Lyla Dejesus
Planning a wedding involves managing a variety of expenses, and alcohol can be one of the biggest costs. From choosing the right bar type to smart purchasing, there are many ways to save money on alcohol at your wedding reception. This guide will explore expert tips and tricks to help you celebrate without breaking the bank. Whether it's opting for a beer-and-wine-only bar, limiting liquor to cocktail hour, or buying your own alcohol in bulk, we'll ensure your special day is memorable for all the right reasons.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Choose a beer-and-wine-only bar | One of the easiest ways to reduce costs |
| Limit the liquor to cocktail hour | Save money by limiting liquor to one hour |
| Choose mid-priced spirits | Choose good quality mid-priced brands over bottom-shelf or top-shelf spirits |
| Offer non-alcoholic options | Mocktails, fresh juices, canned sodas, or on-tap kombucha |
| Limit the hours the bar is open | Close the bar an hour earlier or during transitions |
| BYOB | Source a venue that allows you to bring your own liquor |
| Use a wedding alcohol calculator | Calculate how much you'll need |
| Book bartenders early | Budget accordingly and plan a great menu |
| Ask guests to indicate their drink preferences on the RSVP | Helps the bartender create a better estimate of quantities |
| Daytime wedding | Guests are less likely to drink excessively during the day |
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What You'll Learn
Choose a beer-and-wine-only bar
One of the easiest ways to reduce the cost of alcohol at your wedding is to opt for a beer-and-wine-only bar. This can save you thousands compared to a full open bar, and most guests will be perfectly happy as long as their drinks are free.
If you're worried about your wedding seeming cheap, there are ways to make a beer-and-wine bar feel special. You could, for example, select high-quality wines and local craft beers, or even create custom labels for the wine bottles. If you're feeling creative, you could even try home-brewing beer for the wedding.
To save even more money, consider buying your wine and beer from a discount seller or wholesale store, or sourcing it from a vendor that allows returns on unopened bottles. You could also skip the pre-ceremony cocktail hour and stick to non-alcoholic options, which are less expensive than their boozy counterparts.
However, it's important to consider your guests' expectations. While most people will be happy with free beer and wine, a beer-and-wine-only bar may disappoint guests who are excited to party all night. If this is a concern, you could add a signature cocktail or two to the bar offerings, or switch to beer and wine after a cocktail hour.
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Limit the liquor to cocktail hour
One way to save money on alcohol at your wedding reception is to limit the liquor to cocktail hour. This traditional window of time between the ceremony and reception is when guests can mingle, enjoy drinks and appetizers, and grab refreshments at their leisure. It's also a great opportunity to set the tone for the rest of the celebration.
To save costs, you could offer a full open bar only during the cocktail hour, and then switch to beer and wine for the reception. This way, you can still provide a range of alcoholic options for your guests without the expense of a full open bar all night. You could also choose to offer only a few signature cocktails during the cocktail hour to save on costs, as too much variety can slow down bar service and increase costs for labour and service.
Another way to limit liquor costs during the cocktail hour is to provide a selection of mocktails or non-alcoholic options in addition to alcoholic drinks. This can be a unique and memorable way to satisfy all your guests, and non-alcoholic drinks are often less expensive than their boozy counterparts. If you're worried about waste, you could also consider skipping placing bottles of wine on the tables and instead letting guests get their drinks from the bar, which may also help reduce costs.
To further limit expenses, consider choosing a venue that allows you to bring your own liquor, so you can avoid markup fees and take advantage of buying in bulk. You could also look for vendors that allow returns on unopened bottles, so you can save by returning any extras. By limiting the liquor to cocktail hour and implementing these strategies, you can effectively save money on alcohol at your wedding reception.
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Opt for canned or bottled beer
One of the easiest ways to save money on alcohol at your wedding reception is to opt for a beer-and-wine-only bar. Beer and wine are generally less expensive than a full bar, and your guests are likely to be satisfied as long as their drinks are free.
When it comes to beer, canned or bottled options are recommended. Beer kegs require special equipment and handling, and you won't be able to enjoy any leftover beer after the wedding. Canned and bottled beer, on the other hand, can be purchased in advance and any leftovers can be enjoyed later. This is also a good option if you want to offer a wider variety of beers, as you can simply buy a few of each option rather than committing to a full keg.
When creating your wedding alcohol shopping list, it's a good idea to ask your guests to indicate their drink preferences on their RSVP forms. This will help you estimate the quantities of beer, wine, and other drinks you'll need. It's also worth considering the time of day for your wedding, as guests tend to drink more during evening receptions.
To save even more money, you can buy your own alcohol in bulk from various stores, often at a cheaper cost than buying from a caterer. You can also return any unopened bottles after the wedding. However, be sure to check with your venue and caterers before purchasing your own alcohol, as they may have restrictions or additional requirements.
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BYOB
While some people consider asking guests to bring their own alcohol (BYOB) to a wedding reception to be “tacky” and “incredibly informal”, it is a surefire way to save money on alcohol. One source estimates that the cost of alcohol for a wedding can be as high as $40 per bottle of wine, but by buying it themselves, they were able to get the cost down to $3 per bottle. Another source estimates that they saved 90% on the cost of alcohol by buying it themselves.
If you are set on having a BYOB wedding reception, it is important to get insurance in case any of your guests are injured or damage property due to drunkenness. It is also important to note that your venue might not allow BYOB, and you may need an alcohol permit and/or a licensed bartender.
If you don't want to go down the BYOB route, there are other ways to save money on alcohol at your wedding reception. You could limit the hours the bar is open, only offer beer and wine, or offer a mix of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. You could also cap the bar when the tab reaches a certain amount, or have a consumption-based bar where you pay per drink ordered.
When it comes to choosing what alcohol to serve, it's important to consider your guests' expectations. If they're expecting to "let loose all night", a beer and wine bar might disappoint. However, by featuring high-quality wines and local craft beers, you can still make it special without a large price tag. You could also create your own signature cocktails with a limited number of spirits and mixers to choose from. This will help you save money by not having to buy a lot of different types of alcohol, and it will also make it easier for your guests to order.
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Skip the champagne toast
While champagne toasts are a common part of wedding receptions, they can be an unnecessary expense. Instead of providing a glass of champagne for every guest, consider having your guests raise a toast with whatever drink they have in their hand. This simple change can save you hundreds of dollars.
If you're set on a champagne toast, there are still ways to reduce the cost. Firstly, consider choosing a more affordable champagne or sparkling wine. You could also limit the amount poured into each glass and only top off glasses if guests ask for more.
If you're looking for non-alcoholic alternatives, there are plenty of creative options to choose from. You could offer guests sparkling apple juice or other non-alcoholic drinks. This is a great way to include guests who don't want to drink alcohol and those who don't want to purchase drinks.
Another way to save money on alcohol at your wedding is to choose a beer-and-wine-only bar instead of a full bar. This option is usually less expensive and can still keep your guests happy. You can make it special by featuring high-quality wines and local craft beers.
Finally, consider the timing of your wedding. Daytime weddings can result in lower alcohol consumption, so you can budget for less alcohol at your reception. You could also choose to offer daytime drinks like mimosas, bellinis, and bloody marys, which are typically less expensive than a full bar.
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Frequently asked questions
There are a few ways to save money on alcohol for your wedding reception:
- Opt for a beer-and-wine-only bar. This is usually less expensive than a full bar, and guests are often happy as long as drinks are free.
- Choose two to three signature cocktails and limit the variety of spirits offered. This will prevent you from needing to buy more alcohol than you'll use and being left with several half-empty bottles.
- Skip the champagne toast.
It's recommended that you budget $5-10 per person for alcohol. You can also ask your guests to indicate what they like to drink on the RSVP form, which will help your bartender create a better estimate of quantities.
As a rule of thumb, assume each guest will consume one drink per hour or about five drinks throughout the evening.
Here are some additional tips to save money on alcohol for your wedding:
- Buy your own alcohol in bulk from a store. This will usually be cheaper than buying drinks from the caterer, and you can choose your favourite brands.
- Choose a daytime wedding, as guests are less likely to drink excessively during the day.
- Limit the bar to specific times, such as during cocktail hour, and close it during transitions.
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