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Lindsey
Just Said Yes October 2022

Drink vouchers

Lindsey, on April 21, 2022 at 5:40 PM Posted in Wedding Reception 1 20
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So, I haven’t seen this on any discussion forum lately and I’m wondering how some others would feel about it.
We are having a small wedding with about 50 guests. About half of which are immediate family who don’t drink alcohol at all (Including myself and FH). We originally were going to have some type of bar but after getting some quotes we couldn’t justify the cost with the uncertainty of how many people would actually drink.
So we decided to go with a dry wedding and just serve sodas, juices, lemonade, etc. That is until we got an interesting offer from a bartender to do drink vouchers. The offer is-3 drink vouchers per guest for beer, wine or soda plus 2 cocktails (screwdriver, rum and coke), 1 bartender for up to 5 hours of service and complete bar kit at a flat rate of $700. (We would still have a back up supply of sodas and other non-alcoholic drinks as we planned since I feel those should always be available)
Thoughts? Are drink vouchers tacky? Would we be better off just not having them at all? Or would it be fine since our guest count is so small? Would you feel offended as a guest at our wedding if you received a voucher for drinks? Please let me know your thoughts 😅

20 Comments

Latest activity by PermaGrin, on April 26, 2022 at 12:34 AM
  • Sarah
    Master September 2019
    Sarah ·
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    I think you'd be better off with no alcohol than with drink vouchers. Vouchers just scream work function to me or like the couple is trying to babysit their guests because they don't trust them to be responsible.
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  • Grace
    Super February 2022
    Grace ·
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    I would also say no to drink vouchers. If I was given them at a wedding, I would think it was tacky but not enought that I would comment on it to the bride or groom.



    Where have you looked so far for bartenders?
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  • mrswinteriscoming
    VIP December 2021
    mrswinteriscoming ·
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    I don't love the idea of drinks vouchers but if the alternative is no alcohol - I would go with drinks vouchers.

    I very rarely drink myself but weddings are one of the few events at which I'll happily help myself to a glass or two of wine and even with my minimal alcohol intake, I'd definitely prefer a voucher for 3 drinks (which is very reasonable, especially with the cocktails) than none at all.

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  • Taylor
    VIP October 2022
    Taylor ·
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    We’re having about that many guests as well with only a small amount of guests that drink (i don’t and my fiancé every little) but we have to supply all of our drinks so we’re just going to get less alcohol and a lot more soda and water etc
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  • Lindsey
    Just Said Yes October 2022
    Lindsey ·
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    That’s a good idea. Maybe it’s not the same everywhere but our venue requires a licensed bartender to serve any and all alcohol. Otherwise it’s not allowed on property.
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  • Lindsey
    Just Said Yes October 2022
    Lindsey ·
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    We’ve contacted bartenders from these wedding site vendor lists and through our venues recommendations.
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  • N
    Savvy November 2022
    Nay ·
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    I think its a great deal, honestly better than no alcohol. But definitely think about logistics, like how are people going to get the vouchers and whatnot. And maybe a cash option if people want more than the vouchers?
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  • Taylor
    VIP October 2022
    Taylor ·
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    Us too but we can hire one through our venue for $150-200 for the night
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  • Lindsey
    Just Said Yes October 2022
    Lindsey ·
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    Oh I see! The bartender offering the vouchers for $700 also has the option for a base price of $275 to just show up and serve what we provide. Do you think it would be a better option/maybe even cheaper to do that instead? Hire him at base price and then just buy a couple beers for him to serve?
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  • Hanna
    VIP June 2019
    Hanna ·
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    This would be a MUCH better option, in fact the ideal option IMO. Drink vouchers are perceived as tacky, regardless of the size of the guest list. You're better off doing a consumption bar or providing the drinks yourself and hiring a bartender to serve them. If cost is the issue, just serve wine and beer. If you're worried about overbuying, purchase the drinks from a place like Costco where you can return unopened bottles after the fact.

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  • Sloane
    Super May 2022
    Sloane ·
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    I w never heard of drink vouchers. I would find it odd even if I wasn’t a drinker. I think the second option is a better choice.
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  • Taylor
    VIP October 2022
    Taylor ·
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    I would think so. Plus there are places where you can buy alcohol and they’ll let you return what doesn’t get opened
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  • C
    Devoted September 2022
    Carissa ·
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    I worked weddings in college and I've seen some people do drink vouchers before. But in your situation I dont think they make much sense. Are you really going to pay for 3 drink vouchers per guest when you said half the guests don't drink? They would either get wasted or get given to the guests who do drink anyway.


    Why not just have the bartender serve whatever to whomever within that same $700 flat rate, and just whenever you run out, you run out, and its just soda/NA drinks afterwards? You'd be spending $700 either way, right?
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  • Jacks
    Champion November 2054
    Jacks ·
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    Drink vouchers aren't appropriate for an event that you're hosting. I would ask about a consumption bar, where you just pay for the drinks your guests have.

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  • Lindsey
    Just Said Yes October 2022
    Lindsey ·
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    Thanks for this! This is a smart idea too 😊
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  • Kelly
    Super October 2023
    Kelly ·
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    If only half of your guests will drink, it'll probably be a lot cheaper to buy the alcohol yourself and have the bartender serve it.

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  • J
    Just Said Yes September 2022
    Jennifer ·
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    I think the drink vouchers are a cool idea and a great way to provide alcohol to those who want to consume it.

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  • Michelle
    Champion December 2022
    Michelle ·
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    There are many posts on this topic that say it boils down to being a know your crowd thing. If you and guests don’t drink, then offer a wide variety of fun mocktails. Serve whatever you can afford and don’t offer what you can’t. What many people don’t realize is that consumption bar is actually more expensive than full unlimited open bar. There is zero oversight. They say they will only charge per drink, but reality is the opposite. They charge you for opening a new bottle, waitstaff will take a full drink that has been abandoned (whether they are dancing or are in the restroom) so guests have to get a new one which is an additional charge for you. Poll your closest VIP guests to find out what they drink and go from there. Costco or BevMo providing your own alcohol will be so much cheaper and avoids the drink tickets. Drink tickets don’t stop anyone from overindulgence which is the bartender’s job to monitor and take action.
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  • S
    Dedicated September 2022
    S ·
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    I also think that doing the vouchers is better than having no alcohol at all, BUT if you're able to hire your bartender at that base price and simply purchase alcohol to serve, this sounds like your best bet. I agree with others that the voucher thing can be kind of weird at a wedding, and while I'd make it work as a guest, it could still be a little icky feeling like you have to get other people's vouchers, etc. It seems like it would honestly even be cheaper to supply the alcohol yourself since so many of your guests don't drink!

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  • PermaGrin
    Devoted June 2022
    PermaGrin ·
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    Echoing this! I am buying my own liquor/ beer/ wine for my bartender to serve for a flat fee. That sounds like your best option as well

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