Open Bar?

We're having wine and beer during our reception. Usually, that is the cheapest/affordable option. I don't think you should limit the alcohol consumption to only during Social/Cocktail hour.

View Quoted Comment It seems a little ridiculous to complain about a watered down free drink that someone hoards for later...proper etiquette applies for guests as well! Smh

If i were you, and this is what i am doing, contact a wine/beer rep and ask them what their wholesale prices are on wine/beer, you can normally save somewhere between 60-70% off, and for the liquor, do a “stock the bar” party for your FH and his buddies, tell them whatever they want to drink at the wedding liquor wise, bring a fifth of it for the wedding and a 6 pack for the party. There’s 17 shots per liquor bottle and that’s a bartender 4-count shot, so if he has let’s say, 20 people come to a stock the bar party, 20 liquor bottles, 340 drinks can be made. Then put out an APB on Facebook for a friend who will bartend for you for free (plus tips, i am letting my guests know as nicely as i can that it’s open bar, but to please remember the bartender and you have just cut your budget down to $200-300 tops for the whole night.

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I didn't have time to even take advantage of the open bar as I was in the wedding, I'm just stating what I witnessed. I was disappointed that by the time did have time for a drink it was $$$ and I had no idea.

View Quoted Comment 15/plate is nothing 😂

We’re finding a venue that allows us to bring in outside alcohol to save us on money! My goal is to have an open bar for at least most of the night just because I know it would be nice for everyone. If for whatever reason that gets too expensive we’ll have select wines and beer all night most likely. But overall it’s your decision and you’re paying for it so no one should be upset about you not having an open bar all night. It definitely is expensive so I don’t blame you for not wanting to pay for it!

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Thank you Taylor! We looked ourselves to try to find a venue that we liked that would allow us to BYOB. But there was no venue that really matched with what we were envisioning, so we decided to give up that route and go for what we like. Our most important and biggest expense is the food, my FH is a chef. So that's where we will be spending most of our budget. Good luck on your venue search! Let us know when you pick one! Good luck!!