Alcohol Options??

rawrali · April 2014

My fiance and I are having a brunch wedding reception. We chose champagne, mimosas and bloody mary's as drink options for the hosted bar. We will be paying on a consumption basis rather than having a full open bar. The venue sent me a copy of the reception contract which also states that there would be a cash bar for other options. Do you think I should have my venue eliminate the cash bar as an option if they will do so? I am going to try to make it clear that champagne, mimosas, bloody mary's, coffee, tea, and juices are all hosted, but I am worried about kids going up and ordering soda or someone trying to order beer and then being charged the cash bar price. Do you think the venue will agree to eliminate the option of having a cash bar?

Thanks!

photokitty · April 2014

If they were not willing to eliminate the cash bar option I would find a new venue. If they argue with you about it, check your contract. I would consider including soda as a hosted option since it is brunch, but that's just me. Host what you can afford and don't let the venue push you to break etiquette - they just want to make more money.

manateehugger · April 2014

Yeah, I would reply and state that you do not want other drinks offered for purchase by your guests. Push back as hard as you can. The venue should do it in the interest of good customer service if you ask me, but they are a business at the end of the day, so you never know.

If they wont budge (frustrating!), go ahead make sure you make a couple bar signs/menus that explicitly lists what you are hosting.

Is there a way they could have a small separate tab run up if anyone does just happen to order something you aren't hosting, it can be tacked on to your consumption tab?

insertusernamehere · April 2014

Post a menu, but if there's kids I'd recommend hosting soda as well. Not everyone drinks, especially at brunch.

STARMOON44 · April 2014

I think if the venue won't eliminate the cash bar option you shouldn't have your wedding there. And you should have soda available at no cost to your guests.

bethsmiles · April 2014

Tell your venue to eliminate the cash bar option. It's really rude to have any type of cash bar. And having it available at all means some people will get to have drinks that others can't which is really rude.

My guess is the venue will probably be resistant to eliminating the cash bar option but I would be really pushy about it.

lyndausvi · April 2014

What kind-of of a venue is it?

Restaurant? Not much you can do. If the bar is there guests will have access to the bar.

photokitty · April 2014

I din't read effectively...

Just tell them you don't want a cash bar and you need the contract updated to reflect your decision. Don't sign the contract or give them the deposit until they make the change in the contract. It is your event and as long as you are meeting the required minimum charge, they should have not say in what you are offering your guests to drink. Don't let the venue force you to be rude by having a cash bar

rawrali · April 2014

I am going to try to push back re: the cash bar. There will be fewer than a dozen children, and there is obviously water and a variety of juices available. I guess I don't see why soda is necessary, but I could probably add it if necessary.

photokitty · April 2014

rawrali said:

I am going to try to push back re: the cash bar. There will be fewer than a dozen children, and there is obviously water and a variety of juices available. I guess I don't see why soda is necessary, but I could probably add it if necessary.

I would add soda bc it would substitute for juice or alcohol for some guests and would probably be a cheaper option since you are paying based on consumption. Juice can be really expensive and people might want the caffeine without drinking hot coffee depending on the temp

rawrali · April 2014

The juice is included in the price of the brunch menu so that isn't really costing me anything. The soda would be extra. They will also offer iced tea included in the brunch price.

manateehugger · April 2014

rawrali said:

I am going to try to push back re: the cash bar. There will be fewer than a dozen children, and there is obviously water and a variety of juices available. I guess I don't see why soda is necessary, but I could probably add it if necessary.

SITB
What kind of venue is it? Soda is usually pretty cheap to add on a consumption basis. And if no one orders it, it's not like it hurts your tab at the end of the day, you know? The perks of a consumption bar.

rawrali · April 2014

It is a facility owned by the catering company. I guess I am being cheap, but I see it this way --- guest has a few drinks, then decides to cut himself/herself off, so (s)he switches to water/juice/coffee, which will cost me nothing, versus guest cutting himself/herself off and switching to soda, which would continue to run up the tab.

Our brunch menu is probably slightly breakfast-skewed, and I personally would never drink soda with breakfast foods so that is probably warping my view of this. I will probably just add the soda and be done with it.

lyndausvi · April 2014

yes, you are being cheap.

You can't think in only what you would or would not drink with certain foods. I do not drink juices, tea or coffee. I still would have them as options.

I do not really like breakfast foods and would eat more of the lunch foods which I would enjoy with a Sprite. Although, honestly I would more than likely stick with the more expensive mimosas.

PrettyGirlLost · April 2014

rawrali said:

My fiance and I are having a brunch wedding reception. We chose champagne, mimosas and bloody mary's as drink options for the hosted bar. WOOT!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!! We will be paying on a consumption basis rather than having a full open bar. The venue sent me a copy of the reception contract which also states that there would be a cash bar for other options. Do you think I should have my venue eliminate the cash bar as an option if they will do so? Yes, 1000 times yes! Make them eliminate the cash bar option. I am going to try to make it clear that champagne, mimosas, bloody mary's, coffee, tea, and juices are all hosted, but I am worried about kids going up and ordering soda include pop in your hosted bar, then or someone trying to order beer and then being charged the cash bar price. Do you think the venue will agree to eliminate the option of having a cash bar?

Thanks!

rawrali · April 2014

E-mail has been sent to request them to remove the cash bar option and include soft drinks in the consumption bar. Thanks ladies.

JCbride2015 · April 2014

OP, sounds like you are absolutely doing the right thing.

A word of advice from experience: we had a brunch E-party. The one thing I wish I had thought about was guests ordering lattes, espresso, etc. Maybe this affected us more bc Fi's family is Italian and they love specialty coffee. But you should ask your venue exactly what they mean when they say "coffee" is included and how they will respond if somebody asks for an espresso drink.

grumbledore · April 2014

rawrali said:

My fiance and I are having a brunch wedding reception. We chose champagne, mimosas and bloody mary's as drink options for the hosted bar. We will be paying on a consumption basis rather than having a full open bar. The venue sent me a copy of the reception contract which also states that there would be a cash bar for other options. Do you think I should have my venue eliminate the cash bar as an option if they will do so? I am going to try to make it clear that champagne, mimosas, bloody mary's, coffee, tea, and juices are all hosted, but I am worried about kids going up and ordering soda or someone trying to order beer and then being charged the cash bar price. Do you think the venue will agree to eliminate the option of having a cash bar?

Thanks!

Yes, I think you should ask them to do this. If they won't, then I would strongly advise finding a venue that will work with you. I do think you should include sodas in the hosted beverages since the cost is minimal and you may have some guests that prefer a soda, even earlier in the day.

MrsAitch · April 2014

Why is everyone acting like soda is required? If a guest demands beer, they're being rude, but if they demand soda it's ok? I think iced tea, water, coffee, juice is enough variety of non-alcoholic drinks and if someone just NEEDS soda, they're the one being rude.

rawrali · April 2014

MrsAitch said:

Why is everyone acting like soda is required? If a guest demands beer, they're being rude, but if they demand soda it's ok? I think iced tea, water, coffee, juice is enough variety of non-alcoholic drinks and if someone just NEEDS soda, they're the one being rude.

I added the soft drink options and the venue agreed to completely eliminate the cash bar. I don't think it will add too much to the total tab, so whatever. If a few nieces/nephews want to drink soda all day, that is fine. I was afraid adding soft drinks might make people want additional modifications - "Oh, you have vodka for the bloody mary's... can you make me a vodka Sprite then?" etc.

I am pretty sure the venue will not have the ability to make any espresso-based drinks, and the vast majority of our families would not want them or think to order them thankfully. FH and I would love to have them, but that's ok.

Inkdancer · April 2014

MrsAitch said:

Why is everyone acting like soda is required? If a guest demands beer, they're being rude, but if they demand soda it's ok? I think iced tea, water, coffee, juice is enough variety of non-alcoholic drinks and if someone just NEEDS soda, they're the one being rude.

My mom and I both need soda available to us because we have issues with being able to swallow. Basically stress makes our esophagus stop working and fizzy drinks make the food go down.

huskypuppy14 · April 2014

I don't think soda is necessarily required, but I would include it. Now if I went to your wedding I would gladly have a cranberry juice or a mimosa, but I would want to know if you were not hosting soda. You don't' want someone to mistakenly order a ginger ale and then be charged.

We had our appointment with the event coordinator at our venue last week, and she asked us which bar we were choosing. We told her premium open bar (not top shelf) so she said they would remove all the bottles that we were not hosting.. awesome!!

grumbledore · April 2014

MrsAitch said:

Why is everyone acting like soda is required? If a guest demands beer, they're being rude, but if they demand soda it's ok? I think iced tea, water, coffee, juice is enough variety of non-alcoholic drinks and if someone just NEEDS soda, they're the one being rude.

Whoa, I didn't say it was required. I said that, in my opinion, it would be good to add. Chill.

lyndausvi · April 2014

MrsAitch said:

Why is everyone acting like soda is required? If a guest demands beer, they're being rude, but if they demand soda it's ok? I think iced tea, water, coffee, juice is enough variety of non-alcoholic drinks and if someone just NEEDS soda, they're the one being rude.

I don't think it's required per se, but personally I loop water, tea, coffee, juices and sodas as staples when I host guests. Even though I pretty much only drink water in that list, I have the others around for guests who might want them.

Jen4948 · April 2014

MrsAitch said:

Why is everyone acting like soda is required? If a guest demands beer, they're being rude, but if they demand soda it's ok? I think iced tea, water, coffee, juice is enough variety of non-alcoholic drinks and if someone just NEEDS soda, they're the one being rude.

I don't think anyone is acting like soda is required. A lot of people, myself included, prefer it as a non-alcoholic alternative because it is carbonated and/or their regular beverage of choice, and while I would be surprised to find that none is available, I don't think it's rude not to do so.

insertusernamehere · April 2014

I think soda should be an option, especially because people who don't want to drink, can't consume alcohol, or aren't old enough will probably still want something bubbly!

Also, if you're hosting alcohol, soda is wicked cheap by comparison. If your venue is charging more for soda than alcohol, hook me up with your venue please!

aurianna · April 2014

I don't do juice; too much sugar. I hate both tea (iced or otherwise) and coffee. But I like my caffeine in the morning, so I always drink diet soda. So if I went to your wedding and didn't feel like alcohol, I'd order a soda and then would be really annoyed if I were asked to pay for it, and I would be disappointed if they didn't have it at all. I imagine this is a preference similar to many kids/teens and other, super picky adults.

However, you are offering tons of options and you can't please everyone. While it would be nice of you to offer soda (I know guests like me would sure appreciate it), I really don't feel like it should be required... If you're already at the tippy top of your budget don't feel pressured.

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