The Bar Situation...

Danielle&Nanne

I need an opinion regarding bar ideas for the reception.  We don't to go broke with an open bar for 4 hours (our venue charges for the entire bottle if they have to open it), but we don't want our guests to pay for anything. 

Our idea is to provide an open bar prior to dinner being served (during hors d'oeuvres/cocktail hour) and a bottle of red and white wine per table during dinner, and that's it for alcohol.  After dinner is served (other than the wine), I was thinking of just having soft drinks, coffee, tea, iced tea, and lemonade.

Thoughts?  

laurenclaire1386

Is there a way you could do just wine and beer for the entire time? That's what we're doing and it saved us $10/head.

tidetravel

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_bar-situation?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:c239598f-2b6b-49dd-96ac-35a34853ce61Post:bf63c7b4-c202-4a52-9c5c-bccb2a65f7dd">The Bar Situation...</a>:
[QUOTE]I need an opinion regarding bar ideas for the reception.  We don't to go broke with an open bar for 4 hours (our venue charges for the entire bottle if they have to open it), but we don't want our guests to pay for anything.  Our idea is to provide an open bar prior to dinner being served (during hors d'oeuvres/cocktail hour) and a bottle of red and white wine per table during dinner, and that's it for alcohol.  After dinner is served (other than the wine), I was thinking of just having soft drinks, coffee, tea, iced tea, and lemonade. Thoughts?  
Posted by Danielle&Nanne[/QUOTE]

That seems odd to me.  I would think that people would do more drinking after dinner, during the "party" portion of it.  Plus, I think it would be confusing for guests who try to order a rum and coke, and only get the coke.

I agree w/ LC.  I would offer beer/wine only for the full amount of time.

ExpatPumpkin

Not a good idea.  I think your party will die when the alcohol runs out and then you'll regret your decision...  The real fun and dancing starts after dinner.  Just limit your alcohol choices and keep it consistent throughout the night.  Good luck

Danielle&Nanne

 Thanks

Neither the FI or I drink, so we have no idea how to go about doing this.  I'm going to check on the beer & wine situation with my venue.

Thanks!

Knittibell

For my first wedding, we just had wine and beer complimentary all night, and then there was a cash aspect if someone wanted a single malt scotch.

Will probably do the same the second time around. I'd find it weird to see the alcohol wasn't offered anymore just as the dancing and fun was about to start- if you really can't afford it, do a cash bar after dinner, and spread the word so people will know to bring some money.

danieliza1127

If you have to choose when to have your bar, if you want people to stay after dinner and dance, you need to have alcohol available after dinner.  If alcohol ends with wine at dinner, your party will end earlier too.  If that's okay with you though, then go for it.  If you want people to stay and dance, I'd figure something else out.

Maybe just do beer and wine the entire night.  That's usually less expensive than an open bar with liquor.

Pirata13

Definitely see if you can do wine and beer only.  It saved us almost $5/person. 

JenO24

We were concerned w/ the alcohol situation too...I'm more of a drinker than my FI is so all we're doing is...

Open bar for cocktail hour (outside) and then complimentary 1 kind of white wine, red wine, and a signature cocktail...anything else will be cash bar if they want to have something else.

damaless

You might be able to save money on the wine for the tables if you have them open bottles in the kitchen as needed and waiter-serve the wine.  This way if you have a table of mostly red wine drinkers and one white wine drinker, you don't have to pay for a whole bottle of white wine when it will only be missing maybe one or two glasses worth.