Open bar or signature cocktail?

cmlisenk

Now I know it depends on the caterer/bartender but is it usually cheaper to go for a signature drink or a full out open bar?  Either way liquor will be involved but I wasn't sure if one was cheaper than the other.  Any experiences with this topic??

AurorasEnvy

I agree, a signature cocktail will probably be much cheaper than full open bar.  We had a full open top shelf bar, and it was not cheap.

Cackle6

We did wine and beer, and then 4 signature cocktails. It was much cheaper than a full bar, but still gave people enough drink options, as each signature cocktail was with a different liquor, so people could either have the mojito signature cocktail, or a rum and coke, you know?

jessicabessica

Our venue coordinator claimed that beer/wine/sig cocktail wasn't going to be much cheaper than full open bar (pay by consumption either way).  I am not sure I totally buy it, but we had a full bar anyway.

Lucille04

We weren't going to save much with beer/wine + signature drink. We could pay a flat rate per person for either beer & wine or a full open bar. If we wanted to add a signature drink to the beer & wine package, then that would be charged on a consumption basis on top of the b&w flat rate. I think each person would have had to have about 1 signature drink before it would have been roughly the same as just having an open bar.   

boomboom1243

open bar is that main reason I turned down some venues. I felt this needed to be included in the price per plate and should not charge extra. if you have sig. cocktails make sure they arnt all fruity cuz some people wont want them and in the end drinks and dancing is what keeps people there.

mcskatcat

Signature drink will be cheaper, but I don't know that it will be better.  Of all the weddings I've been to, there's only one signature drink I've liked.  And fact of the matter is most mixed drinks aren't going to please more than a fraction of the crowd.  I would say just do wine and beer over a signature drink, or wine and beer and limited liquor.