Buffet or Sit down at a wedding

[mi*vida*loca]

How would you go about picking up the tab afterwards?

I've seen it done. Everyone just orders what they want, you tell the venue to not charge anyone and the host pays the bill at the end of the night.

 

[shoney]

The bartenders keep track of it and give in a bill at the end.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I've seen it done. Everyone just orders what they want, you tell the venue to not charge anyone and the host pays the bill at the end of the night.

But, the PP’s response was regarding venues that specifically adhere to a cash bar system. In other words, no tab permitted.

 

[gillep]

But, the PP’s response was regarding venues that specifically adhere to a cash bar system. In other words, no tab permitted.

I didn't take that post to mean that no tab was permitted, just that they didn't offer packages with full bar included as a pay ahead expense. My SIL is getting married in October and they are only set up to do cash bar but they said that if they put a card on file they could keep a running tab and charge it all to the card at the end of the night.

 

[shoney]

How would you go about picking up the tab afterwards?

But, the PP’s response was regarding venues that specifically adhere to a cash bar system. In other words, no tab permitted.

Cash bar usually means you pay per drink instead of an all u can drink package.
It has nothing to do with method of payment.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I didn't take that post to mean that no tab was permitted, just that they didn't offer packages with full bar included as a pay ahead expense. My SIL is getting married in October and they are only set up to do cash bar but they said that if they put a card on file they could keep a running tab and charge it all to the card at the end of the night.

I took it as no tab permitted since the reasoning was liability. In other words, the venue is forcing guests to self-regulate their alcohol intake by making them pay as they go.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Cash bar usually means you pay per drink instead of an all u can drink package.
It has nothing to do with method of payment.

Usually, yes. But, this appears to be a special circumstance.

 

[gillep]

I took it as no tab permitted since the reasoning was liability. In other words, the venue is forcing guests to self-regulate their alcohol intake by making them pay as they go.

I obviously have no idea about that particular circumstance, but I know that my SIL was told that they can't offer anything else due to their liquor license and liability, but when asked about keeping a tab and paying at the end that was fine for this specific venue, so it probably is something that is available for some venues and not others even if the reason for not offering a full bar package is the same.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I took it as no tab permitted since the reasoning was liability. In other words, the venue is forcing guests to self-regulate their alcohol intake by making them pay as they go.

I've never seen a venue that will use only a pay as you go option to self regulate alcohol intake. That means less money. It would be in their best interest to let people drink what they want and have the host pay at the end of the night. I can see venues not wanting to do all you can drink packages because you can get screwed that way.

 

[shoney]

Usually, yes. But, this appears to be a special circumstance.

I didn’t take it that way. My guess is that The place just isn’t providing unlimited alcohol for liability reasons. I can’t imagine any bar/restaurant not wanting to sell drinks that they profit $$$$$$ on. I’m sure as long as they get paid they really don’t care who it is coming from. Lol

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I didn’t take it that way. My guess is that The place just isn’t providing unlimited alcohol for liability reasons. I can’t imagine any bar/restaurant not wanting to sell drinks that they profit $$$$$$ on. I’m sure as long as they get paid they really don’t care who it is coming from. Lol

How would you avoid making it unlimited though? And sure, from a business POV, more sales is better, but if it violates their insurance agreement, it wouldn’t be worth it.

Anyway, we’ve clearly interpreted leebee’s post in a different way. Perhaps she can come back to clear it up.

 

[shoney]

How would you avoid making it unlimited though? And sure, from a business POV, more sales is better, but if it violates their insurance agreement, it wouldn’t be worth it.

Anyway, we’ve clearly interpreted leebee’s post in a different way. Perhaps she can come back to clear it up.

Well it is not unlimited if the restaurant provides an itemized bill.
Why would it matter who pays? They aren’t capping the amount of drinks sold just saying that each must be paid and accounted for.
Leebee May have a unique situation. Who knows? Only her. But for most cash bars can be avoided by the host picking up the bill and not passing on the cost to a guest

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I took it as no tab permitted since the reasoning was liability. In other words, the venue is forcing guests to self-regulate their alcohol intake by making them pay as they go.

I know there are a variety of ways of doing a bar.

For our venue the company who would be serving the alcohol we chose was doing just that--the fee we paid was for X number of bartenders for Y number of hours and on top of that we had several options one of which was to pre-pay for tips so there was no tip jar at the bar. We provided the alcohol bought from a local liquor store (that does events quite often). Once the alcohol was gone it was gone (though we anticipated having extras and did have some).

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Well it is not unlimited if the restaurant provides an itemized bill.
Why would it matter who pays? They aren’t capping the amount of drinks sold just saying that each must be paid and accounted for.
Leebee May have a unique situation. Who knows? Only her. But for most cash bars can be avoided by the host picking up the bill and not passing on the cost to a guest

Yeah, I know how it “usually” works. BTDT. Her situation sounded unique - at least, it did to me

 

[GreatLakes]

As long as the food is good I don't care how it is served. I've had good and bad versions of all three (buffet, sit-down, and family style) and a good meal from any of the three beats a mediocre meal from the remaining two.

 

[RedAngie]

At my first wedding we saved on the liquor bill by limiting the selections available. Not all 12 or so Scotches the venue offered, just J&B and Dewar's. Same for vodka, gin, etc. Just one or two selections for each type. Beer was just Michelob and Heineken.

I suppose we could have saved even more by choosing rotgut brands, but we didn't want to go too cheap.

 

[aprilgail]

People here would be very surprised to pay for their own drinks at a wedding
To say the least. Lol
Even with a cash bar the host could pick up the tab at the end of the event. They don’t have to pass that cost onto a gift giving guest.
Sounds like some people don’t want to pay for alcohol. I provide it at a house party so I can’t imagine not providing it for a catered event.

My daughter had a retirement party for me (her grandmother helped her with some money)she was only 15 at the time- and when I got there I saw that she didn't include an open bar so I just told the bartender (it was a private party room so we were only one using this bar) to run a tab and I would take care of it at the end of the night. I went to take care of it and found out my best friend beat me there and paid it all!

 

[DisneyHardin]

The open bar things is another thing that seems to be fairly regional. I've never been to a wedding that was not a cash bar for drinks other than beer or wine. We know to to have $$ on us at a wedding if we are going to want a mixed drink.

 

[shoney]

My daughter had a retirement party for me (her grandmother helped her with some money)she was only 15 at the time- and when I got there I saw that she didn't include an open bar so I just told the bartender (it was a private party room so we were only one using this bar) to run a tab and I would take care of it at the end of the night. I went to take care of it and found out my best friend beat me there and paid it all!

That friend is a keeper!!!
So sweet of ur daughter, too.

 

[leebee]

I didn't push for more details with the venues because we really aren't even in the planning stages yet, but they were clear that they did cash-only for the bar due to the liability. Liquor/DUI laws being what they are, I guess I just assumed it was to protect them in the event of an over-indulgent guest getting into an accident or something on the way home. I also didn't think about it too much, as cash bars at functions are pretty much standard around here, and at events I've attended. The only reason I made the silly, pearl-clutching comment was because so frequently on the DIS, you mention a cash bar and the thread turns ugly- "would you charge people if they came to your home?" and "IF you can't afford to pay for your party, cut the guest list" and all sorts of judgmental things.