BOC vs. Package Bar

[Cait8383]

I am really debating which one to choose. Right now we have about 55 adults and am doing a Call Brands package bar amounting to almost $3000. I am seriously wondering if a BOC bar would be better for us and if we are over paying. Our reception is from 1-6. Any suggestions would be helpful. THanks for your help!

 

[Pooh's Corner]

I did the math about how many drinks that would mean for each person, and then went through all the ppl coming to say if I thought they would drink that much. And my answer was no. I am going with BOC, most of our families (which is most of the invites) might have a drink, but not the multiple that we would have needed.

 

[KR1343]

!

 

[Cait8383]

That is what i am afraid of!

 

[lurkyloo]

I think doing the math is a good idea. BOC almost always works out to be cheaper, but you'll get a better idea when you consider the drinking habits of your guests and the time of day of your reception (people drink less in the morning/afternoon) against the cost of the package bar.

Disney’s estimate of two drinks per person for the first hour and one drink per person each hour thereafter is used to calculate the cost of your BOC bar when you make your final payment 30 days before the event. The per-drink price used in these calculations depends on the cocktail cost of the type of bar selected.

For example, if you're doing Call Brands for 6 hours (5-hour reception plus 1-hour pre-reception) BOC will cost you $2,310 up front (7 drinks per person @$6/drink x 55). If your reception is 5 hours total, including the pre-reception, the cost goes down to $1,980.

You would then either get a refund or pay the difference after the wedding. I have never ever heard of someone having to pay the difference after the wedding - usually they get money back. Do you think each one of your guests will have 7 cocktails over the course of 6 hours? They may switch between cocktails and soda/water, too...

 

[Cait8383]

I'm not sure. We have some drinkers that will definitely hit that mark then have some that may not have a drink at all or at most 1 or 2. It's a toss up. That's a $1000 difference between BOC and Package and even if we go over by some i can't see us going over by $1000. I think it makes sense but i hate to gamble.

 

[girli565]

We chose a BOC for our pre-reception and reception. We were charged for 120 drinks (28 adult guests) at $6 per drink. with tax that came out to $927. Now that works out to about 4 drinks per guest, I know our friends will probably drink that but my family and the DFi's family drinking that much? No way. Whether we break even or get money back... it's still a better deal than having a package bar that would have cost close to $2000 with tax and we wouldn't get any money back.

 

[Dani916]

I am so confused as well. We have some drinkers, some non drinkers, and some very heavy drinkers. My fiance thinks we will get a hefty bill with the BOC but I can't see his grandma getting loaded, nor my parents. Well, my Dad maybe I am stressed about this. Big time!

 

[Cait8383]

I hear ya. He thinks we would have to pay more and I have a feeling we would get some back. I'm not sure what we are going to choose.

 

[pezaddict231]

We're debating this too. At first I was leaning toward a package, until I saw how much it would cost us. Basically to break even each guest needs to have 7 drinks. We definitely have friends that will go over that, but then we have a lot of family that don't drink at all or don't drink heavily...so I just don't know. I talked to my planner and she said if we were worried about owing a lot more we could always up the BOC estimate.

We're still on the fence right now though...

 

[lpizzuro123]

We did BOC. We had a morning ceremony and a brunch at ADH with 50 people. All but 4 people were over the age of 21 and we had one 2 year old. We paid upfront and after everything was completed got a lot of money back. As our events were early we had a champagne punch served at the pre-reception - that we paid for by the pitcher - along with coffee and tea. What was left of the punch was brought down to our reception.

When we received the finalized bill from Disney I think there were 4 or 5 glasses of wine, 6 mixed drinks and 16 beers. We also had a champagne toast but asked them to fill the glasses only 1/2 way.

Honestly, I think I drank water most of the day. I had one glass of punch when we arrived but as I had not eaten anything I that one went straight to my head. I know my DH also had some punch and a few beers but most of the day also drank water.

Hopefully you know your crowd and can use this to gage how to order.

Linda

 

[PrincessShea]

Only you know your guests...but are 55 people really going to have 7 drinks in the middle of the afternoon? Maybe if you had a dinner reception... but 7 drinks is going to make someone sloppy drunk, and I just can't see all 55 people doing this in the middle of the day.

However, again, only you know your guests.

 

[lurkyloo]

I agree - and like Linda said, there will be other beverages for them to drink besides booze, so even the heavy drinkers will probably alternate.

 

[tiggerrifficheidi]

We did BOC for both our Welcome Dinner during IllumiNations (from about 7:30-9:30) and for our reception (11:00am-3pm). It saved us a TON!

We had over 60 guests at each event. I'm sure you'll have some heavy drinkers, but I have to say so many people will be talking, visiting, dancing, etc. that they have to be VERY dedicated to drinking to run up your bill.

For us, the time went by so quickly, I don't think I had more than one drink at the WD and only 1 at the reception, too. Most of my family and friends were the same way.

Again, you know your guests, but you'd have to have VERY dedicated drinkers (who are willing to sit at the bar all night and not socialize) to make up for all the super-casual-one-or-two-drink types.

 

[Cait8383]

I agree. We have a mix of drinkers but we are having a DJ and it is a lunch reception so i think the BOC is our best bet. Even if we break even and don't get any money back it will still save us almost $1000. THanks for your help!

 

[twiu]

Here are a couple things to consider:

1. If you have an open bar, you can also close the bar 1/2 hour before your reception and 1/2 hour during your dinner or lunch. If you do this, you will save an hour off your bill per person. So instead of a 5 hour package, do a 4 hour package. Most people are used to a "last call". Also, during dinner.. just warn everyone that the bar will close for 1/2 hour and get their drinks beforehand.

2. Another thing.. if you do have some big drinkers, and there's an open bar or BOC, people tend to set drinks down half full and get another one. They go dance, put down a drink, forget where it is, go get another one.

Just really think about your guests. With mine, there was no option but to have an open bar. None. I had big drinkers and I know I saved money. Just really asses how much people drink. To them open bar is open bar - they don't know if it's a BOC or open. Some people drink more too if it's free to them. Hope this helps somewhat.