Drinks package opinions please

[Nancy91]

We are planning our wedding and I'm worried the drinks package we have chosen won't be enough. We don't want to look tight but we can't afford to spend a fortune.

The wedding is late in the day so all guests are invited to the ceremony, meal and evening party. We are providing everyone with a welcome glass of prosecco, half a bottle of wine with the meal and a glass of prosecco for the toast. There is a bar at the venue so there is the option for guests to purchase more drinks.

Are we going to look incredibly stingy?

[Itsabeautifuldaytosavelives]

That's exactly what we had and it seemed to go down fine! PIL added an extra bottle of rosé wine on each table but that was it.

[Gaaaah]

No that's standard for a wedding usually. Most weddings have a pay bar these days. Its fine. Just make sure you provide a soft drink and water for anyone not drinking.

[MrsJayy]

That sounds fine any wedding i have been to that really is usual don't worry about it

[Nancy91]

Yay, I can stop panicking now! I just don't want to be embarrassed but with the cost of weddings these days we can't afford to have a free bar. Thank you everyone 😊

[MrsJayy]

I have never been to a wedding with a free bar I think they are for the rich and famous

[Mumtobe12]

That what we had. think that's the general package most people go for and don't think anyone will think it stingy

[itsgood2talk]

This is exactly what we had and what I've seen at any weddings I have been to

[Nancy91]

Thanks I'm going to stick with it then as it seems to be the norm!

How do they serve the half bottles of wine, do they just put 1 bottle between 2 people and they share it? What if one person likes red and the other likes white?

[Ilovewillow]

That sounds fine, I would be rolling drunk in that alone!

[Mumtobe12]

Depends on venue I been to weddings before where they leave enough bottles on table (half red half white) to be shared between table (which is brill if you only one drinking white )
But most of time they will come and fill glasses to the limit of your package

[Nancy91]

Oh ok that makes sense

I can normally feel one glass of prosecco so I'm not likely to need all of my drinks anyway

[GirlElephant]

Agree that's standard & what we had for day guests. We also had a glass of prosecco for the evening guests which was on a table as they entered the venue

[apotheke]

That sounds reasonable. I've been to weddings ranging from tight (one glass of wine at meal only - with free drinks for wedding party only behind bar) to free endless bar and your package falls in the middle and wouldn't raise an eyebrow either way.

Are the bar prices ok? IMO a cheap paying bar is way better as a guest than a free one as you feel able to drink whatever you want without feeling like you are taking the piss or spending a fortune!

[Nancy91]

I haven't actually asked the bar prices but the venue is quite popular and is in London so I'm guessing it will be painful! I'll ask the wedding planner next week.

I'm also worried that some of the guests won't drink wine and will keep getting up to buy drinks during the meal. I can't please everyone I guess.

[AndNoneForGretchenWieners]

We just had cava for the toasts. Everything else was a pay bar (but at a social club so cheap). We were really skint though.

[highinthesky]

Just wondering....no soft drinks options in the chosen package?

[Jins]

I don't drink wine so I'd echo the suggestion of having something else available on the table to save people having to go to buy drinks.

[Nancy91]

We will have soft drinks too for anyone who doesn't drink Though I'm not sure what else to put on the tables? I don't want to individually ask everyone what they'd like to drink as it will get complicated. What do most people like?!

I'm rubbish at this wedding planning stuff!

[Jins]

Bottles or jug of iced water with a bottle of elderflower cordial?

[NapQueen]

Id have a bottle of still and a bottle of sparkling water on each table. Id ask for a drinks waiter service so guests can order without having to get up from their tables.

[Bluntness100]

Just have water on the table, you don't normally provide soft drinks on the table.

[GirlElephant]

Sorry meant to add....

Our venue provides still water in bottles on the table but from memory it was part of the package so seemed "free" to us

We knew we had three guests that don't drink wine so gave their names to the venue with their favourite drink order (two were spirits and one was a soft drink). It was arranged for them to have throughout the meal as we didn't like the thought of those guests needing to leave the room to go to the bar or being charged by the venue.

All commented it was a nice touch we'd thought to them. Would be hard to organise with lots of guests though so an option may be a small budget during the meal for anyone asking for soft drinks so they aren't charged?