Alcoholic Drinks?

[LuluLovesDisney]

I found out that it costs $40/ person for an open bar! Only about 5 people in my family could drink enough to make the worth it. Most people will only have a drink or two and quite a few wouldn't drink at all! That said, I am not a huge fan of wine or beer personally.

First, is no open bar tacky?

Second, could I do a cash bar, but one I would pay for *not* guests?

Third, Is it possible to do a champagne toast, a beer and wine package and maybe one or two "signature" cocktails instead of all different kinds of drinks? (Since I would like to do a Cinderella thing maybe "Cinderella's Melon Ball" or a "Princesstini" (strawberry or raspberry martini) or something cutesy like that?)

Anyone know?

Thanks again!

 

[wendy46001]

You can do a consumption bar, they offer a pre-package price and if you go over then they normally take it out of your deposit and/or charge you the rest....You really need to know your guests in this light as the consumptions is about three drinks per guest and costs a lot if you go over

Disney does to the signature drinks (cute names in all), but they are around 8 to 10+ dollars each which can get pricey fast because people who would normally not drink are always tempted to try it even if they dont like it....

It really depends on your guests....its always surprising who will have an extra drink in celebration (in my case it was grandma )

 

[cryssi]

We didn't have a bar. We offered champagne punch and non-alcoholic punch at the pre-reception, champagne and sparkling cider for the toast, and white and red wines with dinner. If anyone had a problem with it, we didn't know...anyway, most of the people who wanted to drink went to the DL hotel bar before the ceremony, or between the ceremony and pre-reception...

I don't think it's tacky not to have one. It is a DISNEY wedding after all. People should be enjoying THAT, not focusing on getting smashed b/c it's a wedding...however, I think quite a lot of people got mighty tipsy on the Asti Spumante anyway

just my 2 cents for what it's worth!

 

[disprincessatheart]

We are doing a bill on consupmtion bar, but there aren't any gotcha's with it like a previous poster had mentioned. We are prepaying for 5 drinks per person, because that's what Disney estimates, even though we KNOW we won't average that many per person. IF somehow we go over, we pay the same price per drink (no high priced drinks over the first 5) and they will take it out of the deposit. If we don't get to the total amount that they estimated, we get a refund. It's pretty simple and it's going to save us a ton of money as our group has very few that will have more than a drink or 2, so a set open bar was crazy. Plus this way everyone can drink what they want without me having to guess ahead of time.

 

[SRUAlmn]

I'm so glad you asked this because we have a similar dilemma. No one in my family drinks, his does. IMO, they should then pay for the alcohol, but they won't, so we aren't having any I'm serious, though. Only about 1/3 to 1/2 of the people coming will drink, and it's a noon wedding. I feel bad if people are going to be disappointed, but come on, $1600 or more for alcohol is something I can't swallow (no pun intended!)

 

[disneyheaven]

SRUALUMN- I agree completly. I had a similiar dilemia when I was planning for my wedding. His family does not drink AT ALL and a few non-mentionables drink in my family. ANd unfortunatly, the few non-mentionables were IMPORTANT parts of the wedding, and sometimes they have a hard time with alcohol. So we thought long and hard about this issue. My DH and I thought we had our minds made up. We had decided no Alcohol at our wedding. Like you said, it was Disney, they can survive without drinks for a few hours. When I told my parents, they were very angry. (did I mention the ones that do drink were non-mentionables?? ) Well anyway, they thought that since they were hosting and paying for the reception, that they didn't not want to offer people at least the option. So, in the end, we ended up doing a specialty drink for our toast (frozen strawberry daiquries) yum! and a cash bar. That way, those who did want to drink, it was there but we were not going to pay for it. It was funny, after such a fuss, almost no one drank the whole night! Everyone was too busy having a blast!

This was as issue that I did go to Disboarders with, and sadly, it turned into a fighting match over what is the "classy" thing to do and what was the "class-less" thing to do. Basically, some people did not like the idea of no alcohol or doing a cash bar. They thought it was being cheap. It hurt me, definatly, to hear those opinions, but in the end, I went with me and DH's idea and did the cash bar. It was right for us, and it was right for the people in my family. Please, do not let anyone tell you otherwise about what is right, wrong, classy, or classless for your family and friends. Disney does charge an awful lot for alcohol and if you can swing it, do it, if you can't , then dont. Be strong girlfriend and make the choice that is right for you!

 

[StephSFL]

Right now, we are scheduled for the $40/person open bar. We also have the drinkers side and the non-drinkers side. This is a sore topic for us because his side (the drinkers) are suppose to pay for that part . . . drama. Our reasoning for going with that package is that while are side doesn't drink alcohol each person could easily drink 10 sodas or more throughout the evening and at $3.50 a piece, it makes sense for us! However, we are forgoing the round of champagne and just having people drink what is available. Saves a bit there!
At Disney, even the soda can add-up heavily so keep that in mind!

 

[SRUAlmn]

SRUALUMN- I agree completly. I had a similiar dilemia when I was planning for my wedding. His family does not drink AT ALL and a few non-mentionables drink in my family. ANd unfortunatly, the few non-mentionables were IMPORTANT parts of the wedding, and sometimes they have a hard time with alcohol. So we thought long and hard about this issue. My DH and I thought we had our minds made up. We had decided no Alcohol at our wedding. Like you said, it was Disney, they can survive without drinks for a few hours. When I told my parents, they were very angry. (did I mention the ones that do drink were non-mentionables?? ) Well anyway, they thought that since they were hosting and paying for the reception, that they didn't not want to offer people at least the option. So, in the end, we ended up doing a specialty drink for our toast (frozen strawberry daiquries) yum! and a cash bar. That way, those who did want to drink, it was there but we were not going to pay for it. It was funny, after such a fuss, almost no one drank the whole night! Everyone was too busy having a blast!

This was as issue that I did go to Disboarders with, and sadly, it turned into a fighting match over what is the "classy" thing to do and what was the "class-less" thing to do. Basically, some people did not like the idea of no alcohol or doing a cash bar. They thought it was being cheap. It hurt me, definatly, to hear those opinions, but in the end, I went with me and DH's idea and did the cash bar. It was right for us, and it was right for the people in my family. Please, do not let anyone tell you otherwise about what is right, wrong, classy, or classless for your family and friends. Disney does charge an awful lot for alcohol and if you can swing it, do it, if you can't , then dont. Be strong girlfriend and make the choice that is right for you!

2 questions in regards to your post...

1. If you do a cash bar, what do you pay for the bartenders? I'm assuming you then tip them as well?

2. What price ranges are the signature drinks usually?

 

[Error_kitten]

Personaly our wedding was "Dry"
We did a sparkeling cider toast instead of champagne.
Im really glad we did not only did we save a ton of money.
but my uncles are Drunks so I saved alot of family drama.
At the end of the wedding we gave out bottles of homemade wine my uncle made to each of the guests.
It had a lable on the front that had our names and wedding date on it.

 

[mhcueball2]

We are going with the package for water/soda, then Billed On Consumption for beer/wine.

Our theory was it is a noon-afternoon reception, so everyone will mostly drink water/soda, but we wanted the option for beer/wine.

 

[JonetteA]

We did the soda and water package. Disney clears drinks quickly if they are left too long in one place, and then your guests are back at the bar for an additional beverage. Signature drinks are usually premium alcohol and they cost more. I have a friend who got married at Disney with an open bar, they did the bill on consumption and had a standard bar with a few fancy things for select guests (bride, groom, grandmothers). Also, it depends on what type of reception you are having. If you are having sit down are you requesting wine service with. That will drive up your bar bill based on consumption. My friend went over what a package would be by a little over $150.00