The reception is an important part of a wedding that follows the ceremony. It has to be well-thought, entertaining and memorable for the guests. The venue has to be the right size to accommodate everyone and the menu and drinks fit for every taste and preferences.
There are many options on how to organise a wedding reception. You can choose a la carte type of dining or a buffet. Open bars are a popular option nowadays, meaning that there is a special set up for alcohol where each guest can go to and order whatever drink they would like. Or they can order as many drinks as they wish for that matter. Of course, this raises the question, if an open bar is more expensive than regular drinks serving and what would be the cost?
A typical price to pay for an open bar at a wedding is around $20 per person. The average number of wedding guests is 126 which would mean $2,520 before taxes and fees such as service and gratuities.
According to the Bridal Association of America, the average number of guests as of present is 170, which means a cost of an open bar at $2,800, including the fee for a bar tender. This means that $16.50 per guest is only the fee for the bar tender.
In this article, different open bar options for wedding receptions will be discussed including what such a bar should and should not include.
Types of Open Bar, Costs and What’s Included
The types of drinks and mixers that should be served in an open bar ranges. Generally, these are the types of drinks you can include:
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vodka
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scotch
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light rum
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gin
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bourbon
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Seagram’s 7
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tequila
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domestic beers
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imported beers
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white and red wine
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ciders
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soft drinks
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water and juice
Such type of wide selection will cost you on average $4,147 depending on the number of guests.
Or you can go for a combination of:
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wine
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beer
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ciders
Much cheaper option that will cost you half that price or around $2,073, depending on the number of guests.
It is expected that one bartender is capable of serving 100 persons, which is slightly more than the average acceptable bartender to guest ratio.
Also, don’t forget important details such as:
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napkins
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swizzle sticks
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cocktail decorations
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enough cups
These will cost your between $200-$300, depending on the amount and how fancy the items are.
How Do You Budget For An Open Bar At A Wedding?
Strategic budgeting for an open bar at a wedding is very important. Otherwise, you risk ending up accumulating a huge bill for alcohol.
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A combination of wine and non-alcoholic drinks is a good way to save cost. It costs an average of $15 to $90 per person for a four-hour reception and extra $3 to $4 per person for premium liquor. This option is very flexible and allows for different price ranges.
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Another option is to serve only wine and beer. This reduces the average cost per person between $11 and $33.
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A more unconventional option is to ask some guests to bring their own drinks and convince your family to run the bar. In this way you save from bar attending fees.
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For dinner, two glasses per guest may be a money-saving option. For wines less than $15 per bottle, the average cost per guest would be $2, and could rise to as high as $20.
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If you are bringing your own beer, make sure the price is between $2 and $5 per person.
If you go for an open bar, do not forget that there may be some additional costs such as:
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Bartender that caterers charge around between $30 and $200 for each event.
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Providers prefer hourly fees for their bar tenders. The average cost is $25 per hour.
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Plan to tip 10% to 20% of the total alcohol bill on the head bartender.
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Bartenders charge $1 to $15 per bottle as corking fee if you provide the wine. Some bartenders charge around $1 to $5 for service fee for each six-pack of beer you provide.
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Add an extra $3-5 per person for glassware in place of plastic cups
Shortly put, you should plan for one serving per guest per hour. Let’s say your wedding will be attended by about 100 guests for five hours, you will need 500 servings in total for an open bar. Simply multiply the number of guests by the hours you have planned for the duration of the reception and you will receive a general idea of the servings. Then, based on your budget, decide on the drinks.
Should You Have An Open Bar At Your Wedding?
Yes, you should. Your guests should not have to pay for any food or drinks at your wedding celebration. A la carte serving may also not be 100% good option, as it is very limited and your guests may be reluctant to relax and order due to concern of accumulating a very expensive final bill.
Having an open bar, on the other hand, is a great option and a proper etiquette. And your guests will be able to enjoy it freely. You can offer them beer, wine (red and white) and a signature cocktail to choose from.
How Long Should You Have An Open Bar At A Wedding?
On average, one wedding reception lasts around four hours. Your bar should close between 15 and 30 minutes before the end of your reception. Everyone will have plenty of time to finish their last drink and hit the dance floor for one final song.
Of course, the question of the bar’s opening hours is very subjective. It is entirely up to you to decide its working life based on the budget you have and the type of reception you are holding. If you decide to throw a late night party, you can easily leave the bar open for longer! Bear in mind, however, that the longer you decide to keep the bar up and running, the more it will cost you.
How Much Money Should You Spend On Alcohol For A Wedding?
The price for an open bar depends largely on the type of alcohol you choose to serve and the hours your bar will operate. Sometimes even non alcoholic drinks such as LaCroix or Pellegrino sodas can be quite pricey and basic alcohol such as wine and beer will add additional costs. Also, do not forget the fees for the bar tender, caterer, gratuities, hours, etc.
Consider your budget carefully and the number of your guests. An average wedding is attended by 100-130 guests, therefore you should not have to spend more than $2000-$2500 on an open bar.
Alternatives To An Open Bar
You do not have to go for a sophisticated open bar with fancy drinks and 12-year old whiskey. If your budget is tight, you can consider other options which are just as classy and can be very personalised.
1. Bubbly Bar
Instead of a bar, your caterers can set up a table with a selection of drinks such as Prosecco, juices and fresh fruit garnishes. You can kindly instruct them to visit the station. Your bartenders can pour a glass to your guests every now and then. Another money-wise acceptable is option is to offer also Aperol. Bothe Prosecco and Aperol and much cheaper options than regular wine, beers, whiskey, gin, etc and most people like them.
2. Stay local.
Get creative and set up a bar menu feature local vineyards from the area where you are getting married. List the locations on the menu on where each wine is produced.
3. Signature cocktails.
Instead of offering a full bar with 3-4 options for drinks, you can come up with 2 signature cocktails – one for the bride and one for the groom and offer them as the only option for drinks. This is very personalised and creative idea and will cost you much less!
4. Order hour.
You can go for providing every guest with an individual menu (it will be all the same but printed for each guest separately) and explain there that they can order a glass of wine, a beer or a Prosecco, for example. After that they go to an open bar for a signature cocktail.
CONCLUSION
On average, an open bar at an American wedding reception costs about $2,500-$2,800 depending on your budget and the number of guests you are planning to invite.
If you decide to offer fancy liquor such as 12-year old whiskey or the best French champagne, the price can go as high as above $4000.
Remember to calculate all additional costs such as fees for the bartender, gratuities, service fees, taxes on the alcohol, transportation and necessities such as napkins and cups.
If you budget is tight, you can go for much more affordable options such as bubbly bar, signature cocktails or order hour.