$1500 for 130 Guest Host Bar?

Ehh, for that many people, no, I don't think that's reasonable unfortunately.

I'm in VT (for reference), we're looking at $1,500 for a hosted bar for about 70 people. Beer and wine selections only. No signature drink and no hard alcohol.

Just beer and wine is definitely cheaper and is perfectly reasonable, but either way with that many people I don't think you budget is enough.

In my area? That's 3/4 a glass of wine.... Wine, beer and a sig drink would be just fine and I think you'll be close to that amount, but it really does depend on your area....

You need to host the bar all night. It's confusing to guests if it suddenly becomes a cash bar, it makes the lines longer because people have to pay, and it's just rude to make your guests pay for anything at the reception. I get wanting to save money, but this isn't the way to do it. Would it make it cheaper to just have beer and wine?

@Sarah M. Yes all 130 are over 21. I already took out the underage people from that count.

That for sure seems on the low end. Can you get away with just doing beer and wine? Our bars are typically priced out for four hours. Our BWS bar is $34.95 per person.

@A&W just beer and wine open bar for the whole reception is $14 pp. Not terrible but then to include open bar 4hour including liquor is $16pp.

The prices arent terrible its just because the venue took the extra space out of the budget, I had to find ways to make up for that in other areas.

In my family that'd be plenty. Most of them don't drink, even though they are of age.

Whatever you do, do it all night... don't go from hosted to cash.

Beer and wine is fine if that's what you can afford.

In my opinion, no. But it really depends on how much these drinks will cost?

Also, this is really a know your guests thing. If you KNOW they will not be drinking more than $1,500 of beer and wine, then go for it. But, if I had to guess, that $1,500 will go quick. I would pick the open bar.

OP, you have to cut something else that doesn't affect guest experience- so buy an off the rack or deeply discounted wedding dress, use minimal decor, buy your flowers and cake from sam's club, print your own invitations, have a very small or no bridal party...

These are things you can control easily and it won't change the individual experiences of your guests.

I also don't think that is reasonable. You need to host the bar throughout the event. When the bar closes the event is over (e.g., last call). To estimate your cost it would be most helpful to find out the average cost you will be charged for drinks then account for about 1 drink per hour per person over 21. That will be your cost estimate and where you should aim for your hosted bar cap.

So, for example, if drinks are, on avg, $5 each, and the reception is 3 hours that is $15 per person. That would be $1950 for 130 people. Note: I think $5 is a lower estimate than is likely depending on where you live although it is reasonable where I live.

Our beer/soda/wine for 100 guests is $950 for a 4 hr pkg. But would be $3,800 if we had a full open bar...crazy dif in price.

I don't think that is nearly enough. We are budgeting 700-1k for 18 guests on a consumption bar with drinks being roughly $12 a piece

. If you can afford to do beer and wine all night long that is what I would do. I have been to many weddings like that and have never found an issues as long as there is a good assortment of options.

@bobbileoghba Goodness thats a lot for 18 people. But at $12 a piece thats pretty hefty too. The drinks are only $5.50 at this venue. Premium are $6.60 wine is $4 and beer is $3.50. And I think youll are right It would be ok to just do open bar beer and wine. Atleast that would be in budget and they can have a few drinks.

No. First, consider gratuity, which will put you over $1500 even at 1-2 drinks pp.

On your open bar question, keep in mind that many venues require you to use ALL guests in your open pp number. I saw this with all of the venues I considered, IE if you have 130 guests over 21, 30 guests under 21 or nondrinkers, they may still charge you for 160 guests.

I would boost your alcohol budget to at least 2500 and do beer/wine all night.

It sort of depends how you do this. We are allowed to order the alcohol direct from the liquor store and then we pay our caterer to serve it. Doing it that way, our liquor order for a full open bar all night is about 2000$ for 150 people. That does not include paying the caterer to serve though, which is included in their fees separately.

We are paying more than that for 65 guests. $21/21+ $10.50/20 and under Sounds like a good deal for my area.