Earn cash as you plan. Get a $20 gift card for every 200 points with The Knot Rewards
Georgia-Atlanta
mrsbrantley
member
BYO Alcohol at Receptions - How Does it Work?
We are looking at venues that allow you to bring your own alcohol. Can anyone who has done this at their reception help explain the logistics of how you do this?
a) We want to purchase the alcohol ourselves. We have very particular taste in wine and liquor and want our guests to have the same experience as if they were at one of our usual parties. So, are there large liquor stores that deliver? Or do we somehow have to get it to the venue ourselves?
b) Should we have the caterer serve, or hire a separate bartending company? Caterer has not been selected yet, but I'm wondering if using them is more cost efficient since they will already be there? I saw one caterer that charged around $5 pp I think for mixers and glasses, and $150 per bartender (not including gratuity). That caterer's overall food cost was too high, so they are out of the running, but I'm wondering if most places charge about the same for bar service.
Any recommendations are greatly appreciated! Location will be downtown Atlanta or Decatur.
a) We want to purchase the alcohol ourselves. We have very particular taste in wine and liquor and want our guests to have the same experience as if they were at one of our usual parties. So, are there large liquor stores that deliver? Or do we somehow have to get it to the venue ourselves?
b) Should we have the caterer serve, or hire a separate bartending company? Caterer has not been selected yet, but I'm wondering if using them is more cost efficient since they will already be there? I saw one caterer that charged around $5 pp I think for mixers and glasses, and $150 per bartender (not including gratuity). That caterer's overall food cost was too high, so they are out of the running, but I'm wondering if most places charge about the same for bar service.
Any recommendations are greatly appreciated! Location will be downtown Atlanta or Decatur.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: BYO Alcohol at Receptions - How Does it Work?
We're bringing in our own alcohol as well and plan to just hire 2 bartenders for the evening to serve.
As for a bartender:
Beer/Wine wedding: Bro and 1st SIL hired a relative of one of our guests to do the pouring. We paid them $100 for the night and set out a tip jar for them.
Beer/Wine/Liquor: Bro and 2nd SIL asked friends if they knew someone who could mix drinks, etc. And they did. Paid them $200 for the night...and a tip jar.
We're hiring our bartender through the caterer. It just seemed easier that way since we hvae to worry about one less vendor. They're providing a "soft bar" package, which is all mixers, ice, limes, etc.