Don't Let The Bar Bill Break The Bank
The cost of an open bar can be somewhat shocking and it is very important to keep open communication with your caterer and explore possible options, since it can take up a big portion of that wedding budget! You want to be able to provide your guests with a good time and good drinks, but having a lavish open bar may not be feasible for your budget.When it comes down to it, providing an open bar can definitely break the bank if you do not consider some of these savvy ideas to save!
The average cost for an open bar at a four hour wedding reception can range from $15 to $90 per person. The cost has such a wide range, because it is dependent on the type of alcohol offered, ranging from premium liquors to fancy wine selections. An option that is becoming very popular and a way to still provide an open bar without breaking the bank is to offer a beer and wine bar. There is plenty of room to move with this type of bar and it can be very simple with just a few domestic beer options and a house red and white wine. If you have more room to move within your budget, you can always spice it up by adding more domestic and imported beer options, add champagne as an option, or add a signature drink. A beer and wine bar generally ranges from $11 to $33, which that significant decrease in cost speaks for itself.
If you have your heart set on a bar with liquor options, you can always save by nixing the name brands, ditching those designer labels, and asking your bartender to not "pre-cork" any bottles and only open the bottles that are requested by your guests. The other super saver idea is to find a venue that will allow you to bring in your own liquor and that way you can cut out a lot of those extra costs and get a deal on alcohol at a discount store. Depending on your selection, you will save a bundle. Another way to provide liquor without going over budget is to create a couple of signature drink options that can be pre-poured and your guests won't even see the brand or have time to make a judgment on your liquor choices.
Some extra fees you don't want to forget about are the set-up and clean-up fees ($30-$150), bartender fees (~$200 per bartender), gratuity costs (10-20%), corking fee (~$1-$15 per bottle), and cost of glassware (~$2 per person). Many caterers offer packages that you can review or even alter to meet your needs. You want to avoid cash bars since these are your guests that you have invited, but that doesn't mean that you have to provide elite bar services. If you have created a spectacular evening to remember, then the alcohol options won't be a big deal as long as your guests have a drink in their hand and a dance floor available! Looking at caterer options can be challenging and seem like a money pit, but that's why it is important to have Fabulous Fête by your side to ask the right questions and make sure that you don't get misled into a pricey bar bill!
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