open bar options

abollen30

Our venue is offering an open bar option of $31/person or pay per consumption. Trying to figure out what is the best way to go. We are having around 150 people. Would love to hear opinions from others.

Blueyed228

We chose consumption based off of our guests.  My family are not big drinkers so I knew they wouldnt drink $31 worth of booze each.  It ended up working out in our favor.

michelle11988

What are the prices per drink at your venue? Assuming they are around $7-8, the flat rate gives you 4 drinks per person and then you are benefiting from the flat rate.  How big of drinkers are your guests? I would love to be able to do a flat rate of $31 for the whole time since I know my guests would probably drink that much.

Eois

We considered this, but then realized it is unlikely that all adults would drink an average of 4 drinks.  I assume we'd have to pay based on guest count, and considering the few non-drinkers, handful of seniors, few designated drivers, and those that count as adult guests who are not yet 21...  I can't imagine we'd get our money's worth.  Especially if the champagne toast is included separate from the per person open-bar charge.

Osterizer

Is there a cap option? Our venue had the same option for us where it was $35 per guest.  Thinking not everyone would drink that much, we opted to go with a $3000 cap (which included tax and tip).  If the tab was nearing the $3000 mark we were to be pulled to the side and asked whether we wanted to keep the bar open or switch it to a cash bar.  Well, for our 100 guest wedding, we only went $1 over and no one had to pay out of pocket.  I recommend this option if it's available to you.  That way you don't have to over pay by paying per head.  However, if you go over the cap, you would probably want to keep it going anyway. 

mrsmtothek

Honestly, I'd go with the flat rate. Consumption basis can definitely be a risky option, because you just never know what your guests are going to drink or how much. I'm also not a fan of pulling the rug out from under them with a cap on how long the bar remains "open" and transitions into cash. Its a great rate from many places I've seen (the highest being $50 pp). But its whatever you feel comfortable with ultimately!

Karen's MOH

Our per person charge was about that and I am 100% it worked out in our favor. We had a lot of younger guests who drank a lot, plus some of the older guests love to get their drink on at a wedding (which is also why we got a shuttle to the hotel!). 

As far as non drinkers, you can probably tell them if people are under 21 and I bet they wouldn't charge. I was actually really surprised when they let me take my pregnant bridesmaid out of the charge, but they said since she wasn't drinking didn't have to count her. It's worth asking about. 

abollen30

Thanks for the feedback, I was leaning toward per head but my mother thought consumption might be a better deal. Karen's MOH who did you use for a shuttle? That is next on the to do list to look into.

Blueyed228

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_massachusetts-boston_open-bar-options?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:89Discussion:1c7d7304-6b85-489b-a187-97f827dd199bPost:71fdabd8-74c1-4da7-a78a-84b368195a8c">Re: open bar options</a>:
[QUOTE]Go down your guest list and figure out the highest and lowest number of drinks each guest is likely to consume, and then work from there. Consumption can be dangerous. One of my friends had the bar close at a cap of $1000, and the bar shut after 45 minutes.
Posted by AFP07[/QUOTE]

How many people did she have? 

At say $7 a drink, if she had 150 people, thats 1 drink per person.

imimahoney

I'd be nervous with a consumption based bar. I've had several friends who had a consumption bar but the waitstaff would clear drinks that were half full, thus causing the guests to constantly obtain new drinks from the bar.

If you are going to go with consumption I would be clear with your venue about their clearing policy to make sure that you are not over paying.

snoangel79

I wouldn't do consumption. One of my friend's had this and her bar bill was $28k!!! We did pp and it was a lot more affordable then what we would of paid for consumption. We had about 100 people of drinking age. Just remember also you shouldn't be paying this price for anyone under 21. 

RockyNFrankie

I have been trying to decide which route to go myself. We have some big drinkers and some people that dont drink much. I figured it out and everyone would have to drink 4 drinks or more to make it worth it to go per person.

Many people I know will not drink that many, however, I worry about wasted drinks. I have been to so many weddings and seen 1/2 drank drinks or nearly full beers thrown away. People can be wasteful and just because everyone doesn't drink 4 drinks, doesn't mean it wont be worth it. Lost drinks, forgotten drinks, spilt drinks, dont like it drinks, watered down drinks, you are paying for all of those too.

I am pretty sure we are just going to do per person so there is no worries.