Should your wedding have an open bar? Pop Fizz Clink! The realities of an open bar and wedding cash bar. Tips to help you decide on your wedding bar options. Weighing the pros and cons of an open bar. Considerations for your wedding bar drinks strategy.
One of the pivotal decisions you’ll have to face when planning your wedding is whether to have an open bar. The allure of free-flowing drinks adds a festive touch to the celebration, but practical considerations and budget constraints may prompt a second thought.
In this blog, we’ll explore the pros and cons of having an open bar at your wedding and provide budget-friendly considerations to help you make an informed decision that aligns with your vision and financial plan.
Should your wedding have an open bar?
The answer to this will depend on how well you know your guests. But generally, yes, it’s a great idea to invest in an open bar.
Of course, you also have to consider your budget and how much you are willing to spend.
Oftentimes, we also overlook the venue as part of deciding if you should consider an open bar or not.
Getting married at a hall? Then yes, an open bar might work for you as most halls offer competitive bar pricing – since most of the alcohol and staff are already in the house. Even choosing the most basic limited open bar package will still help you save money and time compared to a BYOB setup.
Opt for a limited bar with a selection of beer, wine, and a few signature cocktails. This helps control costs while still offering a variety of choices.
But, if you are getting married at a private venue, whether it be your own house, rented space, or a backyard, you have to consider that the cost will be much higher than that of a hall pricing.
Even if the markup for alcohol at a venue or hall is much more compared to a BYOB setup, the work and logistics needed to pull this off can be a lot especially if you have not done this before. If you are willing and able to take on the challenge of setting up your BYOB or DIY bar, then money-wise, you will save some money.
You will need to bring in tables, a bartender, glasses, alcohol, serving accessories, alcohol permits, and all the essentials for you to be able to serve alcohol.
You can also consider DIY-ing beverage stations like an Easy Sangria DIY Bar to help you save time and money.
Should your wedding have an open bar?
If your guests (friends and family) are not huge drinkers but would still want to have a somewhat steady flow of drinks, you can opt for a standard limited open bar.
Another option for this is a minimalist bar, where you only serve the basics: wine, signature cocktail, beer, and a few hard options.
Limit 4-5 drink options for a more budget-friendly option. Setting up a sangria bar is also a great option.
When most of your guests (60-70%) are non-drinkers, you can also consider a “consumption” basis with your venue or hall.
Especially if your guests will only drink one or two glasses, and some might not even drink at all.
Creatively, you can set a 1-hour open bar for your cocktail or mingling part of the night, then move on to the 4-5 limited drink options. This approach will help you manage your budget better yet still get some drinks flowing for your wedding guests.
If you are limiting the bar, you can only “open” it for some number of hours after dinner. Serving welcome “signature drinks” will still give your guests “drinks” without breaking the bank.
Other options
If your wedding venue allows, you can also provide 4-5 bottles of wine per table of 8 or 10 as the “alcohol” for the night instead of an open bar. Your guests can either help themselves or you can also have servers who pour the wine for them.
In addition, a welcome signature drink will also help to get the “drinks” started. Another great option to consider is a sangria bar where it will be easier to refill and it will also be a more manageable setup.
Should we do a cash bar?
The straight answer is no. Now just like anything, this is not a hard no. Of course, you can choose to do a cash bar if this is a better decision for you.
If you would like to save money by not doing an open bar, but also not a cash bar, you can creatively navigate around this by serving 1-2 max drink/s per person.
Should you decide on an all-cash bar, make sure you include this in your invitation so that your guests can prepare better and bring extra cash as needed.
Or, ensure that your bar also takes credit cards as there isn’t a lot of cash brought around nowadays.
But more importantly, we know that a cash bar is an option especially if you are not drinkers at all and so are your guests. You might opt to not even serve alcohol at all which is still totally cool. You know yourselves and your guests best and sometimes alcohol might not work for your circumstance or just doesn’t align with your preferences.
Ticketing system option
How you can creatively set up a ticketing system without literally having paper tickets and not making your guests remember to bring them?
You can set up an online event on Eventbrite, and manage your guestlist’s drink tickets there!
Upload your guests’ lists, and your bartender can search their names and check them in as they “redeem” their drink/s!
Not only will this be a faster experience, but it will also be a great record for you and your venue to see how many drinks were bought and redeemed.
You can bring in your tablet or even an old phone, as Eventbrite is accessible on almost all smart devices.
Set up the phone or tablet at the bar. Super easy to use, and your bartender/s will most likely thank you that they do not have to deal with tickets or any confusion! As they “redeem” their drinks, you can “check them in” which essentially means that they have already redeemed their drinks. Seamless and easy!
The decision to have an open bar at your wedding is a nuanced one, influenced by various factors, including budget, guest preferences, and the overall vision for your celebration. There is no wrong or right way of doing things, only YOUR way.
By weighing the pros and cons and considering budget-friendly alternatives, you can strike a balance that ensures a delightful and memorable wedding experience for both you and your guests.
Whether you choose an open bar, limited options, or alternative arrangements, the key is to align your choices with your priorities, including your budget, and make decisions that reflect your values and preferences.
