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Just Said Yes June 2024

Drink Cost Nightmare

Jessica, on September 17, 2023 at 2:35 PM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 9

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Hi Everyone,

Was wondering how everyone saved on drinks because this is looking like a nightmare for us. We’re having our venue at a hotel which doesn’t allow us to bring our own alcohol and we have to buy everything from them. The cost is insane (ex/ one 1.5oz shot is $25.62)
We’ll probably have around 150-180 guests with the majority (85-90%) of them being young people who drink a ton. For example, the last wedding we went to with this group, they drank around 14 drinks each even when the open bar was only open during cocktail hour and after 10pm - closed inbetween
Here is my cost breakdown so far

pen bar for 1 hour cocktail hour (limited to signature cocktail, beer, cider and wine only, no shots) - cap it at $50003 glasses of wine per person at dinner - $68003 drink tickets per person to use on signature cocktails, beer, cider or wine throughout the night - $68001 round of shots at the end of the night - $4600
Total so far = $23,200
I feel so defeated because even though we’re spending $20k+ it still sounds like a super sober night and people won’t want to come to the dance floor at the end of it

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Latest activity by Lauren, on September 18, 2023 at 2:23 PM

Rockstar July 2019
Veronica · on September 17, 2023 at 3:22 PM
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Do they not have an option to pay per person? Because what you are describing is a consumption bar. We got married at a hotel and just paid per person and while everyone didn't drink it was still cheaper to pay per person than based on how much alcohol was actually drank. I would talk to the venue to see if this is an option.
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Rockstar October 2023
Cece · on September 17, 2023 at 4:21 PM
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Those prices are insane. It sounds like you may either need to change venues, or consider a dry wedding.
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Rockstar December 2022
Michelle · on September 17, 2023 at 4:24 PM
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They charge what they do because people pay it without question. No one asks why things are done. It’s how they make their money and get away with it.

One of the first things that should have been asked during the tour, is if they charge per person and how much. A flat per person charge is nearly always the least expensive option. Many bartenders will charge an average of $15-30 (and that can vary depending on location) per person for the entire night. That way, a guest can have 1 drink or 10 and it’s way less than consumption which has no oversight and an astronomical bill at the end. Tickets are not cheaper than consumption and there is no oversight with that either because if they are not for nonalcoholic drinks which should be readily available, someone may decide that they don’t want theirs and give it to alcoholic cousin/friend/uncle who should have been cut off before the first drink. You can also cut major costs by eliminating shots which many people don’t drink and many venues don’t allow.
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VIP June 2019
Hanna · on September 17, 2023 at 8:41 PM
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Those prices are definitely insane! Do they not offer an option for a bar package that charges per person (not per drink)? If not, then I'd seriously switch venues. We had a full open bar with top shelf liquor for 5 hours and paid a fraction of what you'd be paying
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Rockstar November 2054
Jacks · on September 17, 2023 at 8:57 PM
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I agree with everyone else, I'd seriously consider changing venues. Paying over $25.00 for a single shot is nuts.
Also, though, you could do away with the end of the night shots to save a bit of money.
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Rockstar June 2018
Rae · on September 18, 2023 at 9:49 AM
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Given that your guests are big drinkers, I'd seriously consider a new venue. Even if you have to eat the cost of your deposit at the current venue I'd assume that you'll save that much if you can do BYOB somewhere else.
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CM · on September 18, 2023 at 10:04 AM
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I can’t understand the individual drink pricing formatting or how 58K + 68K + 68 K + 4800 adds up to $23,200 total. But if open bar during cocktail hour plus wine during the reception, tickets for additional drinks and shots at the end of the night are considered “sober” by your crowd then either you need new friends or consider that maybe they are the problem here.

I’d limit open bar to cocktail hour and serve wine with dinner. Plenty of weddings I attend do that and no one rudely goes home, Eliminate the shots and the IM0 tacky drink tickets.
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Rockstar July 2022
Lisa · on September 18, 2023 at 10:09 AM
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Yikes - those prices are ridiculous! If you're locked in to your venue and not willing to go elsewhere, then I think there's a couple adjustments you could make. First, you could save some money by reducing the 3 glasses of wine at dinner to 1 or 2 glasses per person. Second, I would eliminate the shot at the end of night (especially since some people may leave early, so you could be paying for shots that aren't being consumed), and instead reallocate that money to increase the number of drink tickets per person. Also check to see if your venue is willing to do a flat rate per person for open bar instead of per consumption. Otherwise, are you open to switching venues? If so, I'd definitely look elsewhere that offers a cheaper price. Your current venue's pricing seems outrageously high.
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Rockstar June 2024
Lauren · on September 18, 2023 at 2:23 PM
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Those costs are absolutely insane. I can't imagine paying that, my wedding's about the same size. If you're not already locked in, contract signed with your hotel venue, I would seriously consider looking elsewhere as the drinks seem like a non-negotiable for you and I would be the same. Most places give you their pricing upfront about what open bar would cost or if they'll allow you to bring in your own alcohol.
If you are already locked into your contract, maybe ask to see WHY they charge what they do or see if there's any wiggle room to negotiate/keep it just beer and wine instead of having liquor too? Just a thought! Keep us posted on what you come up with!
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Drink Cost Nightmare

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