Bar Service?!

TexanTreasure08

Ok ladies,

My first problem of my wedding planning has come up & I'm a little annoyed. I need help/advice or whatever ya got.

I picked my venue because they allowed us to bring in our own caterer & our own alcohol which I figured was the only way we could afford an open bar. I also love the space, it's a nature center in the middle of Dallas! The only downside is that they don't provide any round tables or linens and I will have to rent chairs too because theirs are little mod-looking plastic ones.

So I signed the contract & paid my deposit months ago & the manager at the venue said how I was lucky because they are a pretty new space so they don't have a lot of rules regarding weddings and since I was signing so early I wouldn't be subject to any "new" rules down the road.

Then I got an email last week saying that they are changing the rules about bringing in your own alcohol and now I must use a bar service because they want the person bringing in the alcohol to have the big insurance policy. They did offer to take $500 off of my venue fee to make up for it since she had told me the wrong info in the first place.

I'm really not looking forward to seeing the prices for bar service, from reading my Bridal Bargains book they tend to be very overpriced. Also, the bar service company that she recommended to me only serves yellowtail wine and I was really looking forward to having a wine tasting at our e-party to pick some good cheap wine to serve at our wedding because I really love wine. I know that's a stupid reason but I was really excited about it!

So what do you guys think? Should I just suck it up and try to find an good bar service? Or should I ask for my deposit back & find a new venue because technically they are breaking our contract? Is $500 enough to make up for the difference between a DIY bar & bar service? If it is I will definitely shut up and deal with this new policy. Also, if you guy's know of any good bar service companies that would help tons!

Thanks so much!

Angela

bsn1752

Well, I think that you should definitely research and find out if the bar service will fit into the budget, then decide from there.  If it's way out of your ballpark, then absolutely ask for your money back (if you can part with the venue).  There are lots of DIY kind of places that will let you bring alcohol.  But, definitely do your research before you walk away.

Tiffany618

Have you chosen a caterer already? It seems when I was looking at them some would also include bar service and that might make the transition a little easier. 

As far as the costs, I think it depends on the # of adult guests.  Since they gave you a flat $500 back, that will go much farther toward a small group than a large one. 

llc2011

That really stinks about the changes! I know how you feel because I booked early, and there have been changes to things since I signed (but I saved all emails from the former coordinator so the venue is honoring everything we agreed on).

I agree with Brianna to check out what the cost of the bar service would be and then work from there.  I'm sorry this happened to you Angela and hope things work out!

MarieSD

Wish I could help. There's NO way you can go back and talk to them and get them to honor your original contract? Even if it seemed unlikely I'd probably still try and go there and argue my case with them, since that's a huge reason why you picked them in the first place!

If they let you pick whatever bar service you want as long as they have insurance, I guess my gut feeling it that there's still a chance you can find a decently-priced one if you research (and hopefully someone here can chime in).

I personally picked a place because I could bring in alcohol, so this would be a huge problem for me too! I have a planner who is going to tell me what alcohol to buy, so I can't help on how to weigh the cost of the bar service vs. the $500 off they gave you. Wish I could ... hopefully someone can offer some input. There are wedding planners around that charge by the hour for consultation on a specific issue, but I know not everyone wants/needs to go the wedding planner route. That was just my first thought ... I wonder if my planner would know a cheaper bar service/the relative cost difference! Sorry I can't help.

TexanTreasure08

Yes I have already booked my caterer. They go through an independent bar service as well. She haid that they are very reasonably priced at $6.50 for premium cocktails, $4 call, $4-$6 wine, $3-$4 beer. I'm sure that is good, but still a lot more than if we could bring in our own.

I have emailed my venue coordinator to ask her to honor my contract. We will see what she says I guess. Shouldn't they go by their own contract? All it said was that I was responsible for hiring a TABC certified bartender & security. 

If any one knows of a bar service with better prices I'm all ears, but I'm pretty sure those are average prices. 

MsLaura31

I don't know if this will work in your case, but the venue I'm using says all alcohol must go through the caterer. However, when I talked to the caterer, they said I could just bring them our alcohol earlier, and they'd bring it to the venue.... Might be worth asking about...

cfibelkorn

How many adults are invited to your wedding?

TexanTreasure08

MsLaura: I did ask my caterer that and she said that that is illegal?? I wouldn't think it would be, but I have no idea about that stuff.

And we will have 150 adults at our reception, I am putting all of the kids in a science lab type room with babysitters. Most of them are over 21 as well.

cfibelkorn

Well given that you have about 150 and drinks are roughly $5-$6 a piece, they say to guestimate 5 drinks per person so that would put you at $750 to $900 in drinks...so them giving you $500 I don't think is a good deal.

They should honor your contract. Does it say in your contract specifically you do not have to use their bartender and that you can bring your own bartender and beverages?

TexanTreasure08

That's a good way to look at it, but at 5 drinks a person thats $3750!

I pulled out my contract earlier today to verify. Under Alcohol &/or food service it says:

"-for all events that include alcoholic beverage, renter is responsible for scheduling a TABC licensed server, and one off-duty Dallas Police officer for every 200 guests for the duration of the event.

-No alcoholic beverages, or tickets in exchange for alcoholic beverages, may be sold at any special event on the TRAC property. In accordance with TABC policy, those who hold special events at TRAC may do so without an alcoholic beverage permit only if the activity is truly "free" so that any adult who enters the facility and asks for an alcoholic beverage receives one.

-Caterers providing hot food service and/or alcohol must provide proof of liability insurance listing TRAC as additionally insured, with a minimum $1,000,000 coverage; and a TABC alcohol service permit."

So it doesn't say caterers must provide alcohol, in fact it says how the renter is responsible for hiring bartenders if they provide alcohol. Unfortunately, it doesn't flat out say that renter can provde their own alcohol.

(Edited to fix typos, sometimes my typing box is very small and I can't see what I'm typing. )

cfibelkorn

Sorry...duh moment on my calculations....that was for one drink! haha

Re: Contract

But it also doesn't say that you MUST use their bartending services. Im no lawyer, just a paralegal for the last four years, but IMO they should honor your contract.

My advice (for what its worth) is to meet with them IN PERSON (it is harder for them to be mean that way haha) explain your concerns and that they legally should honor your contract that was signed back on _____ (whatever date). If they choose not to honor the contract, and make sure you mention how much they will lose, than you want a full refund of all monies paid, in full, immediately.

If they say they will not honor the contract say something like "Well it is unfortunate for your establishment that you are willing to loss XXX amount of dollars to enforce a new revision, that by the way isn't even in my contract, so that you can make an extra couple hundred dollars"

Hope that makes sense

TexanTreasure08

Thanks! That does make me feel better. I'm hoping they will honor it, especially since she had said how I wouldn't be affected by any future changes.

I did say how I appreciated them offering to discount my rental fee by $500 but that doesn't even buy everyone a beer under a bar service!

I will let everyone know what she says. If anything I can go down there and talk with her boss. Who can say no to a girl in a wheelchair?? 

pattc

150 adults X 5 drinks = 750 drinks X $5 = $3750, not $750

TexanTreasure08

yep we already figured that out, thanks