For those of you that had a consumption bar...

1020 Drinks (170 x 6)

40% wine = 408 = $1,480 (1/2 each kind)

40% beer = 408 = $2,245

20% liquor = 204 = $1,020 ($5 each)

Total = 4,745

I would guess that $5,500 would be reasonable.

I'll follow for some input because I have the same. Except I will have more non-drinkers, about 50% so only about 45 drinkers and like a couple of heavy ones. We will only serve wine/beer as the prices are: beer = $6-$8, wine is minimum $42/bottle.

Non-alcoholic drinks are $3.25-$5 (coffee/tea, juice, pop etc).

I am budgeting about $4300 pre tax and service fee.

I am only estimating about 8 paid drinks per person for the 7 hr time frame (cocktail to end of night) as I also assume many will drink water (we have lots of water drinkers).

OP: do you have to pay for non-alcoholic drinks too?

I wish my venue had a soft bar but it's a restaurant so no dice.

I think that's logical. You have some who won't drink 6 drinks and some who will drink more. I personally drink 2-3.

I think the non drinkers should make up for the heavier drinkers

We do have to pay for non-alcoholic drinks (pop, coffee, iced tea/hot tea,) but that's a separate pp number (aka not included in the 5K).

As for the cap, I'm thinking if our bar can make it to 11:30-12 before running out, we'll take the half hour-hour cut from the reception and naturally end it. BUT, if it runs out before then, we'll be ready with more money.

The cap can work a few ways, you can stop the drinks or they can just notify you when it hits the cap so you can decide to keep it going or not.

And yeah you can technically end the booze flow 30min prior too I guess.

No real advice, but can I just say that your drink prices are amazing? Everywhere I looked at consumption was approx. double that for beer and cocktails, and a couple $$ more for wine.

I'm in SW Michigan (not grand rapids either,) so it is really cheap. I have seen some others per drink prices and my mind is blown!

If drinks would've been $8-10, we would've changed to a per person open bar for sure!

I had a really small wedding so I'm not much help with figuring out your costs, but I can say that we went through way less alcohol than expected. We did consumption at our reception dinner and came in well under budget. We also had an after party where we bought our own alcohol and we had tons left over. I think you'll most likely be fine with what you've budgeted.

@LMac - I had a friend do that and was like "we went through our CAP so fast my dad had to add money to keep the drinks flowing" so I was scared. I asked him what was their cap and he said "$600". I nearly died. For 150 people and drinks are like $6+, yeah....he did say they ended up only spending about $3000 or so.

I feel better with my estimate now though.

I'd recommend you call some local venues that do serve alcohol and ask for advice. Even if you're not having your wedding there, I am sure you can get some expert help.

@Mrs. LMac - Haha yeah I know. They admitted they did not budget well and when I mentioned I nearly dies it was more of "how did you assume it would be so low?!?!"

Needless to say I feel better knowing my budget may be more realistic.