open bar/cash/hosted bar

Re: open bar/cash/hosted bar

• Sue-n-Kevin member

  

  March 2012

  Nearly every bride who comments here will tell you it is very poor etiquette, pretty much unheard of, to have your guests pay for anything. Period. From being on the Knot for a long time, I do understand that in some geographic areas this is customary, but it's still thought of poorly.
  
  Alcohol is expensive, and people tend to drink quite a bit at a wedding. It should be factored into your budget somehow if you intend to offer it, and none of the cost should be passed onto your guests.
  
  We had an open bar, free to guests, from the time they arrived until the end of the wedding. We only offered wine, beer and one "signature drink", which was "Loaded Lemonade", lemonade with lemon vodka. The reception venue we selected allowed us to bring in our own alcohol and bartender. We went to a local wine & beer warehouse and purchased our alcohol there.
  
  If you are allowed to bring in your own alcohol at your reception venue, how much it costs will depend on the state where your wedding is being held. Each state has it's own alcohol commission, and in some states the cost of all alcoholic beverages are open to different pricing (meaning things like vodka, rum, plus beer and wine), in our state of Michigan, only beer & wine are open to the store's pricing option, things like vodka and rum are priced exactly the same at each and every store. That kinda sucks, LOL.
  
  It would be very poor etiquette to ask your guests to pay. If you are having to limit your expenses in any way at the reception, consider a smaller guest list, fewer alcohol options, or change your food options to something less expensive.

  Wedding Website and Bio

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• NOLAbridealmost member

  

  March 2012

  In the United States you should have either a dry wedding (no alcohol) or a hosted bar (where the hosts pay for everything) or a limited bar (where the hosts offer only certain drinks like beer and wine only but the hosts pay). 

  
  

  Guests should never have to open their wallets at a wedding.

  
  Fatty Blog

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• libbynmike78

  

  March 2012

  i agree that you should have an open bar.
  
   Anyone ever hear of a "stock the bar" pre- wedding party? people bring in their favorite type of liquor/wine, etc. that they want to drink at the wedding..and then the couple knows what to further stock the bar with!
  
  maybe it's cheezy, but that way you'll have a better idea of what to spend money on if you have an open bar...

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• windcherry

  

  March 2012

  Thanks folks, I always believe in Open bar strategy. It's just recently quite stressed on budget, and I had suggestions from some familiy members (since they don't drink...)

  But I do find it embarrassing having people pay! 

  So basically, I have decided to have Open bar first. I'm just not sure whether to set up hosted bar or continue open bar, which one is more economic, IF most of the guests don't drink alcohol that much. Or, mostly red wine. 

  
  

  And, since the reception is only 3-4 hours. Is it good to let them have some hot cocoa and coffee/tea in the last hour? since they'll have to drive?

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• jessicabessica member

  

  March 2012

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_open-barcashhosted-bar?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:23Discussion:3ca01099-84eb-4361-9ed2-041bcdbc3ccdPost:2cd27ba0-7d58-4164-a86e-e361989f9b06">Re: open bar/cash/hosted bar</a>:
  [QUOTE]Thanks folks, I always believe in Open bar strategy. It's just recently quite stressed on budget, and I had suggestions from some familiy members (since they don't drink...) But I do find it embarrassing having people pay!  So basically, I have decided to have Open bar first. I'm just not sure whether to set up hosted bar or continue open bar, which one is more economic, IF most of the guests don't drink alcohol that much. Or, mostly red wine.  And, since the reception is only 3-4 hours. Is it good to let them have some hot cocoa and coffee/tea in the last hour? since they'll have to drive?
  Posted by windcherry[/QUOTE]
  
  Open bar generally means a full hosted bar.  I am not sure if that is how you are using/understanding the terms.  What is the difference between a hosted bar and an open bar for you?
  
  If you think your guests will mostly enjoy wine, it's fine to serve only wine, or maybe wine and beer.  That is a nice way to host everything that is provided while not going above budget. 
  
  As for your last question, if people are drunk, they won't necessarily sober up in an hour if they have some coffee.  If you serve alcohol and are worried about drunk driving, make sure you have a responsible/trained bartender, and have numbers for cab companies available.

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• pgcp member

  

  March 2012

  What ever you do don't go from a hosted bar the first hour, to a cash bar after.  It's really embarrassing for the guest to go up to the bar and discover that the drink they just ordered has to be payed for and they don't have any money with them because their first drink wasn't charged.

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• Starfish0116 member

  

  March 2012

  Definitely no cash bar. Whether you decide to offer a full open bar, or a hosted bar with only limited options, it should be open the length of the event and at no charge toy our guests. I would be absolutely mortified to make my guests pay for their drinks at my wedding. The other option would be to have no bar at all. If you're worried about cost, limit it to beer/wine only or beer/wine and one signature drink. Just make sure the signature drink is a good one. I've seen some seriously horrible signature drinks that tasted like crap (but gosh darn they matched the decor!) - what a waste of money.

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