Partially hosted bar?

shipsinthenight

We are trying to cut costs on our wedding as much as possible, without cutting our guest list. One of the ways we know we can do this is to limit the alcohol that we offer. I am fine with hosting beer, wine, champagne for toasting, maybe a signature drink, and leaving it at that. Fi really wants to have other drinks availble, but leaving that up to the guests to pay for. So it's not a cash bar reception, and it's not entirely hosted either. It's a mostly hosted bar. I'm not really comfortable with even having the option for people to pay for drinks, mostly because I know how rude it is to have a cash bar at a party you're hosting, but I know we can't afford to host a full bar either. Is a mostly hosted bar ok? I feel like most people won't end up using the cash bar part anyway.

Maggie0829

I would go with your gut feeling and just host what you can afford and do not offer anything that the guests will have to pay for.  It is really easy for your FI to say that he wants other drinks available as long as the guests pay for them, but that really isn't doing anything nice for your guests and you certainly aren't hosting them by doing this.

I think hosting beer, wine, champagne for toasting and a signature drink is plenty and I don't think your guests will be complaining with the selection.

NOLAbridealmost

Your gut is spot on.  Host what you can afford and call it a day.  I think beer, wine, and a signature cocktail is great.  

travistanya

I would make sure that guests could still purchase soda. I don't like, beer, wine, and I don't know what you signature drink is, but you should make sure you have an alternative for those non-drinkers too. I don't really know how a hosted bar works because I have never been to one so maybe soda is included. Just a thought.

jessicabessica

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_partially-hosted-bar?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:5c664c11-56d6-404e-90da-7f2fdd64e17ePost:8191d197-bb97-4c06-ae60-49e66a809434">Re: Partially hosted bar?</a>:
[QUOTE]I would make sure that guests could still purchase soda. I don't like, beer, wine, and I don't know what you signature drink is, but you should make sure you have an alternative for those non-drinkers too. I don't really know how a hosted bar works because I have never been to one so maybe soda is included. Just a thought.
Posted by travistanya[/QUOTE]

<div>Non alcoholic drinks should always be hosted.</div>

GoodLuckBear14

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_partially-hosted-bar?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:23Discussion:5c664c11-56d6-404e-90da-7f2fdd64e17ePost:8191d197-bb97-4c06-ae60-49e66a809434">Re: Partially hosted bar?</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>I would make sure that guests could still purchase soda.</strong> I don't like, beer, wine, and I don't know what you signature drink is, but you should make sure you have an alternative for those non-drinkers too. I don't really know how a hosted bar works because I have never been to one so maybe soda is included. Just a thought.
Posted by travistanya[/QUOTE]

No.  This should always be hosted.

cwaggoner07

We are just doing beer and wine, and most weddings I've been to in my area have been the same. I have only been to a few weddings with even a signature cocktail, much less a full bar.

travistanya

I wasn't sure how that worked. Thank you for clearing that up for me

shipsinthenight

Thanks for confirming this. I hope that at some point I can convince him of this, but at this point he is pretty adament. I think he's worried his family and friends will want something we don't have, and feel like the whole night is ruined because of this. I don't think they would take advantage of the paid bar anyway if we provide other options. Most of my guests will be happy with beer and wine (family and church people). But the guests aren't there to get their buzz on, they're there to help us celebrate our wedding, so I can't see why anyone would need to do shots or whatever anyway....

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

I'm on your side, but there's a blurred line, and it really depends on the venue. My venue was a country club that serves as a restaurant as well. They have a full bar. We hosted beer, wine, and house liquor. The bar stocked premium liquor, etc as a rule. Technically, if someone wanted a grey goose and soda, they could have paid for it, but to my knowledge, no one did, because the bartenders would tell them, "the couple is hosting the house vodka." I would not consider that a cash bar, since you would actually have to work really hard to BUY something, and prices or even the option to buy anything wasn't displayed.

In your case, I would definitely write out a sign at the bar (maybe one on each end) that says:

The following drinks are being hosted courtesy of the bride and groom:

Beer:
Type 1
Type 2
Type 3

Wine:
White 1
White 2
Red 1
Red 2
Sparking

Signature cocktail:
Name of cocktail
Name of cocktail

If people know what's available for free, they will probably find something they like and then they won't randomly go up to the bar and say, "Um, apple martini?" and end up being charged.