Open bar is not an option, don't like the tackiness of a cash bar

I didn't read all the comments, but this is what I'd do (and I've seen it many times while catering)...

Don't have a cash bar. Buy a whole lot of Bota Boxes or Black Box wine, rent or find or borrow some carafes and set up a wine bar with sangria mixes, ice and club soda so people can make a couple of different drinks.

Open bottles of wine on tables often end up as half bottles of wine in the back of your trunk.

See? Problem solved.

Oh btw Julia, I'm actually a guy. I've planned the whole wedding with opinions from my fiancee. she doesn't have the creative mind like I do, and I really like planning and designing things, so I've been doing it all.

Celia, I do actually really like that option, but sadly it's not a possibility for me. The venue doesn't allow outside drinks to be brought it, so we can only use what they offer. Thank you though!

@Celia they're religious so alcohol at all in my opinion will be a waste of money. Most religious people I now have dry events.

@Blake I'm sorry it's usually just a ladies on here. That does explain sex comment now lol

I'd still like to have alcohol though, only like 1/3 of the people are religious, and most (let alone anyone other than my grandpa) of them don't believe alcohol to be bad or anything, but they won't be drinking a lot.

I have nothing to say that hasn't already been said, but I wanted to commiserate about how much it sucks to pay such marked up booze prices. We're paying $35 for $12 bottles of wine, and beer that is normally $7 is $11. Boo.

Blake, what about a consumption bar? If you don't think your guests will drink a lot, just you pay per drink instead of a set amount per person. It's not the same as buying a pre-set amount beforehand that can run out, but you're still providing drinks for your guests.

Not that it matters but before this spins out of control (which it inevitably will), I just have to say Blake has been very respectful, and taking peoples opinions in stride. Bravo.

The huge markup venues do on alcohol is the reason why I picked my venue: we get to bring in all of our own. I have friends in the industry and they all say that their biggest profit margins come from alcohol. It's insane.

Thank you so much Elle! I was feeling like everyone was hating me and thinking I was a troll for some reason. I just wanted some opinions. I'm glad to hear you think I'm being respectful.

I think that's the path I'll be heading Lori. I had read online that most places do a price per person which would cost an outrageous price, but after talking to the catering director, it seems they do more of a cost per container thing. He said if we asked for a certain amount of bottles of wine and we didn't use them all, then we wouldn't have to pay for the extra because they can just keep them for the next reception that wants them. I am considering two kegs instead of one now, but I'm just not really sure, it's so hard to estimate how much we'll use since I have no past experience.

Then I think your original plan was fine; the drinkers can steal wine from the other people, lol!

I had a cash bar. Where I live none of my guests had ever been to a open bar wedding anyway so it wasn't a big deal or a shocker.

For my to add open bar was going to be 5k and me to do limited bar was almost the same price which was a lot for me.

However, my cash bar wasn't actually "cash" and guests could open a tab if they wanted. I made sure to pay for all non alcoholic beverages though (my coworker got married last year and his guests even had to pay for soda)

There are online calculators you can use to predict amounts of alcohol. The general rule of thumb is, on average, each person will drink 2 drinks during the first hour, then 1 drink each subsequent hour. This is an average to account for some people drinking more and some people drinking not at all, but it sounds like it may be an over-estimate for your guests.

I would suggest using an online calculator and use that amount to budget for a consumption bar.

I dont think any one hates you. Cash bars are just a very sensitive subject here.

Thanks for the online calculator tip!! I think that will help alot in figuring out how much I want. It breaks it down by how many people drinking beer and wine (which I can figure who will drink what) and figures how many cups each person will have (it guesses 4 each). From this calculator it is showing my original plan for 20 bottles of wine and 1 keg are about right, I may even get a little extra to be sure.

Blake, just one cautionary tale: Last year when our friends tied the knot, the open bar could best be described as "busy." The groom told me that they ended up with a $10,000 bar tab! To be fair, the bride works in PR and the groom is a sommelier, so I guess it's no surprise that their friends would be drinkers, but I took their story to heart with our wedding planning! The hotel where we are holding our wedding built 2 drinks (beer or wine, no spirits) and a champagne toast into our estimate, so we know exactly what we're paying beforehand. And really, three drinks is enough, lol. We're celebrating love, not free booze .

We are also having a cash bar. My family isnt against dirnking, but they could care less if it was a dry wedding. My mother is paying for the wedding and if we were going to pitch for an open bar I would give her that money and keep it a cash bar. There are pros and cons. Pros no one complains, cons DRUNK people. Not saying there are not drunk people with Cash bars, but You didnt pay for them to cause a seen. Im also in an area where cash bars are common.

@Kat that's why I don't want to do an open bar, the current plan is limiting the alcohol to 1 keg of Coors and thinking 20 or 25 bottles of wine and once it runs out go to a cash bar. Total cost on my part is $225 (keg) + $20 X 20 (wine) = $625

I'm not even sure it would run out, there shouldn't be many big drinkers.

Re: Celia's last comment--It's true, if one table doesn't drink at all, and another table does, it'll probably get moved around on it's own.

Hi Blake. Good luck with fielding everyone's advice here! My personal opinion: cash bars don't bother me.

But I have a toonie bar question. Who do you pay? Do you have to hire a bartender and pay for the bartender? How do you know that the money you're getting is honestly all that you should?