open/cash bar?

Mcsweets · December 2010

What is everyone doing? We were going to buy a keg and then have the rest be cash bar. However, we have been to weddings that had open bars and more people danced and things.... just curious what other people are doing and how much it costs for open bars (125 ppl) if you are having one?

jesscmpls · December 2010

Since you and I have the same venue

I thougth i'd let you know what i was doing. We are only getting the one keg because we wont have enough people to get the second one. Also, they have wine there as well, so we will do a few bottles/boxes? on us. The rest of the bar is going to be cash. I wish I could do an open bar but, i can't afford to get everyone drunk.

hsbstone · December 2010

My venue is a winery and we will have open bar, but we are restricting the drinks to wine, cocktails and beer. I really don't like to be around of alcohol, and I am trusting my DJ will do a great job to keep my guests at the dancing floor with a great music selection, not because alcohol effects. And also I have just 60 guests, so it's easier. The last thing I want is an incovenient drunk guest!!!

medusia00 · December 2010

We are doing 2 kegs, we are also having 2 sig. drinks and then a thing of black velvet(my side drinks it). FMIL is getting 30 bottles of wine, and then we're having pop and water as well as sangria.

I can't afford to do a full open bar so we decided to make a little of something for everyone.

Oh, and Sweet Tea, I love it so we're having big things of it as well.

deregniern · December 2010

We are not sure yet. Most likely to be cash bar. We might buy 1 keg, but that would be it. We are providing soda for free though. Like you said, jesscmpls, I we cant afford to get all of our 125 guests drunk.

fireflyrebirth · December 2010

We are not doing a cash or open bar, but are hosting wine and beer (kegs). We'll also do a champagne toast. We'll have pop and possibly other nonalcoholic options as well.

We are planning around 150 guests and figure they will be happy enough with beer and wine. We felt uncomfortable with asking people to pay money for anything at our reception, as did my FI's parents (who are helping us finance most of the wedding).

ks107021 · December 2010

It's refreshing seeing others doing cash bars, at least in part. Some people really harp on not having cash bars saying it makes you an awful host, but open bars can be sooooo expensive. And I have been to many a wedding in Iowa with cash bars. I wish I could just limit the bar to what we will provide, and not have a cash bar at all, but our venue has a bar and won't restrict. We are providing beer (2 kegs), wine and champagne. We will be having 2 signature drinks but only during cocktail hour so for about an hour or so. We will also provide punch and coffee as well. I hate having a cash bar, but we simply cannot afford an open bar. Our venue said open bar runs about $900 an hour! Ouch!

Mcsweets · December 2010

I think the keg sounds like a good plan. Our venue will only allow us to have 1 keg unless we have over 200 people. We may purchase some "malt beers" as well, and some wine. Then, mixed drinks can be cash bar.
Jesscmpls - do you know if they take cards at our bar?

ToBeMrs2011 · December 2010

We are covering the cost of beer (kegs), wine & 2 signature cocktails (one picked by myself, one by my soon to be hubby)...there will also be a champagne toast.

Other than that, it is cash bar.

LRPJ · December 2010

Full open bar available for the first 4 hours. Then, switching to beer (5 kegs), wine (20 bottles). Our wedding will be around 200-250 people. Lots of people are traveling, and we don't want them to have to buy a thing!

jesscmpls · December 2010

I think they might only do cash at our place BUT there is an ATM on location so, everyone should/would be covered. They might do cards but i've only ever used cash. My friend had her wedding there in 09 and the bartender there makes the drinks really strong. You do get what you pay for

jesst32 · December 2010

If it were up to me we would just host a x amount of kegs, and then maybe a signature drink or a couple options of wine. Since my FI is from Germany, and they do things differently there especially when it comes to alcohol, we are doing drink tickets. We are planning around 250 guests so we are thinking maybe 2 drink tickets per person, plus open keg. For the people who are traveling from Germany, they will drink for free all night.
I also work for a catering company and we do ALOT of wedding receptions. Most couples host a keg and possibly one or two wines (a red and a white), and then always soda, water, lemondade.
I'm glad others are doing cash bars as well because as a guest of a wedding I would NEVER expect the bride/groom to pay for me to drink all night.

tjsavka · December 2010

I am still debating this as well, and am glad to see others doing cash bars. I'm thinking of doing some sort of a combo. My venue wants a guaranteed $500 in alchohol sales, and if we have a cash bar and don't make that much, we need to pay the difference. My sister brought up the point that we would much rather spend that money on our guests than giving it back to the venue. I agree with that! I think we might do free wine and give out free beer tickets, but after that cash.

open/cash bar?

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