Drink Tickets - Tacky?

I've never been to a wedding with drink tickets and I think that gives it a carnival feeling. But that's just me. Maybe they are normal where you are from. My suggestion is to just do beer and wine and nothing else. That way, you don't have to worry about high costs and you don't have to worry about handing out tickets on your big day.

Uh...yeah. It reminds me of the frat parties I went to in college.

I highly doubt it was the bill that was padded, but that couple's misunderstanding of just how much drinks were consumed. People forget that wedding guests will grab a drink, mingle, set the drink down, get distracted and walk away. At that point rather than go off looking for their misplaced drink (which has more than likely already been disposed of by the event staff) they just go back to the bar and grab another.

As someone that spent 10 years bartending and managing bars and restaurants, it really irks me to hear people constantly complaining about "padded" tabs. More than likely the customers just drank more than they thought they did and immediately feel that they have to blame the establishment rather than own up to their own

Yes its tacky, even if you are not restricting the number of tickets having to flag down a groomsman every time I wanted a drink would be annoying and would seem like I was having to ask for permission each time I wanted one. I'm not a fan.

I wouldn't do tickets if people aren't paying for their drinks.

We did drink tickets ($2 a drink) - of all the weddings I have been to 95% have had drink tickets so it's not "tacky" here, but I do find it a bit weird to give them out for drinks no one is paying for.

I'll say this though, we had to pre-pay a liqour estimate for our venue. It was based on a set amount per adult attending, even though I also had several non drinkers. We doubled the estimate by the end of the night. More than doubled it, even with our non drinkers not drinking (and few of them did have a few drinks!) one of our non-drinkers was the last party animal to leave and go to bed that night, he was not a non drinker that night for sure!

If I'd had the opportunity to pay a set price PP, I would've done it, especially with the amount of alcohol we managed to slam through that night. Trust that some of your drinkers will drink enough for 2, and some of your non drinkers may decide to have a few that night!

So a guest has to find a groomsman everytime they want a drink? Don't your groomsmen want to have fun, too?

Don't do tickets. Hosting just beer and wine is fine.

If youre still comparing the cost of fully hosted vs consumption consider that the flat fee per person over 21 MAY be cheaper than consumption. Those that do drink will probably more than make up for those that don't, unless its the majority of your guests that don't drink.

I went to a wedding a few years ago that did drink tickets for the same reasons. It worked out really well, I don't remember anyone having to pay for drinks, and every still drank what they wanted, those who didn't drink passed off their tickets to those that did. I will say that this was a fairly small wedding (50-60 people), and I could see it getting to be a pain if you had a larger group of people coming.

Well I don't care for the idea. But to be constructive...

I would say put them on the table or something rather than having groomsmen hand them out. I don't want to feel judged every time I go for a drink lol.

As a bartender I can tell you two things- 1. it probably was inflated but 2. when there is an open bar people do not care how much they drink. put their beer down for a dance, and when they come back its warm so they go get another...

I wouldn't feel comfortable asking a groomsmen for more drink tickets personally, and would probably drink my two and just be annoyed

We're having a 2 drink limit. (I wanted a dry wedding, fh wanted alcohol, we came to agreement on two drinks) We will have two tickets on every spot, each guest gets two.

Sure there will be some people who don't drink, some who drink more. But that's how I'm doing it. I don't care if people think it's tacky. If you can't be sober for four hours then you have a problem (which many of my guests actually do). And also after the reception people are going down town to celebrate some more. The point of our wedding ceremony/reception is for people to come be happy with us and show us their love and support. You wanna get sloshed go do it on your own time. I've actually talked to most of my guests about the 2 drink limit and most of them were understanding and agreed thinking it was a great idea.

If you want to do tickets, go for it. If you're worried about what people may think is tacky, then ask your friends and family since they know you and the situation better.

It's no one's day but you and your SO

Tacky and uncomfortable. Tickets here, getchya tickets here...it isn't a ball game, just host beer and wine and call it a day.

We are doing 2 drink tickets per person, and a champagne toast. You want more? Go to the bar and buy one. Tacky? Oh well...Im in Mn btw

I think drink tickets are tacky. I paid for open bar when I don't even drink and I know some of my family doesn't either.

Completely tacky.

How would the tickets limit inflation on the bar tab?

typically with consumption bars the bartenders keep track of how many drinks and what type (top shelf or generic, beer or shots etc) and they price it out based on that.

with tickets they will have to either assign 1 price to every drink, (so soda costs as much as a top shelf cocktail),

or they'll have to gather & collect tickets and still keep track of the drink type.

it doesnt seem to be a way to save any cost and put more stress on the bar staff.

I love all of the holier than thou responses concerning that devil alcohol & weddings. It sounds like tickets are a good option-you're hosting but not paying for the non-drinkers. I wouldn't give it a 2nd thought if I were in attendance. Folks tend to get more tickets if they need them-seen that a lot at office parties, etc. you know your crowd best and no one on here is going to be there to judge. Just make sure guests know they can have additional tickets but I don't think I'd task a groomsman for that-use your DOC if you have one.

Thank you everyone. This was the first time I saw it and now I'm not sure if we want to go this route if it will look tacky. I have about 30 family members who don't drink and won't start just on this day.

I don't mind paying for alcohol but I don't want to have to pay for it for people who don't drink. This venue also had a very attentive wait staff. I set down my half-full glass of wine to go up to dance and my wine glass and been cleared so I had to get another drink which then makes me want to go with a package so I'm not surprised by the bill.

Pop/tea/coffee/iced tea is included with the meal. The wedding we were at had two color tickets - one for beer and one for mixed drinks/wine. The beer costs from 3.75-4.75, wine is from $6-$7, and mixed drinks are $5.50-$7.50. With the drink tickets, we would pay $4.75 for beer and $7.50 for wine/mixed drinks.

The beer/wine unlimited is $30 per every adult over 21. The call package is $40 and the premium package is $50. This is a Saturday afternoon wedding of about 125.

I think i would just do the $40 per person and call it a day for the unlimited. Im not a huge fan of the tickets and i feel like it could get confusing!

If you decided to do the beer/wine option and the call package, would it be $40 pp or $70 pp?

So it looks like, with the drink tickets, you'll be paying more than a traditional consumption bar?

If you're considering consumption vs. open, maybe just do the math? The rule of thumb is 2 drinks per person for the first hour, then one drink per person for each subsequent hour. So if your reception is 6 hours, that's 7 drinks/person. If 95 of your guests drinks, and you average the beer/wine/mixed drink costs, that's about $3,800 if you just pay for what your guests drink. Using the drink tickets, it'll be a little more because you're paying more (closer to $4,000).

This is totally estimating, and assuming that your guests will drink an equal amount of beer, wine and mixed drinks (and an equal amount of cheap vs. more expensive).

The Call option includes wine and beer.

If we do tickets, it does cost a little more per drink because the bartender doesn't enter each drink they just count the tickets.