Estimating the cost of an open bar

How will your venue be charging you? Is it a consumption bar?

The general rule of thumb to estimate how many drinks is 2 drinks per guest for the cocktail hour, and 1 drink per person per hour of the reception!

20 Things You MUST Know If You're Having an Open Bar

An open bar is a flat rate per person, regardless of how much they drink. Are you having a consumption bar?

A consumption bar can be an open bar. Open bar just means guests don't pay. My venue only offers consumption so that's what we are doing. Agree with Lynnie but if they are big drinkers add a little extra.

Hm, I've never heard of an open bar based on consumption! But this depends on how the venue is charging you as WWLynnie said.

I think it is consumption yes. We pay for their drinks at the end. Thank you!!!

As Erin said, an open bar simply means that guests don't pay for their drinks. It does not matter HOW the drinks are paid for by the hosts (by consumption or flat fee per head), if drinks are free for guests, it is an open bar. I don't know why so many people on this forum don't understand that term. A consumption bar most certainly is an open bar if the hosts are paying the tab.

In any case, for a group of 20, I would imagine that you paying per drink (consumption bar) would be your only option. WWLynnie gave great advice on how to estimate the number of drinks. Then you just need a price list from your venue to get an average price per drink (or take the highest drink option as Leah said).

My venue doesn't offer packages. They are greedy jerks! Lol!! It's a 150 adult minimum and we'll be paying for every single drink.