the bartenders, and I don't want our guests to feel rude/awkward if they don't happen to have cash on them. 

poodledoodleooo

inconceivable14 said:

I hate that feeling so much. I've been assured by our venue coordinator that they won't have the liquor portion set up at the bar, and it will be written into our contract - but I am thinking of making a sign just in case, or even just having one regardless so that people can see what is being offered. 

I LOVE when there are signs saying what is offered- especially if it's more than the standards red wine, white wine, and single beer option. It lets me see what's available to make my decision before I'm up at the bar going uhhhh.... Also, if it's loud it can be tough to hear the bartender yell back the options. 

[Deleted User]

sjf2715 said:

inconceivable14 said:

I hate that feeling so much. I've been assured by our venue coordinator that they won't have the liquor portion set up at the bar, and it will be written into our contract - but I am thinking of making a sign just in case, or even just having one regardless so that people can see what is being offered. 

I LOVE when there are signs saying what is offered- especially if it's more than the standards red wine, white wine, and single beer option. It lets me see what's available to make my decision before I'm up at the bar going uhhhh.... Also, if it's loud it can be tough to hear the bartender yell back the options. 

Yes.  And you don't have to use the sign if the only things behind the bar are three bottles of wine and four bottles of beer as examples of what's available.  The sign can just be dropped in the bottom of the card box if it turns out you don't need it.

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