Open vs Cash Bar help

tash_rn

The reception venue won't let us bring our own alcohol and they only serve beer, wine, and a few mixed drinks.  We are trying to figure out how to allow our guests to drink and have fun without us starting our new life in debt! (My family are pretty big drinkers) the venue suggested we set a limit and once they get close to that limit we can decide to make it a cash bar or open it up for a couple hundred more or whatever.  Some of my family thought that was a little weird and suggested paying for cocktail hour and for drinks with dinner and then putting an elegant sign at the bar that says "cash bar after 8pm" or whatever time.  Anyone have any opinions?  Oh and please don't say cut costs elsewhere cause I'm already doing everything i can my self and the venue is all inclusive for almost everything else so there isn't anywhere to cut from!

mbcdefg

I think you have a few options:- Set the limit and then once it's gone, it's gone. (Ask the venue if you'll have the option to pay for an extension that night, or if they can bill you afterward. Just in case you change your mind.) Make sure plenty of free soft drinks are still available.- Only serve beer and wine. Maybe nixing the hard liquor will help keep costs down a bit for you.- Close the bar during dinner (make sure people know to get their drink before dinner starts), and/or close it 30 or 60 minutes before the party ends. - Ask if using certain brands of liquor will make a difference in price. Either use the cheaper brands all night, or start off with the good stuff and then switch later in the night (people may not notice). If you don't like the idea of a cash bar, then an "elegant sign" isn't going to make it any better.

Zooloo

You can do a signature cocktail and just have soft drinks, water, coffee and tea otherwise.

sashasmommy

Out of the two options you mentioned, I like the elegant sign idea better than the first. It will be confusing if people are getting free drinks and then all of a sudden they go up there, and the bartender has to tell them they have to pay now. If there's a sign up all night, then they know what's up. But better than those ideas, I like the idea of cutting down their options. Hard liquor is more expensive than beer and wine, so you could just have beer and wine or do that plus one signature drink like pp said.

duckie1905

I always do a double take when all of a sudden the bar switches to cash and the bartender is asking for $8 for my mixed drink.  Oh yeah, cash only.If you decide to offer open bar until a certain time please make sure there is a sign that lets guests know to expect it.The better option would be to maybe just cut down to beer and wine and non-alcoholic drinks, or maybe just a signature drink, so that your guests can drink all night if they choose.I'm not a fan of cash bars but they also aren't very common in my social circle.  You said your family thought the idea was weird so I'm guessing that you don't see it very often either.  I would suggest trying to provide the whole night either by throwing some extra money at the bar or cutting down the bar menu to reduce the price (if the venue allows).

Leah&Christian09

Limit the options to reduce the cost of the bar. Do beer/wine only and serve the most inexpensive varieties of each. Cash bars are generally considered rude, and an elegant sign doesn't help. When the bar runs out of money, just close it.

hollieheidi

The calculations are 2 drinks per hour for most guests and it usually equals out between the HEAVY drinkers and the light drinkers (one glass of wine with a meal).  I think if you closed the bar during dinner and then an hour prior to the end of the reception you could cut costs. If you're having a 4 hour reception then you would only really have the bar open for 2 hours (1 hr for dinner & 1 hr prior to end) and for 150 guests that's APPROX. 300 drinks.....not sure if you have a flat rate or by consumption..... I don't like the idea of open bar turned cash bar...I would know that you didn't have the money or chose not to spend it on the drinks.... That was one thing my FI wanted was an open bar....we made that happen and decided not to have video, pics only...that was our decision, but it can be done.  

jackcody

I understand where you’re coming from. I can only think of one or two people coming who couldn’t be classified as heavy drinkers, and one is my 80+ grandmother. Our alcohol tab is going to be at least as much as the entire catering (food) fee. Cash bar is always and everywhere a bad idea. But, strategies like closing the bar over dinner (with a bottle of [cheap] wine on each table--you don't want too may people moving about during speeches too), and 30-60 minutes before the party is over are great ideas. That last drink is always a bad idea anyway Personally, I think switching to a cash bar is a bad idea. Even though our friends and family love us, a free drink is a free drink. They’d most likely go up at 7:50 and get three drinks per person to stock up before it switched to cash only. Then you’re out just as much cash and you don’t get the credit for it, since you didn’t host a full open bar. Beer/wine + signature drink is also another great idea. It looks like you put thought into making something special, rather than just cutting options. Your signature drinks could also use cheaper hard liquors. If you don’t want the party to end, another way to keep the fun and dancing up is to have an after party. Reserve a room at a club or bar (nearby preferably—no drinking and driving). As it is an optional excursion, guests pay for their own drinks.

Sarahkay488

i'm a bartender... i work weddings every single weekend and there's nothing wrong with a cash bar. seriously, people don't mind paying for drinks. and if you'd like to have some form of an open bar, just do limited-- like beer and wine only. the other option is setting a certain limit ($900 is pretty popular) then changing to a cash bar after that. But i think a full cash bar or limited open is your best bet!

ophiophi89

I don't think that a cash bar is a bad idea either. Personally my fiance and I are most likely going to only have a cash bar. We cannot afford to do an open bar. We don't think that our family and friends will mind, especially since they know that I'm in school. We might do a signature drink but if people want to drink something else they will have to buy their own. A wedding is not just about letting people get free drinks. Do what you feel comfortable with and what you can afford. Don't feel pressured. I hope this helps!~Ophelia