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Canada-Ontario
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bringing in your own alcohol vs. paying the venue per person for the bar

dokchampadokchampa
10 Comments
in Canada-Ontario
hi all. my first choice venue lets us bring in the booze which i can only imagine is a huge cost savings. we pick what we want, unopened bottles can be returned to the lcbo, etc. looks like most venues are charging between $40 and $60 pp for an open bar. has anyone figured out whether this is really the savings i think it will be?
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Re: bringing in your own alcohol vs. paying the venue per person for the bar

  • achiduckachiduck member
    5000 Comments 5 Love Its
    edited March 2012

    The savings will most likely be pretty big $40-60pp for an open bar is insane IMO. I also looked into this, and to return unopened alcohol (other then one or two bottles here and there) you need a special occasion liqour license permit which is fairly easy to get.

    I was looking at a wedding venue that offere that and I think the savings would have been a$1500-2000 (keep in mind that my venue doens't charge what yours would for an open bar).

    Just make sure you factor in any corkage fees your venue might charge if you bring your own.

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  • Kye042Kye042
    10 Comments
    My venue is charging $20 per person for an open bar!
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  • orlykahnorlykahn member
    10 Comments
    we saved 3000.00 for a wedding with 225 guests

    and returned about 20 bottles of wine!
    Orly Kahn *Makeup Artist* www.orlykahn.carbonmade.com
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  • gammaykellagammaykella
    10 Comments
    I'm getting charged $35 per person for open bar
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  • souptinsouptin member
    100 Comments
    wow...where are you guys booking with those prices?  Im having a november wedding so I wont likely be competing with your date.
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  • naomikbnaomikb member
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    Our open bar was $35 pp including tax/tip.  That was priced at an estimate of 5.5 drinks per person, which was pretty close to what we hit.

    What venue is it?  If you're serving fancy cocktails, martinis, etc. or top of the line liquors then they will cost way more than standard bar rail drinks (rum, vodka, gin, with sodas/juices) and beer/wine.  Did you ask what the price would be if you used basic bar rail brands (Smirnoff instead of Grey Goose) and no fancy drinks?
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  • LoveandmangosLoveandmangos
    10 Comments
    Seriously, where are you booking with those rates?  Pretty much everyone I have spoken with has quoted me at $40-60 for bar as well, and I have spoken with a LOT of venues!
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  • gammaykellagammaykella
    10 Comments
    I'm at the Liberty Grand. I am really happy with their wedding packages. And the wedding coordinators are very helpful and do a lot of the planning, set up etc for you. 
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  • Beads921Beads921 member
    1000 Comments Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I don't know what my venue charges for the open bar. It's just included in the pp fee (which includes cocktail hour, 3-course dinner, late night, cake cutting, and all drinks). One caterer I talked to was going to charge $40pp for an open bar.

    I'd imagine bringing in your own alcohol would be a cost savings, but you'd have to check on corkage fees etc. One venue I looked at charged more if I was bringing in liquor over just wine/beer because it would require mixes and more glassware. All things to consider!
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  • Kye042Kye042
    10 Comments
    Marquis Gardens - $20pp
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  • Jewel224Jewel224 member
    Knottie Warrior 500 Comments Combo Breaker
    Dokchampa - out of curiosity, which venue is it?
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  • lisafalon84lisafalon84 member
    10 Comments
    i'm supplying my own alcohol because of the savings!
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