Open bar or consumption bar

Silverlegacyga

What have you found is more reasonable, an open bar or a consumption bar? We will be having appx. 60 guests 15 are children so 45 will be of drinking age. Some are heavy drinkers and very few of them are light drinkers. Im guessing the light drinkers will have one drink. My thinking is its Vegas, no one has to drive so they will consume more alcohol. I know I'm aways off, but I'm trying to get an idea budget wise so I know how much OT I have to work

thefuturemrsrumley

For that number of people I think it depend on how much the open bar would cost.  If the open bar is pricey, you may save money by doing on consumption.  I'd do the math with an estimate of how much you think people would drink and go with the cheaper option.  But, for 45 guests, on consumption may be more reasonable if you really think that some people will only have one drink.

keana123

I used to plan Holiday parties and even the heavy drinkers don't drink enough to justify open bar so I say go consumption bar unless you get a killer deal on open bar. Find out what the average cost is for a cocktail and a soft drink from your venue. It probably averages out to about 4 cocktails and 5 soft drinks per hour (with a two hour minimum) with eating, talking and dancing even your heaviest drinkers will probably not have 8 cocktails in 2 hours, not to mention your champagne toast.

keana123

We are also doing a few stationary areas that have water, iced tea, lemonade and coffee. The self serve stations average around $1 less per serving so non-drinkers (and kids) will probably choose these instead of going to the bar. Ask your venue if they have a reduced price for kids since they will just be drinking soft drinks.

Silverlegacyga

Open bar is not cheap! For 3 hours it was $44pp and for 2 hours it was $30pp I am just looking at having beer and wine for my guests as they can get cocktails in the casino if desiered afterwards.

jendbiker

So far in my comparisons and estimates, the open bar has come out ahead in terms of cost effectiveness. I am also expecting about 40 guests of drinking age. Also, I don't want to be way off in my estimates, and end up with a shocking total on my wedding night. For me, even if a consumption bar were to be a slightly more cost effective option, I would trade that for peace of mind. Keep in mind that most cocktails will be between $10-14 each at a consumption bar. Most bar packages I have looked at have been an average of around $35-45pp for 4 hours. If each guest has only one drink per hour on a consumption bar, that's already at $40 minimum. I really don't want to be sidetracked in my enjoyment of the evening by looking over at the bar every time someone has a drink! lol... It may sound silly, but when you're on a budget, it can be a big distraction. Keep in mind that you can also set a limit for the amount charged, but I would also want to avoid the apprehension of when my guests would be told that drinks are no longer free.

keana123

We are on a budget so don't want to pay for people to get sauced. We are expecting about 70 guests and the drinks average around $5 each ( a little less for soft drinks) so we are setting a max at around $750-1,000 and when that;s gone then people can buy their own cocktails. We are also providing champagne for the toast.

Silverlegacyga

Kenna, I know my father had suggested do the open bar for an hour before dinner, then have it turn into a cash bar. He is paying for the wedding, so chances are we will end up like that.

atlcatlover

I did not feel comfortable opting for a consumption bar because I did not want to worry about what my bar bill would be at the end of the night.  I also knew that the heavier drinkers in my crowd would more than make up for the lighter drinkers.  It was so nice to know beforehand exactly what my reception was going to cost - in fact I paid the bill the day before and it was one less thing to worry about.