Open Bar Wedding Guide: Everything to Know

The cost of a wedding can quickly mount up, and alcohol can easily rank among your most enormous outlays. When you're starting to plan your wedding, you're undoubtedly asking yourself many questions. Should your wedding have an open bar? Are the visitors going to anticipate it? Are you able to afford it?

We outlined the benefits and drawbacks of an open bar wedding in case you have problems making up your mind. Discover the essential questions to ask prospective venues, how to save money on an open bar wedding, what to anticipate from open bar service, and much more.

Should you have an open bar wedding? Here's everything you need to know:

Telling you whether you can afford your ideal wedding is not our business at Flowersarch. We're here to support you instead so that you can experience the wedding day of your dreams. Thus, begin by clearly defining the wedding you and your partner want.

First things first, how much alcohol does your dream wedding include?

Look at the following elements to help you determine how much alcohol your celebration will require and how much your bar might cost.

1. Determine a drink schedule.

• Will there be a cocktail party following the ceremony?
• Will drinks be served throughout dinner as well? Only at the reception?
• Would you like any gatherings to be alcohol-free?

2. Detail your ultimate reception.

• Is your reception a sophisticated event, a celebration, or both in your ideal scenario?
• Are you planning a wedding theme? For example, your guests will likely anticipate free drinks with a Great Gatsby theme at a wedding.

3. Consider your guest list.

• How many people are on your guest list?
• Who's going?
• Are you hosting unruly guests?
• Are you planning to serve a more conservative audience?
• Will you need to assist your guests in "loosening up"?

What's the difference between an open bar wedding and a cash bar wedding?

It's time to consider bar possibilities after you have a firm idea of the alcohol requirements. If you have an open bar at your wedding, guests can get as many beverages as they like for free. The host covers the cost of the booze, the bartending services, and gratuities. On the other hand, a cash bar functions similarly to any other bar; patrons place their drink orders, pay for them, and tip.

Can you have a partially open bar wedding?

During weddings, combining an open bar with a cash bar is also a fantastic choice, particularly during the reception. A fixed percentage of the total alcohol sales may be covered by the hosts, in which case visitors will be responsible for buying any extra alcohol on their own.

Hosting an open bar for a part of the ceremony that transitions into a cash bar later in the evening is a common combination. In this case, you may have an open bar from 6 to 8 p.m. and ensure the bartender is on hand for the reception. Inform your guests that more drinks will be available after 8 p.m. on your wedding website.

Whichever alternative you decide on, establish your budgetary constraints beforehand so you may pick a bar that suits your spending limit.

Are cash bars at weddings tacky?

Offering guests a cash bar isn't nasty, but failing to notify them in advance is. Be sure to let visitors know via your wedding website or invitations. Let them know that there will be a cash bar so they can get ready for it. It doesn't seem reasonable to let your visitors arrive without informing them that they will be responsible for paying for their drinks. They won't like it, which can cause unwelcome drama on the wedding day.

What's the difference between a limited bar and a full bar?

A limited menu is provided by a limited bar. A limited bar may provide wine and beer or a small selection of cocktails. A full bar offers a wide selection of wine and beer, and a full liquor cabinet with high-end cocktails.

What are the benefits of hosting an open bar wedding?

When you offer your guests an open bar, there are three main advantages.

1. It's considerate for your guests.

Your guests' time and financial investment in attending your wedding should be considered. Have they taken a trip to participate in a destination wedding? If so, they also cover extra fees outside the event, such as lodging and travel. Recognize the time and cost you are requesting when you send out invitations. Offering a wedding day free of charge is kind if you're asking for a lot.

2. Open bars help create a fun, party atmosphere.

If your ideal wedding involves dancing, lively music, and laughter, an open bar wedding can help your guests relax. A superb bartender will excite your guests and encourage people who might have traveled alone to talk to their friends and relatives.

3. It makes the planning process easier.

An open bar wedding relieves you of many intricate details, arguably its most significant advantage. We know how much time, effort, and energy it takes to arrange a wedding, and we want to assist you in maximizing your time by eliminating unnecessary steps.

What are the cons of an open bar wedding?

Every wedding will face its share of special difficulties. Make choices that fit your financial constraints and contribute to the larger picture. Open bars are undoubtedly a crowd-pleaser, but before paying for bar service, weigh the risks.

1. A big open bar can leave you with an outstanding tab.

Wedding debt at the beginning of your marriage is the last thing you want. Once more, establish and adhere to a budget. Don't push an open bar if your alcohol budget cannot support a complete, high-end bar. It is unacceptable for your loved ones to witness you forgo your financial security to buy them beverages.

2. Guests could take advantage.

Regretfully, open bars are frequently exploited during weddings. Alcohol intake and overindulgence can readily result from an unlimited supply. Additionally, if your contract permits an open tab, you may be left with an enormous payment.

3. Unlimited booze = unforeseen complications.

A boisterous ceremony is not what every couple wants. Recognize the problems that might occur from unrestricted alcohol use. Limiting intake might be more advantageous in the long term if you have a group of crazy pals or a lot of family strife.

How expensive is an open bar wedding?

The number of people attending, the person supplying the alcohol, and the kind of drinks the bar will serve all significantly impact the price of an open bar. To assist you in selecting a number, respond to the following questions:

• How many people are attending? It's reasonable to predict that your open bar bill will increase with the size of your guest list. A lot of caterers and venues provide prices per person. To determine which per-person price range best suits your budget, acquire estimates from different locations and food services.
• Who is supplying the wedding with alcohol? The cost of the bar will differ depending on the supplier of alcohol. Catering businesses occasionally provide bar service and catering packages. Inquire about their package savings if you're thinking about hiring a caterer. Venues may allow you to bring your alcohol or employ a bartender off-site, or they may insist that you buy alcohol from their service staff. Setting up a tip jar for the bartender could assist in defraying your out-of-pocket expenses if your venue requires their services.
• At the bar, what will you be serving? Open bars can quickly get expensive, particularly if high-end spirits are served. Custom drinks with many ingredients or a complex preparation method will cost more. Investigate the typical bar prices for any beverages you would wish to serve. You should budget roughly the same amount for these beverages for your wedding.

How much does an open bar cost per person?

The usual open bar service prices per person are listed below. Remember that you only receive a few distinct bar service quotes, based on your region, venue preference, and local catering services. In light of this, approach discussions with a fair grasp of what amenities should be provided and what realistic pricing points are.

Proper open bar prices per person:

• $15–$20 per person for a limited open bar serving only wine and beer.
• $20 to $35 per person for a full open bar with a small selection of beer and wine.
• A complete, premium open bar costs $35 to $45 per person.

What questions should I ask my venue or catering company?

The key to a successful wedding is attention to detail. The more knowledge you possess, the more equipped you are to organize, finance, and carry out the wedding of your dreams. Ask your venue coordinator or catering contact the following questions when making your bar service reservation:

1. How many drinks per guest per hour is the "consumption rate" the venue accounts for?

2. Does the establishment have a "max cap" on the amount of alcohol served, with service ceasing after a predetermined tab amount is reached?

3. Do they have a flat fee for an open bar?

4. Is a gratuity included in or added to their prices?

5. Will the quote include any additional costs or tax rates?

6. Do they charge for setting up or taking down an event?

7. Can guests who don't drink be excluded from the cost?

How can I save money on an open bar wedding?

Achieve the ideal balance between meeting your guests' needs and staying inside your allocated spending limit.

• If you can, bring your alcohol. You might need to get inventive if you don't have enough money to support a fully stocked bar provided by the venue, though not all venues permit this. Start your search by looking for locations that allow outside food, alcohol, and vendor setups if you find yourself in this situation.
• Create festive labels! For those on a limited budget, changing the labels on inexpensive wine or spirit bottles is an excellent method to save money. Naturally, we advise against switching out a brand's label for another, but rather to use your imagination when creating your labels. Put a humorous image, saying, or your wedding hashtag on a pretty label and place it on inexpensive alcoholic beverages.
• Use drink tickets to control a partially open bar. Each visitor should receive two or three free drink tickets. Customers have the option to buy more drinks after using their tickets. Drink tickets are simple to create and serve, giving the bartender an easy way to keep track of individual accounts.

What should be included in open bar service?

A venue or catering business should offer a range of bar services. An open bar should include your choice of beer, wine, spirits, glasses or cups, ice buckets, corkscrews, shakers, tongs, bottle openers, napkins, and garnishes.

How much alcohol is needed for a wedding?

Generally speaking, aim to serve one drink to each visitor every hour. You should budget for 300 servings of alcohol, for instance, if your reception is three hours long and 100 people are attending.

Should I add information about bar policies to my wedding website?

Always be safe rather than sorry. Be thoughtful and, to avoid any potential misunderstandings, give your guests advance notice of the events, venue regulations, and expectations for the various wedding-day activities.