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Paige L.
Super September 2021

Determining Bar Package - Flat fee or by consumption

Paige L., on February 8, 2021 at 8:10 PM

Posted in Wedding Reception 30

Good evening, everyone! My fiancé and I find ourselves in a little bit of a dilemma. We are currently trying to decide which bar package to choose at our venue and just can't determine which will be the most cost efficient. Currently, the venue offers two options, 4 hours of all-inclusive bar...

Good evening, everyone!

My fiancé and I find ourselves in a little bit of a dilemma. We are currently trying to decide which bar package to choose at our venue and just can't determine which will be the most cost efficient. Currently, the venue offers two options, 4 hours of all-inclusive bar service for $55/person or a per-consumption bar service of $12 per drink for liquor/wine and $7 per drink for beer.

Do any of you have experience with this? We just aren't sure of which option will save us the most money. We are planning on fully hosting the bar, so cutting it down to just beer and wine isn't an option, but we don't want to spend more than we have to. Have any of you done one or the other and had regrets?

30 Comments

  • Alisha
    VIP April 2021
    Alisha ·
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    Flat rate/open bar bc you will do not want to stress over the bill at the end of the day.

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  • CountryBride
    VIP April 2022
    CountryBride ·
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    It depends on the guests I would do flat rate
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  • Nicole
    Beginner July 2022
    Nicole ·
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    It would be more cost effective for you if you did a per consumption bar. You only pay for what is drank. A cash velar would be even better though as you won’t be paying for the alcohol.
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  • Llcool_Kay
    Expert July 2021
    Llcool_Kay ·
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    To be honest I think it depends on your crowd. We have a 50/50 drinker and non drinkers crowd so that’s how we based our bar package.
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  • Paige L.
    Super September 2021
    Paige L. ·
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    I think that is my big takeaway: if I do flat rate, it is just one less thing to worry about on my wedding day. Flat rate it is!

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  • Paige L.
    Super September 2021
    Paige L. ·
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    How did you end up dividing your package? Did the venue let you only pay for half of the guests?

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  • Paige L.
    Super September 2021
    Paige L. ·
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    Cash bar is not an option. It is important to me to properly host my guests and I refuse to allow them to open their wallets on my wedding day. Do you have experience with a consumption bar being more cost effective than a flat rate? If so, I would love to hear it!

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  • Llcool_Kay
    Expert July 2021
    Llcool_Kay ·
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    We only did signature drinks and open limited bar. At our venue our drinks are done by the gallon. So we just purchased less gallons. Each gallon has about 30 drinks per gallon. As for liquor we only paid for bourbon, tequila, and rum as a flat rate. And then about 4 juices to make for mixed drinks.
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  • Paige L.
    Super September 2021
    Paige L. ·
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    I so wish we could pay by gallon!! Seems like an amazing way to save some good money.

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  • Llcool_Kay
    Expert July 2021
    Llcool_Kay ·
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    It actually is. Our alcohol cost us under $600 and we got enough to cover about 4 drinks per guest for the entire night. Gallons definitely take care a lot of people. Especially if you have more than one drink
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