When you begin thinking of your wedding, it is important to be aware of the importance food and beverage will play on your big day. The concept of an open bar has been an important topic for quite a while at this point, but this does not mean it is right for every couple. Let’s go through some important considerations before you decide!
Cost
The cost of your open bar is heavily dependent upon what you are serving. If you plan to offer top shelf tequila and the finest champagne- be prepared to spend a pretty penny. You can always check with your catering team to see if they offer bartending services and they will usually give you a price per head, depending on what you are planning to serve. If your venue has a built-in bar and/or is set up as a full service bar when not hosting a wedding, the full bar may be a bit more practical.
Another option that is a bit more cost effective would be to pre purchase the alcohol in bulk at a store like CostCo to provide for the bartender to serve. This allows you to focus on a few specific alcohol types and can help with keeping the alcohol- related costs lower.
Over Indulging guests
Another fear with an open bar, aside from the cost, is that guests will overindulge. There is nothing fun about Uncle Rick getting so drunk he falls out on the dance floor. If this is a concern for you, you can always give your bartender a heads up and let them decide when and how to cut people off. Another option would be to utiliza a cash bar.
For a cash bar, guests have to pay for their own drinks. Because they will be covering the tab, guests may be less likely to over indulge. However, cash bars are normally frowned upon and seem like you and your spouse are maybe being stingy. You will need to give your guests a heads up as they will probably need to run by the bank and get a bit of cash out for the bar!
Limited Bar
As mentioned previously, rather than having a fully open bar, there is the option of providing the bartenders with a limited selection of alcohol to serve. This can be beer and wine, serving only the bride and groom’s signature cocktails, or selecting a few inexpensive hard liquors and mixers. Signature cocktails are mixologist designed specialty drinks and can be inspired by the couple themselves, their favorite activity or maybe even their furry friends who couldn’t make it to the wedding!
In Conclusion
Knowing your crowd and if/how they drink is incredibly important when it comes to deciding on your bar type for your wedding. Another important factor to remember is your budget. If you have a large group of heavy beer drinkers, maybe you supply a couple cases as a limited bar. If you know your family is more cocktail oriented, the limited bar with signature cocktails will be your best bet.
At the end of the day, whatever you decide, the team at CTC can’t wait to be a part of your special day. If needed, we can even help Uncle Rick up off the dance floor at the end of the night, too.
Cheers,
Kayley
Associate Wedding Coordinator | Content Creator
Kayley Russell
Cue The Champagne Event Planning and Design Chattanooga Tennessee’s Premier
Wedding Planning and Event Studio Owned by Chattanooga Wedding Planner and Wedding Coordinator Shaun M.Teague
Cue the Champagne Event Planning + Design offers Wedding Day Event Management Services formerly known as Day of Wedding Coordination, Full Service Wedding Planning Services, Chattanooga Wedding Flowers ,Elopement Planning and Event Design Services for all your Social and Corporate Events. Cue The Champagne Event Planning and Design also offer Chattanooga Wedding Flowers for your wedding and event planning needs.
Cue The Champagne Event Planning + Design caters to Weddings and Events in Chattanooga Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia Wedding locations and Worldwide.
