Understanding Corkage: Bringing Your Own Booze To A Wedding

Corkage is a service charge that is levied by wedding venues for serving wine, champagne, or other alcoholic drinks that are purchased by the wedding party and served on the premises. The corkage fee covers the costs of chilling and storing the bottles, use of the venue's glassware, disposal of bottles, and staff serving the drinks. The fee is usually charged per bottle opened, with costs varying depending on the type of drink and the venue. Some venues may also charge corkage per person.

Corkage is a service charge for serving drinks you bought yourself

Corkage is a service charge levied by a wedding venue for serving drinks that the couple has purchased and provided themselves. The corkage fee covers the costs of chilling or storing bottles, stocktaking, use of glassware, disposal of bottles, and staff serving the drinks. The fee is usually charged per bottle opened, though some venues charge per person.

The average corkage fee in the UK ranges from £12 to £15 per bottle of wine, £15 to £20 for a bottle of Cava or Prosecco, and £20 to £35 for a bottle of champagne. The fee per bottle of spirits is typically between £40 and £60. In the US, corkage fees can be as high as $25 to $35 per bottle.

Bringing your own drinks to a wedding can offer significant cost savings, especially if you are serving a large number of guests. For example, a wedding with 100 guests requiring 50 bottles each of champagne and wine would result in a total drinks bill of £4,000 at a venue charging £60 per bottle of champagne and £20 per bottle of wine. By supplying their own drinks, a couple could source award-winning champagne for £12 per bottle and wine for £4 per bottle, resulting in a total drinks bill of £2,400, including corkage fees.

However, there are some potential disadvantages to supplying your own drinks. It can be challenging to determine how many drinks and bottles to order, and you may end up with leftovers. Additionally, some venues may not allow guests to bring their own alcohol, instead encouraging them to purchase drinks from the venue. It is important to clarify the venue's policies and negotiate corkage rates before making a decision.

It covers staff, glassware, disposal, chilling and storing

Corkage fees are generally steep, often taking couples by surprise. This is because they cover a lot of additional work for the venue, including staff costs. The staff serve the drinks, and there may also be someone who takes stock of the bottles. The staff may also be responsible for the disposal of the glass bottles after the wedding.

The fee also covers the use of the venue's glassware. Glassware supplied by the venue can include everything from wine glasses to champagne flutes and even the fruit for Pimms.

The fee also covers the chilling and storing of the bottles. This is an important part of the service, as wine is very particular about how it is stored and served.

It's usually charged per bottle, but sometimes per person

Corkage is a service charge applied by your wedding venue for serving wine, champagne, or spirits that you have purchased and provided. The fee generally covers the chilling or storing of bottles, stocktaking, use of glassware, disposal of bottles, and staff serving drinks. It is usually charged per bottle, with costs ranging from $3 to $35 per bottle, but some venues may charge per person, with costs of up to $10 per guest.

The average cost per bottle of wine is £12-£15, while a bottle of Cava or Prosecco will cost £15-£20, and a bottle of champagne will cost £20-£35. The fee per bottle of spirits will be in the region of £40-£60. These fees may seem excessive, but couples can save money by sourcing their own drinks. For example, an award-winning bottle of champagne can be purchased for £12 from a high-street supermarket, compared to £65 for a bottle of house champagne from a wedding venue.

Couples can also save money by negotiating the rate of the corkage fee before the wedding. It is worth asking the venue to reduce the flat rate by 25% as a courtesy. Some venues may also lower their corkage fee based on volume and overall spend. It is also important to clarify whether the corkage fee covers chilling and storing the drinks, as some venues add a surcharge for these services if they are required for more than 48 hours before the wedding.

It's often cheaper to bring your own drinks

Corkage is a service charge applied by your wedding venue for serving drinks that you have purchased and provided. The fee generally covers the chilling or storing of bottles, stocktaking, use of glassware, disposal of glass bottles, and staff serving the drinks.

Bringing your own drinks to a wedding can often be cheaper than using the venue's drinks. This is because venues can charge a high corkage fee, which can be anywhere from £8 to £40 per bottle, with the average being around £12 to £15 for wine and £25 for Champagne and Prosecco.

If you bring your own drinks, you can save money by purchasing drinks at cheaper prices from supermarkets or during trips abroad. For example, you can get a bottle of Cava or Prosecco for £8 or an award-winning bottle of Champagne for £12 from a high-street supermarket. A decent bottle of wine can be found for as low as £4.

By bringing your own drinks, you can also avoid the high cost of drinks packages offered by venues. For example, a venue may charge £60 for their cheapest house Champagne, whereas you can source an award-winning bottle for less than half the price.

In addition to the potential cost savings, bringing your own drinks gives you full control over the drinks served at your wedding. This can be important if there is a particular drink that is special to you or your guests.

However, it is important to note that bringing your own drinks can also be more work, as you will need to organise the purchase and delivery of the drinks. Additionally, some venues may not allow you to bring your own drinks, so it is important to check with your venue before making any plans.

You can save money by buying drinks from supermarkets

Corkage is a service charge applied by wedding venues for serving drinks that you have purchased and provided. The fee usually covers the chilling and storing of bottles, stocktaking, use of glassware, disposal of glass bottles, and staff serving the drinks. Corkage fees vary depending on the venue, but they can be expensive, ranging from £8 to £60 per bottle in the UK and €8 to €40 per bottle in Ireland.

One way to save money on drinks at your wedding is to buy them from a supermarket rather than using the venue's drinks or paying corkage fees. Here are some tips to save money by buying drinks from supermarkets:

• Shop around for the best deals: You can find great deals on drinks at supermarkets. For example, you can get a bottle of Cava or Prosecco for £8, an award-winning bottle of Champagne for £12, and a decent bottle of wine for as low as £4.
• Compare prices with the venue's drinks: Many wedding venues charge between £20 and £25 for a house bottle of wine, £30 to £40 for a bottle of house sparkling wine, and £65 for a bottle of house champagne. By buying drinks from a supermarket, you can often find cheaper options and save a significant amount, especially if you need a large quantity for your wedding.
• Return unopened bottles: If you buy drinks from a supermarket, you may be able to return any unopened bottles after the wedding, which can help you save even more money.
• Choose a venue with no corkage fees: Some venues offer a no-corkage option, which means you can supply your own drinks without incurring any additional service fees. This can be a great way to save money, as corkage fees can add up quickly.
• Consider the number of drinks needed: Use an online drinks calculator to estimate how many drinks you will need based on the number of guests. This will help you avoid overspending or running out of drinks during your wedding.
• Provide bottles at the table: Encourage guests to drink less by providing a bottle or two of wine at each table. This way, guests can see how much is left and are more likely to pace themselves.
• Offer signature drinks: Instead of a full bar, offer a few signature cocktails. This allows you to personalize the experience while saving money. Focus on two "his" and "hers" signature drinks, or stick to one type of liquor to keep costs down.
• Skip the champagne toast: A champagne toast is a common part of wedding receptions, but it can be expensive. Instead, have your guests toast with whatever drink they have, or choose a more affordable option, like prosecco.
• Shorten the bar hours: You can save money by limiting the number of hours the bar is open. Consider closing the bar an hour earlier or only serving liquor during cocktail hour, then switching to beer and wine for the reception.

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