New Hampshire

Bar Poll

I know this discussion gets heated on other boards so I made an anonymous poll, just looking for ideas and whats expected/done around here. In no way can we afford an open bar so I'm looking into other options.  TIA!
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Re: Bar Poll

  • edited December 2011
    we cannot afford a full open bar either.  we are doing all beer and wine and soft drinks etc for free and not even offering anything else.  there will be one bottle of champagne on each table for toasts.  hope this helps!
  • edited December 2011
    We can't afford an open bar and we can't really afford to pay for any other beverages.  Our package does come with a champagne toast as well as coffee and tea with dessert.  A cash bar is pretty standard in my family, but I think if FI's family had it their way it would be an open bar because they view that as being good hosts.  I only say that because I know they want to have an open bar at the RD, which I think is completely unncecessary. 
    Anyway, we're having a cash bar because we'd rather provide our guests with better food than to have a cheaper meal and offer some alcohol.
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  • edited December 2011

    We cannot afford a full open bar either. We're thinking of doing open beer, wine, and sodas, maybe a couple of signature drinks but not sure yet.

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  • edited December 2011
    My parents are pay for the reception, and with 250-300 people, 150-200 being big drinkers, we cannot have an open bar all night! They are opting for an open bar for cocktail hour and then free wine (wine pours not bottles on the table) and the rest cash bar.
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  • edited December 2011
    I think what we can "afford" and what is "expected" are two very different things. I will be completely honest and say that some form of "open" bar is expected - be that with a signature drink, free beer & wine, wine on the tables, or a tab at the bar. I would do everything you can to offer some kind of "free" drinks to your guests - that being said - no one is going to run away because they have to pay for their beverage. I know $ is tight. GL!
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  • ninnypooperninnypooper member
    Seventh Anniversary 100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We did a full glass of champagne and purchased 12 bottles of red wine and 12 bottles of white. They weren't left on the tables but the servers went around pouring them to anyone that wanted some and said it was complimentary. Once cocktail hour was done, they were able to still get the wine at the bar until all the bottles were gone. I know a lot of people that only drank the wine b/c it was free.

    Now, we were not planning on doing that at all, but because we couldn't reach our price minimum we were able to purchase the bottles to go towards the minimum (we couldn't do this with any bar options).

    I never expect it when going to wedding, I just always figured it as an added bonus if they do have anything complimentary.

    GL!
  • edited December 2011
    We are doing exactly what ninny did. With our guests, even a limited open bar bill would exceed our budget for the bar bill. 

    I will say that I always bring cash to a wedding and never expect an open bar, but I do expect a free champagne toast. I have never been to a wedding where the toast wasn't free, so I would find that strange if the flute of bubbly was missing.
  • dls.1215dls.1215 member
    Fifth Anniversary 500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thanks everyone!   Our champagne toast IS included and I think we will take whatever we may have leftover and buy a few bottles of wine if we can.  Thanks!
    April 2010 January SC - Favorite Picture from the Holidays
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  • edited December 2011
    I've been to a lot of weddings in the past 4 years and I have to say I've been to one open bar total, and that person had the ceremony and reception at his home, so I believe that he had more in the alcohol budget.  We are doing a champagne toast because it is included in our package, other than that it's cash bar.  We have explained to everyone (although I don't know why we owe an explaination!) that $ is tight and to come with cash, we paid for drinks at their weddings with no complaints.  Our coordinator actually discouraged us from open bar too since she said most couples spend up to $3000 for open bar alone!

    I would just make sure that you let everyone know ahead of time so that they don't complain they don't have cash.

    GL!
  • edited December 2011
    we also could not afford an open bar... we did free soft drinks the whole night, and beer and wine during the cocktail hour... we did get a few complaints from some people, but just wait until they have to fit the bill for their wedding!!! i think it's more acceptable in this area (and especially with a lot of DIY-ers on this board) to not have a completely open bar!
  • edited December 2011
    Open bar at my venue is about $4k for 130 people. HOLY CRAP.

    We're looking into affording it, but we'll see. We budgeted for it, so we'll probably have it, but it makes me sick to stomach to pay that kind of money for alcohol, especially when we have a young son. 
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