Thats more than any other category on MoneyGeeks list. Check with your vendor about barback servers to assist with glasses, garnishes, and restocking. There are always non-alcoholic beverages you can offer up instead, whether that be kombucha or a coffee bar for a morning celebration, says Lauren Grech, CEO & co-founder of LLG Events in New York, N.Y. But ultimately, you shouldnt need any additional flair just because youre opting out of alcohol for your wedding, Grech says. A general rule is one bartender for every 75 guests for beer and wine service or one bartender for every 50 guests for a full liquor bar. They include practical changes to how you purchase and serve drinks as well as creative ideas that engage and entertain your guests without breaking the bank. Pop a bottle and pour the bubbly! Bar Services & Beverages in Greenville, SC - The Knot If not, the organizer must only account for the guests who are drinking alcoholic beverages. Once you have a clear vision of the alcohol requirements, it's time to look at bar options. Domino Sugar, Sweet N Low Sweetener Well/call vs. premium liquors Well and call liquors are the cheapest bottles used for shots or mixers. Last, you can skip the alcohol altogether and have a dry wedding. 4. If your caterer is serving the alcohol, they will likely have the proper insurance, just be sure to ask. Cost Per Item: Mixed Drinks $5; Domestic Beer $3; Import Beer $4; Craft/Local Beer $4-$5; House Wine $26* Sodas . A wedding with 100 to 150 guests requires 2 to 3 bartenders to avoid long lines at the bar. The slideshow will cycle through all of your photos. Liquor Liability Insurance, 1. For a full open bar with premium liquors, The Knot puts the average cost at $4,147, while an open bar limited to cheaper spirits averages $2,550. Contact the pros you like to discuss project details. Taking into account that a single full keg of beer is already in the inventory, the total cost is roughly around $800. Catering costs $30 to $150 per person for formal plated meals, a buffet, or food stations. We make every effort to provide up-to-date information, however we do not guarantee the accuracy of the information presented. As you can imagine, this can get really expensive. BEER: Stella Artois, Corona Extra, White Claw Hard Seltzer, 9. DISCOVER. If you're planning to tie the knot, it's crucial to understand the financial implications of having a wedding. Bar service: $15 per person. Note: the calculations below were for standard mixed drinks, such a vodka/tonic, rum/cokes, etc., and do not include the price of mixers and ice. Wedding bartender prices depend on experience, alcohol offered, and add-ons. We talked to several wedding planners and real newlyweds to get their advice on how to keep alcohol costs within your wedding budget. RED WINE: Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon, Mark West Pinot Noir, 11. In fact, alcohol is served at 92% of wedding celebrations, according to The Knots survey of weddings in 2018. 10. Guests will drink: First hour: 2 drinks x 150= 300 drinks. How much beer and wine for 150 guestsreception lasts 4 hours. CORDIALS: Dekuyper Triple Sec, Dekuyper Apple Pucker, Dekuyper Peachtree In 2021, this categorys average cost was $6,362. Its special when a wedding dress can be passed down to a daughter or granddaughter. Wedding Catering - The Knot Quicken Compare, a LMB Opco, LLC company, is compensated by third-party advertisers, however, any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in editorial content are of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the advertiser. Their staff is professional, trustworthy, and focused on providing excellent customer service. Note: These days, the recommended mix is 50% liquor, 25% beer and 25% wine. This is one of the most popular bar options for weddings. Here are two examples of hourly rates for bartenders: An open bar can be very fancy or scaled back. And while this is the costliest option for most couples, its also the most popular 56% of couples opt for an open bar wedding. *Cost data is from research and project costs reported by Fash members. Land OLake Half & Half Creamer Considering that this category deals with jewelry, precious stones and metals, it isn't surprising that it ranks as the third-highest cost overall. It seems like a no-brainer, but here is where the Hyundai and Ferrari analogy comes in. When shopping for a caterer, ask if an open bar is included in the quoted price. We bought all the alcohol ourselves and looked for deals wherever we could, she says. Alcohol consumption is an important element of every conventional wedding reception (at least in the Western world). Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information, $130 flat rate for parties lasting three hours or less, Two bar setups (tables, tools, ice bins) provided by company, Four staff working an eight-hour day (32 total work hours), Two liquors total with two featured cocktailseach made using simple mixers, Two high-end wine choices (average $15$20 per bottle), No bar provided by staff (provided by the venue), Six to eight liquors with every type of mixer availableessentially a full bar with upscale alcohols such as Glenfiddich scotch, Garnishes such as lemons, limes and oranges: $15, Two six-foot folding tables with linens: $20, Custom-built bars, including speed rack, ice bins, built-in cutting boards and back shelving for liquor display with LED lighting: $100$250, Standard folding tables with linens are included in packages at no extra charge, Always clarify whether your venue requires specific licenses, says Mia of. Most venues charge around $75 per person for a three hour open bar - $15 - $20 per hour after that, How Much Does an Ice Sculpture or Chocolate Fountain Cost, How Much Do Stemware and Flatware Rentals Cost, 7 Lesser-Known Discounts for the 50+ Crowd, 7 Ways to Stretch Your Reduced Food Budget. RED WINE: Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon SPECIALTIES: Martini & Rossi Extra Dry Vermouth, Martini & Rossi Sweet Vermouth, Dekuyper Blue Curacao, 15. However, if you look at the median spent, it's considerably lower at $2,587. You pay a set amount per person per hour. Mixologist or flair bartender (craft cocktails or entertainment). The wedding cake, catering and bar service categories are no small expense. We want to provide a few free drinks at the wedding for guests and then have the cash bar for those who want to drink heavily, she says. 16. To save money, choose the $20 bottle of tequila, not the $120 bottle of tequila. Here are 5 different types of bar packages to consider: 1. Fortunately, invitations can be made simpler or through electronic means and can be a simple but good way to saving on potentially a few hundred dollars that can be allocated elsewhere. This could also be a signature cocktail that either you or your bartender invent. Jewelry is a high-cost category in weddings, with an average cost of $5,549. By using the above rule of thumb of two drinks during the first hour and one drink thereafter per guest, you can assume that the average drink costs you $5. However, less than 20% of couples who married in 2021 used any of the services mentioned above. Her total costs for unlimited beer and wine for 150 people over 5.5 hours came to just $1,086. The location and venue for your wedding play a huge role in making this day special, experientially and financially. Wedding Catering Cost Guide | WeddingWire GIN: Bombay Sapphire 11. SCOTCH: Dewars White Label Cups and napkins should be provided, as well as setup and cleanup services after the reception. The open bar also closed during dinner, offering wine served at the table instead. When beer and wine are the only alcoholic options at a wedding, guests will typically consume more beer than wine. Here are common bar packages and other alcohol options you might consider as youre planning your wedding celebrations. You should also look into your states liquor laws, Phillips advises, as some states only allow alcohol to be served by a provider with a liquor license. If you only want someone to manage your rehearsal and oversee the wedding, a coordinator is a better (and more affordable) option. A wedding coordinator's focus is ensuring everything goes smoothly on the wedding day. To help you figure out which wedding bar option will work for you, here are our wedding alcohol service tips. These are the basic estimates based on the type of beverages served: This type of open bar option entails an average fee that costs around $11 to $23 per person. She was able to hand-select three beers and two wines to serve, and even brought in a keg from her favorite brewery. In 2021, 19% of weddings were destination weddings. Why? LIQUEURS: Baileys Irish Cream, Kahlua Coffee Liqueur, Amaretto Dissaronno Private bartender rental equipment costs $150 to $400 for bar stations, linens, and bar supplies. At least 84% of couples decide that an engagement ring is worth the cost. If so, will it reduce your quoted price? And don't forget that tipping the bar tenders at the end of the night can run as much as 20% of the final bar tab. Just know the crowd youll be serving and let them know exactly what to expect ahead of time, and theyll show up ready to party! While the average cost of alcohol at a wedding is around $2,500, having drinks at your reception can cost a lot less. SOFT DRINKS: Classic Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Ice Mountain Water, 1. 2023 Open Bar Wedding Cost | Average Alcohol Prices - Fash games, motion pictures, recital performances) that is slated during the first 4 hours of the 6-hour will only leave a relatively small window of opportunity to indulge in casual drinking. Starbucks Coffee, Caribou Decaf, Lipton Tea, Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate (pick 2) 2. The national average fee for bartender service for wedding reception costs around $2,800, considering that the usual rate is somewhere around $20 to $50 per hour for each bartender. Your hair and nails count, too. Time and money go into the wedding dress shopping process. Updated on 11/17/22 Getty Images In This Article Wedding Bartender Cost Tipping Etiquette How Many You'll Need Questions to Ask The last thing a couple wants to see at their wedding is a line. Most caterers advertise an open bar as unlimited mixed drinks, beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages. Here are some common ways that you may be charged for wedding bar service: Your venue may also have the option of a cash bar. Having a BYOB wedding is also a money-saving option, provided your venue will allow it. BEER: Miller Lite, Coors Light, Bud Light, 5. LIQUEURS: Carolans Irish Cream, Sabroso Coffee Liqueur, Llord Amaretto, 8. This roughly translates to 75 bottles of wine, 120 bottles of beer, and 10 bottles of liquor. Your costs can vary quite a bit based on the venue and alcohol package you choose. RED WINE: Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon, Mark West Pinot Noir CORDIALS: Llords Triple Sec, Llords Sour Apple, Llords Peach, 13. Open Bar Wedding Guide: Everything to Know | Wedding Spot Blog They remember the bride walking down the aisle and the couple saying, "I do." Sales for these categories totaled around $10 billion, contributing 20.47% of the industry's revenue. This may be a more expensive option, but it has the benefit of a fixed cost. Now that youve watched the video, read details below. If the bartending company is required to pay a liquor license fee for the venue, it may pass that fee onto you. 2. The average number of wedding guests is 126, so that would cost you $2,520. Before hiring a wedding bartender, be sure to: Ask for referrals from friends, your wedding planner, the venue manager, or other recent brides. While these averages can be helpful in planning your wedding budget, there are a variety of factors that can impact your total wedding catering cost. RUM: Captain Morgan Spiced, Bacardi Superior Increased by 25% to $27,063, Your Free Wedding Report for United States 2021 Statistics. Her total wedding alcohol costs came in at $1,105.