Open Bar vs Tab Bar

Hmmm honestly, it depends on the crowd. Heavy drinkers a set open bar woulf be far better than a tab. On the lighter side, then I would go with a tab. It really depends! There are some calculators online that can help you "estimate" the cost if you were to run a tab, also known as "paying by consumption". Good luck!

It really depends on who is attending. If you have a smaller crowd who doesn't really drink, a consumption bar might be a good idea. However, if you have a larger crowd (or even a smaller crowd) that like to drink, I would just do an open bar.

By tab bar do you mean that you only put a certain amount on the tab and then the guests pay?

I've heard of some venues that will allow you to switch if the consumption bar hits the same amount as you would have been charged for full open bar. Kind of a max cost insurance policy. Not a fan of the idea of only covering the first portion then having guests pay once your tab is used up.

View Quoted Comment Yes thats what i meant

It all depends on your guests etc. no way would I do it for my wedding. We have 188 invited. Expecting 150/160. The bulk of these guests are young about 30 for the average age. Then maybe 40 guests in their late 50s?
I think people forget how easy it is to put your drink down and then go for another. Consumption only works well for smaller weddings or if you know your guests don’t drink much. My guests like to swing from the chandeliers 😂

View Quoted Comment This is a very valid point 😂

If people know you’re only putting out a certain amount of money and then they have to pay, they’ll be chugging drinks in the first two hours. It’s not a good way to host your guests.

I would only do this if you were having a smaller wedding were you know the guests pretty well. I think it could run through fast at a large affair, especially once people get a little tipsy and become nonchalant with the drinks.

If you can afford the full bar for all of your guests why wouldn’t you pay for it? Unless you know that only X amount of people drink and they don’t drink much but if it’s even a question if your guests will go over the $$ you put down then you should just host the entire bar.

Oh my goodness, where are you guys located, what kind of place is your venue where they don’t provide open bar as part of your per person plate amount?!?!? I keep seeing this sort of question on here and I’m just taken back

Agreed with everyone else ! Depends on your crowd- we will definitely be having an open bar lol

My venue only offers either the guest pay for each of their drinks. Or I pay for them all.

So essentially I choose which alcohols I want them to offer. And at the end of the night they run my card. (Granted, my wedding is 20 people.)

our first venue we chose, charged us $15 per person per hour we had the bar unlimited whatever they wanted! I wish I still had this option but my new venue doesn’t offer this.

Figure out your crowd. Then make a decision.

View Quoted Comment I wish it was included with my dinner costs! I'm in NC and our venue is separate and actually runs about the same cost as the dinner plate. $34 per head for just unlimited beer and wine.