Bars/Drinks - The expectations

[ChocolateTea]

We are planning our wedding for next summer and I’m stumped on the drinks and expectations. We are at a venue where we have to hire in, so we are looking at options now.

the overwhelming one I think I want is paying for post service drinks (for one hour during canapés) wine on the tables during the two hour breakfast, champagne for toasts, and unlimited soft drinks (bottled beer also available for those who don’t like wine) It will cost us about £900. then we would hire in an outside drinks company where people would use a cash bar for the last 3 hours of the evening.

do you think this is ok? Or should we be paying for some of the evening drinks as well? It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a wedding thats paid for any drinks tbh and I don’t know the right path to go down

All sorts of things go
The best is to make sure people know
But that certainly sounds fine and generous to me

Do whatever you want and can afford

how many guests?

we only had 45, and all family or very close friends so knew no one would even remotely take the piss, so we did an open bar all night

Then again we didn’t do favours or photos (my friend’s dad took some shots for a very nice bottle of red)

So it’s whatever floats your boat

I’d be very surprised if the outside bar company didn’t offer card payment!!

Do whatever you can afford, but most weddings I've been to have had a drink or two after the ceremony, wine on tables and fizz for toast, then pay for your own drinks in the evening.

I don't expect any drinks free other than the normal one/two after the ceremony and wine/beer on the table.

If you can afford it, great, but I wouldn't saying it's at all expected

Sounds very generous. You dont need to do anymore. I wouldnt even do the unlimited soft drinks tbh.

That sounds more than generous to me. I’ve been to weddings where the bar was free all day and night and I’ve been to weddings where a glass of champagne was provided for the toasts with all other drinks being paid for by guests. What you’re proposing sounds like a good middle ground and will I’m sure be appreciated by your guests.

That sounds really generous. Personally I'd not bother with the free soft drinks as it just complicates things unnecessarily.
Most weddings I've been to have done 1 drink after the ceremony and then wine on the table, plus a glass of champagne/fizz for the toast.

Cash bar just means that guests need to pay, not that they have to pay in cash.

OP I think your plan is fine, I always thing 1-2 post ceremony, 1/2 bottle wine with meal and a drink to toast is a good amount.

Cash bar just means that guests need to pay, not that they have to pay in cash.

😐

Sounds fine to me. That's more or less what we did, couple of drinks at arrival reception, wine and soft drinks on tables, fizz for toast, thereafter people bought own drinks at bar.

Thanks all. The drinks package comes with unlimited soft drinks until the cash bar, which I think is a nice gesture (and could certainly slow some people down in their drinks!) they also bring glasses etc. it’s paid for per head.

we have less than 40 guests so we were thinking of some money behind the cash bar as well, but that’s some thing we can decide later

and yes the cash bar also takes card payments 😜

we want our wedding to be a celebration of our ten years together so very much want to be as generous as we can afford

That sounds grand.

Once you switch to cash bar If there are some people you especially want to treat you might want to make some specific arrangement for them so it doesn't get inhaled by the big drinkers who've already benefited from the paid-for stuff. - I know in my boozy days I'd have steamed through a bottle myself in the hour after the service whereas my auntie wouldn't get through that if you gave her all night.

sounds good to me, this has been the set up at nearly every wedding I have been to. Nobody minds buying a few drinks and it’ll save you sooo much money.