open bar help!

Nshivers

We're having an open bar and are having to decide what drinks to serve, if there should be garnishes (lemons, limes, cherries), and how much alcohol to purchase!

Is anyone else having an open bar?  If so, how are you going about all of this?  FI's dad is gonna take care of the costs for us, but I need to know how much to tell him to purchase.  We have approx 175 guests.

acaponi87

Our venue is taking care of the bar, so I don't have too many answers but as a guest I would be expecting stuff like this:

Definitely have at least a light beer and a regular beer (like Bud Light and Bud). A red and a white wine. And the basics as far as booze goes: vodka, rum, whisky, etc.

As far as garnishes: lime and olives for sure. Lol that's all I need for garnishes.

Don't forget stuff like tonic water, cranberry juice, other mixers.

Ash61612

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_open-bar-help?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:6dc8240a-41c3-47c5-8054-387ea741da75Post:f0ff1406-2635-4815-aa5f-803aee76bdee">Re: open bar help!</a>:
[QUOTE]Our venue is taking care of the bar, so I don't have too many answers but as a guest I would be expecting stuff like this: Definitely have at least a light beer and a regular beer (like Bud Light and Bud). A red and a white wine. And the basics as far as booze goes: vodka, rum, whisky, etc. As far as garnishes: lime and olives for sure. Lol that's all I need for garnishes. Don't forget stuff like tonic water, cranberry juice, other mixers.
Posted by acaponi87[/QUOTE]

I can only guess how expensive this is going to be for 175 guests. This is one reason why we are only having wine and beer at our reception

[Deleted User]

Here's the TK recommends buying:

How much liquor will you need for 100 guests? Talk to your bartender; in the meantime, here are some averages:

• Beer: 5 to 6 cases
• Whiskey: 1 liter
• Bourbon: 1 liter
• Gin: 2 to 3 liters
• Scotch: 2 liters
• Light rum: 1 liter
• Vodka: 5 liters
• Tequila: 1 liter
• Champagne: 1 to 1 1/2 cases
• Red wine: 2 cases
• White wine: 3 1/2 cases
• Dry vermouth: 1 bottle
• Sweet vermouth: 1 bottle

Knot Note: Ask if your beverage catering service will take back any unused alcohol.

melntaitt

Our open bar is all inclusive as well but I would expect:
Red wine
White wine
Whiskey
Rum
Gin
Vodka
Tequila
Bourbon
Scotch

I'm not sure if you're doing mixers as well but there should be a good combination of cointreaux, schnapps, cordials and other alcoholic flavor additions.

For the wine make sure there's 4 selections - dry and sweet and maybe something in-between.

Like the others said as well - tonic water, soda water, ginger ale, cola (some flavored), juices and tonics (kola tonic, etc.)

Garnishes - olives, mini onions, cherries, lime and lemon wedges, orange slices.

Sure there's more...

http://weddingplanning.com/tips/content/beverages.html

Nshivers

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_open-bar-help?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:6dc8240a-41c3-47c5-8054-387ea741da75Post:81779e1b-9fc9-41e8-9c08-76526e2188e0">Re: open bar help!</a>:
[QUOTE]Our open bar is all inclusive as well but I would expect: Red wine White wine Whiskey Rum Gin Vodka Tequila Bourbon Scotch I'm not sure if you're doing mixers as well but there should be a good combination of cointreaux, schnapps, cordials and other alcoholic flavor additions. For the wine make sure there's 4 selections - dry and sweet and maybe something in-between. Like the others said as well - tonic water, soda water, ginger ale, cola (some flavored), juices and tonics (kola tonic, etc.) Garnishes - olives, mini onions, cherries, lime and lemon wedges, orange slices. Sure there's more... <a href="http://weddingplanning.com/tips/content/beverages.html" rel="nofollow">http://weddingplanning.com/tips/content/beverages.html</a>
Posted by melntaitt[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>Thanks so much!!  Looks like we're getting married on the same day!

</div>

melntaitt

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_open-bar-help?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:6dc8240a-41c3-47c5-8054-387ea741da75Post:a3d08dc4-bb43-4f1e-a2a6-7761034adba0">Re: open bar help!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: open bar help! : Thanks so much!!  Looks like we're getting married on the same day!
Posted by Nshivers[/QUOTE]

Ohhh we are! Yay!

I don't see many 6-8 brides since we're on a Friday :)

mlynn1223

Our venue is also taking care of the bar so we do nothing.  However,  I do not agree with TK's estimate.  It does depend on how much your family and FI's family drink.  My sister had to purchase all of the alcohol for her wedding which was about 125 guests.  They went through 4 kegs, 3 gallons of both vodka and whiskey, and 1 gallon of rum.  None of the wine was used so it was returned.  I think they went through a little bit of other speciality liquor but nothing major.  They went through coke and juice but did not do the garnishes.  I know we will go through a lot of alcohol.