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Tasha
Savvy April 2018

Open Bar Options

Tasha, on March 8, 2018 at 1:30 PM Posted in Planning 0 16
We are having an open bar for our “back yard” wedding there will be about 150 guests.
I’ve already hired a bartender but I’m trying to decide what options I need to have to stock up the bar..
So far I have 3 kegs
white wine options
red wine options
then our bartender is making a sangria punch
I’m stuck on the other mixed drink options, I know I can not afford 10 different mixed drinks. I’m trying to come up with the most common options that will reach out to the most people. Help!
Side note- I know I can not accommodate everyone’s favorite drink but I’m hoping to give everyone a few choices.

16 Comments

Latest activity by FutureMrs.A, on March 8, 2018 at 9:16 PM
  • Jennifer
    Master September 2018
    Jennifer ·
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    We are having the same approx amount of people and are having two bartenders, I am not sure if you meant bartenders but I would hire one more - I know that wasn't your question. To answer your question I would do a vodka soda with lime or fruit or vodka soda with cranberry.

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  • Mrsbdg
    Champion August 2017
    Mrsbdg ·
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    I would do a dark liquor and a white liquor. That's was how we chose our three signature drinks.
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  • EngineerInLove
    VIP September 2018
    EngineerInLove ·
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    Offer 1-2 dark liquors (whiskey, dark rum?) 1-2 light liquors (vodka, gin?) depending on what your guests typically drink, and then stick to basic mixers like soda, sour mix, and juices. This way you will cover almost everyone's tastes without going crazy stocking the bar, plus non-drinkers can order whatever mixers they want as well. I don't think you need to provide the ingredients for every drink possible, but 2-3 ingredient drinks tend to share ingredients anyway so you can offer lots of options.
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  • HowCo Industries
    VIP September 2018
    HowCo Industries ·
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    I'm doing just those options. Beer, wine and a white wine sangria. Ultimately a bartender may talk me into more, but at an outdoor wedding in the south my concern is the tendency to drink for thirst. If you've ever gotten white wine drunk on a hot day, you know what I mean.
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  • Jessi
    VIP December 2017
    Jessi ·
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    Get bottles of vodka, gin, rum and whiskey and then get soda, coke, diet, sprite and tonic. That literally covers everyone (maybe not fancy but you can easily serve any kind of basic drink with those options) who doesn't want wine, beer or sangria.

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  • Daria
    VIP January 2019
    Daria ·
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    What you have is considered proper hosting. I would go with a dark liquor and a light one, if you feel the need to do more. Or something sweet and something a little "stronger." Like a vodka lemonade and a whiskey and coke.

    You can always not have it set up a signature drink, just have a couple of liquors and let guests choose their own mixers. Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, OJ, Cranberry, and Club Soda will probably keep 95% of the people happy.

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  • Tasha
    Savvy April 2018
    Tasha ·
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    Thank you ladies! I don’t want to over do it and be left with a lot of extras but also want my guests to have a great time! BevMohere I come!
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  • Dolores Umbridge
    VIP June 2017
    Dolores Umbridge ·
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    Ask where ever you're buying your liquor from if you can return unopened bottles. That way if you overstock you can at least get some money back
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  • Tasha
    Savvy April 2018
    Tasha ·
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    Good idea- I’ll have to check into that!
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  • Future Mrs M
    Super June 2018
    Future Mrs M ·
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    We are just having 4 signature drinks (2 liquors), 3 beers, 5 wines and 2 signature shots. No need to be extravagant. Everyone will find something!

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  • Tasha
    Savvy April 2018
    Tasha ·
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    Is any body not including shots? I feel like if I offer it the alcohol will disappear quicker and also that it could get out of hand.
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  • HufflePuffin
    Devoted June 2018
    HufflePuffin ·
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    We will not be having shots. Our venue doesn't allow it specifically for this reason. People get cray-cray when taking shots. Just tell your bartender only to serve mixed drinks.


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  • WagsToKray
    Expert November 2018
    WagsToKray ·
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    We are not including shots, since the venue does not allow for it. I am ok with it, though, because I think people would get too drunk too fast and the alcohol would go much faster!

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  • Jacquelyn
    Dedicated October 2018
    Jacquelyn ·
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    We are having the same amount of poeople. The majority of the people just drink whiskies, so we are doing a red wine, beer, and 15 1.75L jack Daniels, 15 of the same for Jameson, 5 of the same for Skyy Vodka, 5 of the same of Sailor Jerry, and 26 bottles of champagne. I used an alcohol calculator I found online. The same page said based on just a small toasting amount of champagne, you need 13 bottles of champagne for every 100 people, and then you add a couple of extra bottles. Our friends really don’t drink champagne but FH insists on a toast lol. I don’t drink at all but it’s his request lol.

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  • Dolores Umbridge
    VIP June 2017
    Dolores Umbridge ·
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    Most venues and weddings don't do shots.

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  • F
    Devoted December 2018
    FutureMrs.A ·
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    I’d do a vodka, rum, whiskey, and maybe gin. Have mixers: OJ, cranberry, Coca Cola, ginger ale, lime juicer. You’d probably be pretty set with that. You could just go with vodka and whiskey too.
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