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How much should i budget for the bar?

ejmanciniejmancini member
Eighth Anniversary
in Wedding Cakes & Food Forum
My reception venue doesn't allow a cash bar.  I am on a budget for my wedding and have no idea how much i should expect to pay for a bar.  If I only limit it to beer and wine and soda, how much is reasonable for  about 120 guests?
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Re: How much should i budget for the bar?

  • lyndausvilyndausvi mod
    Moderator Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its
    Do they offer a flat open bar rate or is it by consumption?

    If it's by consumption, the average guest will drink 2 drinks the first 1.5-2 hours.  Then 1 drink after that.      You need to figure out the average price for drinks.   Then you need to make adjustments based on your guest list.  For example, my group was drinkers.  Mostly beer and vodka.  








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  • Maggie0829Maggie0829 member
    Eighth Anniversary 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 25 Answers

    I am glad they don't allow a cash bar because they are rude.

    Are you dead set on your venue?  Like have you signed a contract with them?  If so, you will have to go with their price.

    Also, prices vary depending on the region you are in and even from venue to venue.


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  • ils2004ils2004 member
    10 Comments First Anniversary
    If you google how to buy alcohol for a wedding, you'll find several online calculators that will help you figure out how much (ie bottles) alcohol to buy.  Once you know those numbers, you can go to any wholesaler to price out how much it will be.  

    Will your venue provide bartenders, sodas, water, mixers and the like?
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  • Ella and PedroElla and Pedro member
    Fifth Anniversary 500 Comments 25 Love Its Combo Breaker
    Ditto the 'are you already set on your vendor?' question.

    Our vendor let's people do Standard Beer & Wine Open, Premium Beer & Wine Open, Standard Full Open, Premium Open, Champagne included or host provided, specialty cocktails included or specialty cocktail host provided...

    If you can do host provided, google 'how do I calculate how much champagne for wedding?' (or whatever)

    We did that, and we found out that for 100 people, 35-36 full bottles were suggested.  When a host provides, that means you save money cause you can order wholesale, and take home any unopened bottles.  Opened bottles (I think?) not.

    By doing that, and serving moscato or prosecco instead of champagne, we calculated we'd save at least $500.00 vs. them providing champagne.

    See if they can do something like this for you. It might also be against the law.  This differs state to state.
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  • hyechica81hyechica81 member
    Knottie Warrior 1000 Comments 100 Love Its First Answer
    you also have to find out if they will take off money if you dont do a full open bar. its included in the package but you want to ask them what if we just serve beer wine and 2 signature drinks would the cost be less, you also have to look at state laws to state laws might say if you have an open bar it has to be all liqour def talk to your venue and see what they can do for you.. my friend had an open bar for the first 3 hours then it went to cash bar 
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