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Savvy October 2019

Bar Tab?

Pseunami, on February 20, 2018 at 1:08 PM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 12

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Has anyone had a venue that has a limited bar tab paid in advance? What I mean is, our venue has told us that the drinks in different quality categories are ($5/$6/$7/$8) each, and they tally them throughout the night until they reach the total that we've put down towards alcohol (they used $2,000 as an example.) Once that limit has been reached, they'll ask us if we'd like to close the bar, switch to a cash bar, or add more money to cover drinks.

I have approximately 100 guests expected at my wedding, so what would be a reasonable amount to put down for drinks? If anyone has experience with this time of charging for alcohol and can offer any advice or tips I'd greatly appreciate it!

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12 Comments

Latest activity by Xandria, on February 20, 2018 at 4:09 PM

VIP June 2019
Danielle K · on February 20, 2018 at 1:17 PM
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Is there a minimum
Do you get back what you put down if it isn't spent?
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Savvy October 2019
Pseunami · on February 20, 2018 at 1:18 PM
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No minimum as far as I'm aware, and I will be calling today about a few other things so I'll ask about what happens to leftover money.
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Dedicated October 2018
Katie · on February 20, 2018 at 1:20 PM
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Well if you were going to pay for 2 drinks for 100 guests at $6/drink that would be $1200, of course some people will want more, and some will want less.
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Master October 2016
Mrs. Fall Bride · on February 20, 2018 at 1:22 PM
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Assuming all of your guests are going to have 4, $8 drinks each, that would be $3200. So definitely find out if you get back any money that hasn't been spent, and if not, then I'd say put down $2500 and then add more to the bar if all that gets used up. Whatever you do, though, do NOT have it switch to a cash bar if the tab gets used up, your guests should not be opening their own wallets.
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Savvy October 2019
Pseunami · on February 20, 2018 at 1:23 PM
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Agreed! No cash bar. Although, we do have some say in which priced drinks are available (like most places there's basic, top shelf, etc) so it's safe to say that at most each drink would be $5-6 each at most.
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Master October 2016
Mrs. Fall Bride · on February 20, 2018 at 1:25 PM
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Ok, then I think $2500 is probably a good place to start, but I'd probably keep an extra $1000 reserved for it just in case you need it.
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Super February 2018
Married and Loving It! · on February 20, 2018 at 1:27 PM
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I would discuss with your FH the max you are going to spend on alcohol- I would ask the venue what happens if you put down more than your guest will drink. I think 3 drinks per person is a good number to start- as people who are driving can have 2 drinks and drive. Plus some people will drink more and less. If they give you the left over funds put down your max, if they don’t maybe pay for 2 drinks per person but have back up funds available to put down more to your max. Also if you have a low alcohol budget but want to provide more drinks ask about just beer and wine.
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Master July 2017
Going to the chapel · on February 20, 2018 at 1:27 PM
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A quick calculation you might try is 2 drinks per guest in the first hour and then one drink per hour after that. Multiply the total number of drinks by the number of guests who drink, then multiple by the per drink cost. Just make sure the venue will refund any unused amount paid.
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Master April 2017
EM · on February 20, 2018 at 1:32 PM
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Do you have an option to pay per person vs per drink? Depending on your crowd and how many heavy drinkers you have, paying a flat rate may be cheaper.
That being said, in hindsight I wish we had done a consumption bar. We probably would have saved $500-1000 on our bar bill, but having the piece of mind that if someone spilled their drink or forgot it somewhere and got another that they weren't totally wasting my money since it had already been paid for.
Just something to keep in mind if it's an option!
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VIP January 2019
Daria · on February 20, 2018 at 1:49 PM
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My venue charges a flat fee. It's $18-22, depending on which tier of alcohol we select, per person for the whole night. I'd see if they are willing to do a package like that.
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Super May 2018
Nikki · on February 20, 2018 at 2:03 PM
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I think around $2500 is a good place to start. Going to the Chapel has a good method of calculating an average. Some will average 2 drinks an hour, and some will stop after 2 drinks total, and some won't drink at all. Assuming everyone has 5 drinks over the course of a 4 hour reception (very feasible) at $6/ea....that's $3000 right there before tax.
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VIP December 2018
Xandria · on February 20, 2018 at 4:09 PM
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Find a way to do it so that the caterer isn’t coming to you mid wedding! It would be awful to be mid dance, or in a conversation and have to think about the bar!

Perhaps ask if you can have a set amount you wont go over, but let them go up to that amount? You can put part of it down &
pay the remainder after?
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