Beer/Wine or open bar?

I would think beer and wine would be cheaper unless we're talking imported beer, which can get costly, depending on the brand, and some wines can be expensive as well, but I can see what your caterer is saying as well because the liquor is what really gets a person effed up, so to speak lol, so maybe in that sense, people would be less inclined to drink as much and if you do mix drinks or like a signature drink, people tend to sip at those unlike beer where sometimes people just pound those and get another one in a couple minutes, so I would ask your caterer to explain how including mixed drinks would save more money, and if it makes sense, do it. I'm guessing you would want to go with the bottom shelf brands and don't do anything real top shelf and I guess I can understand how it could end up saving money in the end, but ask them to lay it out for you so you get what they mean and then you know a good amount of your guests and how they might drink, and decide from there.

We are having only beer and wine but our venue allows us to bring in our own alcohol, so it ends up being easier and cheaper. I'm not sure how that would be different if you have a bartender and an official bar.

Hi john we are doing an open bar but we are having a limit and then when that limit is reached we will switch it over to a cash bar. This is way less expensive than just having an open bar all night long. if people want to drink more than its on there dime we are having 150 guest so we are spending $1500 for a full bar. I have been in this business a long time and beer and wine is always cheaper and to be completely honestwith you I think they are trying to get you to spend more money.

What time of the day is your reception? Ours starts at 12:00 PM and we're offering sodas, coffee/tea, punch, water and margaritas. We're undecided whether we'll offer anything else.

We are only doing a beer and wine bar, but it is included in our package price for the venue w/the catering. Even if it wasn't in the package, I probably would have gone for only beer and wine as we are on a budget, and normally a complete open bar is more expensive.

We will be offering beer and wine but setting a $ amount limit on the wine....I think it is normal for there only to be free beer offered at weddings or maybe that is just because I live in Milwaukee

@ Anita c. thanks for the advice I always thought beer and wine would be cheaper.

@ Jennifer C. Our cocktail hour will start at 5:30pm but before the ceremony we will offer tea, lemonade since we will be outside.

@steviejoy I agree with you about peopel just babysitting there mixed driinks and others just pounding down the beer and wine. I'm all about taking advantage of a open at any celebration but I've see some pretty crazy things happen at weddings wiht complete open bar. I had a friend get so drunk that she almost spilled Jack and Coke all over the brides dress. thanks all

Ummmm, i am 'in the biz' as they say and beer and wine is absolutely always cheaper... i don't know what that person is even talking about. )

I have to agree with Ashlee, beer & wine is cheaper. We are doing beer, wine, & signature drink! Your caterer doesn't know what she is talking about it! She trying to get you to spend more money.

I am doing wine and beer only too because it is cheaper

Love WW!!!! Thanks everyone

Also doing beer and wine. It's definitely cheaper than an open bar!

Our venue requires a bartender, but otherwise we bring in what we want. after just purchasing alocohol i can tell you beer and wine are cheaper. we are also doing one liqouer, but bottom/middle shelf. even with it being lower shelf it ran us 120 for 6 liter bottles of whiskey...that was case price. we really wanted crown royal...but at 40 plus a bottle...that was out.

@ Future Mrs Wells, I love in Milwaukee too!

We're doing beer and wine and offering three types of wine and three types of beer. We're also doing a cocktail hour and a special drink will be served during that time, probably a mojito. I think beer and wine are definitely cheaper than an open bar.

Something a little different - we are doing a beer and wine open bar as well as a margarita and sangria station. Maybe do beer and wine and a signature drink?

If you were hosting an open bar really you should have beer, wine AND mixed drinks. That's typically what open bar means. So in that case beer and wine only would definitely be cheaper if you were providing the alcohol. However, if by open bar you mean you would only be serving mixed drinks (no wine and beer) then you are probably better of pricing out how much liquor vs. how much wine and beer you would need to see which is cheaper.