Skip to main content

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

Stephanie
Beginner August 2021

Buying alcohol for bar service

Stephanie, on February 12, 2021 at 6:07 PM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 9
We’re considering renting a mobile bar like those little converted campers for our cocktail hour and reception. I had no clue until we started to inquire about them that we had to supply the alcohol. My question is how much do we need? We’ll only have 25 guests plus ourselves.

9 Comments

Latest activity by Elisa, on April 12, 2022 at 5:28 AM
  • C
    Dedicated November 2021
    Claudia ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Buying alcohol for bar service 1
    I think the rule is something like 2 drinks per guest for the first hour and 1 drink per guest for each hour after that.
    • Reply
  • Stephanie
    Beginner August 2021
    Stephanie ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    Thank you! So helpful!
    • Reply
  • Michelle
    Rockstar December 2022
    Michelle Online ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Go to a local Bevmo or Total Wine. They can help you determine how much you need. Also you need to sit down with fiance and decide what type of drinks you will serve. Also talk to the bartender service to see what they are willing to make. Do your guests drink beer/wine only? Do they not drink beer/wine at all but will drink mixed/frozen drinks? You have to ask your VIPs what they prefer because every group is different. Make sure you have a wide variety of nonalcoholic options too because those nearly always get forgotten.

    • Reply
  • J
    Dedicated November 2021
    J W ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Another option is to do a limited liquor bar! You can choose two signature drinks that are your favorites and then only have those types of liquor available. For example, we're doing Manhattans and Gin and Tonic so we'll only have bourbon, gin, and vodka (bc not everyone likes gin and vodka can sub for it in almost everything). Then just wine and beer. That makes it a bit cheaper because then you don't have to buy a ton of different options and mixers.
    • Reply
  • Stephanie
    Beginner August 2021
    Stephanie ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    I’m so glad you mentioned that. I actually think that would work very well for us as well. Thanks!
    • Reply
  • Stephanie
    Beginner August 2021
    Stephanie ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    Thanks Michelle!
    • Reply
  • Jessica
    Devoted February 2021
    Jessica ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    If you’re doing a full bar selection it’s a lot. If you curtail things down to a limited bar you’ll save significantly. Like beer, wine and a signature cocktail
    • Reply
  • Kaysey
    Super February 2020
    Kaysey ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    There's tons of websites that can help you calculate how much you need for your wedding based on a number factors. This is the one I used for my wedding: https://www.evite.com/pages/party/drink-calculator/

    I would recommend purchasing your booze from total wine. For my wedding we got a keg of my husband's favorite beer, liquor, wine (both red and white) and some single bottles of different beers to serve at my wedding -we got the beer, water, soda and other mixers from sam's club though. The best things with total wine that sold us was we were able to return any unopened/unchilled bottles after our wedding & we got discounts b/c we purchased in bulk. We spent a little over $400 when we went to stock the bar and we returned over $200 worth - and we had a TON of stuff left over for a wedding with 150 guests and just about everyone drinking but 5 or 6 people. The discounts we got for buying in bulk was nuts!

    • Reply
  • E
    Elisa ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    If you have to provide your own ingredients, I would suggest buying from bookers. You will need to do a registration first but at leat the prices are very good.

    Alternatively, you can have companies like spin and shake mobile bar hire london providing with a complete solution with pre-paid packages or open bar packages.

    This will avoid having a ridiculous amount of surplus alcohol left after your cocktail hour.

    Sometimes it workout cheaper thank you providing your own ingredients.

    Hope this was helpful.

    Regards

    Elisa

    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×

Related articles

WeddingWire celebrates love ...and so does everyone on our site! Learn more

Groups

WeddingWire article topics