Cash Bar at reception?

[BaBeeCee14]

We will be having our reception at the LSS. I didn't see it in the paperwork that my planner sent to me, but is there an option where can have a cash bar? Was anyone else able to get this option instead of a hosted bar? TIA!

 

[orangetiggs]

I had the option sent to us! it just listed the prices of the drinks

 

[tomthebarncat]

I had a cash bar at my wedding reception for 2 reasons: 1. the reception was a 45 minute drive from the church and the town were most of my guests lived or were staying. I did not want people to get smashed and then drive. For some reason, folks are more inclined to drink more when it is free. 2. My sister did an open bar on the Queen Mary, after 35 minutes management came to her and let her know that her bar bill was close to 2 grand, and that she may want to rethink how long her open bar was for. She had only budgeted 3 grand for the whole evening and was shocked that is was almost gone in 35 minutes. Once again, people were drinking like they would never see booze again, and the guests got really drunk and the reception got a little out of hand, actually alot out of hand. 3 of her guests also got DUI on their way home. So for those reasons, we did a cash bar and we paid for 1 glass of champagne for each guests as part of the bridal toast.

 

[BaBeeCee14]

That is also a reason I wanted a cash bar. I know people who do drink can get out of hand. But also another reason is that the majority of the people coming to my wedding don't drink. I would say less than a quarter of the people coming will drink. So I just didn't see the point in getting an open bar

 

[Kristen14]

You can have a cash bar, but its really an etiquette no no, thats probably why its not listed. If you dont want an open bar, a bill on consumption bar is probably the best option. That way YOU pay per drink that people have, versus them paying for their own drinks.

 

[Kristen14]

ok i lied. cash bar is listed. its in the PDF thats called premium & signature brands. its at the end.

 

[BaBeeCee14]

Oh, I'll have to go look at it again then. Is it really frowned upon to have a cash bar? I don't know, I'm so confused. I'm just really worried the bar bill (even bill on consumption) will be crazy. I was going to of course include the water and soft drinks, but I just wasn't sure what to do about the alcohol.

 

[orangetiggs]

we are just going to do water and soft drinks and have the cash bar for anything else. I have only been to one wedding where it was an open bar, its not as common to have an open bar over here as it is in the USA

 

[wendy46001]

Just want to add most guest will not automatically have cash on them...so if you do go this route please let everyone know...

We went to a small wedding a few months back and no one mentioned it would be a cash bar....DH ended up leaving to find an ATM mid reception

 

[BaBeeCee14]

Just want to add most guest will not automatically have cash on them...so if you do go this route please let everyone know...

We went to a small wedding a few months back and no one mentioned it would be a cash bar....DH ended up leaving to find an ATM mid reception

Oh that is a good point. What would be the best way to inform the guests?

 

[JandJ]

I second what Wendy46001 said - somehow get the word out that it's a cash bar because most people don't carry cash nowadays. I've only been to one wedding that had a cash bar (and I have to say the guests were complaining that it was pretty tacky). I've been to three that had no alcohol whatsoever due to the couples' religious reasons. At the no alcohol weddings the couples told the guests beforehand that there would not be alcohol offered so there were no surprises. Most wedding receptions have an open bar though. Does Disney offer a deal where each person gets a drink coupon? DH's office holiday party did that - everyone got 2 free drink coupons but then had to pay cash for any additional drinks. What about just beer and wine? Seems the liquor is the most expensive, but if you offer just beer, wine and maybe champagne, based on consumption, it would save some money. Good luck!

 

[Kristen14]

I'd suggest putting yourself in your guests' shoes. If you traveled all the way down to Florida for a wedding, would you be upset if you had to pay for your own drinks? If your family is used to a cash bar, then they wouldnt even notice a difference.

With my family, they'd be really upset if they had to pay for their own drinks, even if the wedding was in town, so there was no way I could do a cash bar. I'd planned on "bill on consumption" but then changed to an open bar because I needed it to meet the $100 min.

 

[BaBeeCee14]

Thanks Kristen. I was thinking the cash bar as an option because there are only about 10 people who drink. Who knows, I may have to end up getting open bar just to meet my minimum also. We'll have to see though. Thanks for the advice!

 

[shezfrombermuda]

My father suggested this to me last night. We decided against it because people are flying from Canada, England, Bermuda and other places and since they are taking the time to come, spend the money etc..... I thought it is only right. I am going to have it billed on consumption because I will also have alot of non-drinkers as well. I also need to meet a $125 pp minimum.

I agree with the others that have mentioned informing people if you decide to have a cash bar. I went to a wedding in Canada that had a cash bar. I only had $10 in my wallet and there was no ATM.

 

[malaea3]

Thanks Kristen. I was thinking the cash bar as an option because there are only about 10 people who drink. Who knows, I may have to end up getting open bar just to meet my minimum also. We'll have to see though. Thanks for the advice!

Great question! I do A LOT of event planning aside from my wedding and we rarely offer cash bars. Like someone else said, your guests are traveling a distance so a cash bar may not come accross so well; and like was mentioned they may not have cash on them. Most say that this is a "no-no" to do but its your wedding and your budget so do what is best for you. Here are some suggestions:

1. Have a cash bar and notify the guest in the invite. Have the words "cash bar" printed beneath the reception information on your reception card or invitation.
2. Have a combination bar: Pre-pay for 2-3 drinks per guest and provide guests with tickets as they enter recpetion or in invite. After they use these up they pay for their drinks.
3. Serve beer and wine bar. A great lower priced option.
4. Themed drinks. Select 1 or 2 drinks and serve those during the reception. This is a great option for a shorter reception and/or smaller group.

Other things to note:
Make sure that prices are posted for all to see at the bar so there is no confusion.

Consumption based bar or not? This depends on your guests. If they dont drink a lot then comsumption based is the way to go. If you are unsure or know they will drink, pay per guest. Sometimes you have to play with the math for this. On average you want to consider 2 drinks/guest/hour.

I rarely use the per drink option because there are always those people who drink a lot, and you have to consider that people put their drinks down and forget about them, to go dance or because they dont like it, and then go get another without finishing the first Personally I think its risky to do this for a large group and a 3-4 hour reception but again it depends on your guests. Remember though...this is a celebration so people may party more than expected.

Hope this helps a little. Loads of luck!

 

[BaBeeCee14]

The only thing that worries me about the bill on consumption is that I'll be watching what everyone is drinking and it will make me nervous about the bill in the end. I don't want to be worrying about something like that during my reception.

 

[tomthebarncat]

1. Have a cash bar and notify the guest in the invite. Have the words "cash bar" printed beneath the reception information on your reception card or invitation.This is what I did at my wedding.


I rarely use the per drink option because there are always those people who drink a lot, and you have to consider that people put their drinks down and forget about them, to go dance or because they dont like it, and then go get another without finishing the first Personally I think its risky to do this for a large group and a 3-4 hour reception but again it depends on your guests. Remember though...this is a celebration so people may party more than expected. This is what happened at my sisters big dog and pony show on the Queen Mary. She did not think that 250 guests would run up that large of a bar bill but when the night was over, she spent 6 grand on the bill. She was shocked but did not want to have to worry about it during her reception, plus she lost track of time, when she finally closed the bar it had already been open for 4 hours. I wish you all the best on whatever you decide.

 

[Kristen14]

Thats EXACTLY why I did an open bar. But even water and soda can add up. I think the package for that was $15/pp... I'm sending you a PM.

 

[shezfrombermuda]

The only thing that worries me about the bill on consumption is that I'll be watching what everyone is drinking and it will make me nervous about the bill in the end. I don't want to be worrying about something like that during my reception.

Can you limit what is served at the bar? Instead of premium wine, alcohol, and imported beer can you choose what is served? I think if you could, this would reduce the cost a great deal.

 

[PrincessBride07]

I know the headache you are going through. I had an interesting mix. I had a few that are against drinking for religious reasons, and also those that love to drink. I decided to do just a champagne/sparkling cider for the toast, and the rest was the basic soda, coffee, and tea package. I thought about a signature drink, but realized it was not enough people that would drink to do this. We did find a small loophole in the DP. We had it in the UK lower terrace, and the guests were allowed to go out and get beer from the Rose and Crown pub if they wished. Also, no one complained about not having alcohol there.