Open Bar Price per Person?

Usually the options are an open bar, or a consumption bar.

Open bar is usually something like $20 per person, per hour the bar is open.

Consumption bar is just what it sounds like, you pay whatever the tab is at the end of the night.

The open bar price per person is all you pay.

No, you would be only responsible for the 1500 in that scenario. That’s the benefit of an open bar per person vs. consumption bar, it’s a set price and allows for no surprises at the end of the night. With consumption bars if you plan for 1500 for the night and go over then yes you’re responsible for the overflow.

If it's an open bar, that's all you'll pay (not including taxes and other fees). Ours ranges from $27-$40 per person for open bar depending on the package.

No, the idea of an open bar is like a buffet. All-you-can-drink for the set price. Do confirm whether that is the end price, or if there are additional service charges on top of that. And don't forget to budget in a tip!

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Agree with pp's, but don't miss FutureMrsD's comment about taxes & fees (most likely service fee/gratuity -- different venues call it different things). Combined, these could easily add 20-30% to your total cost, so your $1500 example might end up closer to $****.

Understand though that you will likely never find an open bar at $10pp for the entire timeline of the event.

At my daughter's venue, the cost of an open bar is priced as follows:

2 domestic beer choices and house wines, soda and juice: $30pp for five hours ($15pp/2 hours, $5/hour for three additional)

Full bar with House brands of liquor with 2 domestic beer choices, house wines, soda and juices: $32pp for five hours ($17pp /2 hours, $5/hour for three additional)

Full bar with Premium brands of liquor, 2 domestic beer choices, house wines, soda and juices $34pp for five hours ($19pp/2 hours, $5/hour for three additional)

View Quoted Comment Perfect! Thank you!

View Quoted Comment Definitely can’t forget about taxes and fees... and even the tip! I hate how quickly they add up. Thanks!

View Quoted Comment I know the open bar will not be $10 per person but I don’t know the actual cost of the open bar options for my venue off the top of my head. I simply wanted an answer to my question and felt that providing a simple example would help make any answers easier to provide and understand. I learn better when there’s an example provided!

You will also need to confirm with your venue if the open bar is priced per person per hour. A lot of them will price by the hour. My venue had different prices for each hour the bar was open. It was something like $35 per person for the first hour and then $17 per person for each subsequent hour.

I just read an article that said the US average for open bar is $16.50 per person. That includes large cities and is just an average, may be lower in smaller cities