Having the right Food and Beverage structure can really elevate your wedding day. Your bar offerings in particular is a hot topic on how to structure it right and have a balance between keeping your guests happily hydrated and keeping an eye on your spending.
Can you know your Bar Spend in advance?
Often a bit unknown for your wedding budgeting is the final bar bill. In Vancouver, venues don’t offer a set per person unlimited drink spend like they do in other cities or countries. Most venues or bartending companies will tally the drinks as they are served and then you will receive the bill following the event ending.
Some venues will offer a total spend cap limit and then will let you know during the event when you’re getting close to the maximum that was decided on. Then you have the option of increasing the beverage spend or closing the bar earlier than the event end time.
Bringing in your own Alcohol or other Beverages
Most venues rely on your beverage spend to cover costs associated with hosting your wedding day. With these venues, you won’t be allowed to bring in your own alcohol or other beverages and you will be subject to what your venue has available. They can often special order in specific drinks or learn to make specialty cocktails. It’s always worth talking to them and asking if it’s something important to you!
For venues that you are allowed to bring in your own alcohol or bar, it’s best to hire a professional bartending team to make sure everything is served properly and they will staff according to your guest count. There is a lot more to plan and account for when doing your own bar so working with a bartending team is great so they can advise you on the quantity and types of liquor, garnishes, mixers and non-alcoholic options to have ready. With this, you can purchase and provide your own liquids or they can source everything and transport it for you.
What is the Best Wedding Bar Structure for you?
Open Bar
Everyone loves an open bar but what does that mean for you? An open bar is a fully host paid for bar. You can still decide what drink options are available at the bar, but know that the bill will come to you at the end of the night.
Cash Bar
A cash bar can be a great wedding bar structure as long as you are giving your guests advance notice. If not, guests may find themselves surprised or without the means to pay for their beverages.
Our Preferred Way of structuring your wedding bar
We love to have a combination of an open and closed bar! It gives some flexibility to assist with your budget but also makes sure your guests feel well taken care of and don’t need to worry about bringing money with them for your wedding day.
Our Favourite Bar Timing
For a wedding with an afternoon Ceremony followed by Cocktail Hour and Dinner Reception at the same venue, we recommend the following:
Ceremony – Bar Closed
Cocktail Hour – Passed welcome drinks and the bar is open
We love keeping the passed cocktail hour welcome drinks to around 30% of the total guest count. Not everyone will take one and will prefer to choose their own drink but it’s a great way to make sure a long line doesn’t form at the bar. For the bar, you can limit the amount offered which will help as less options are easier to decide between and you can add or omit drinks at certain price points.
Reception Dinner – Wine offered tableside during dinner
Dancing – Bar open after the main events and when dancing start. Having the bar closed during the formalities of the evening helps make sure guests are seated during the parts of the night you want them to pay attention. Whether it’s speeches, cake cutting, toasting tables, or whatever else you include as part of your day, these are times you prefer to not have them walking around to the bar and out of their seats.
Hydration is Key
If you have an outdoor wedding, don’t forget the water! Depending on your venue, a water station can be a great way to make sure your guests stay hydrated at their convenience without having to line up at the bar.
We have seen wedding bars structured so many different ways! It’s all about finding a happy medium where you are comfortable with things and your guests are too!
Contact us to plan your wedding!
Confused about all the bar structuring options out there? Let’s work together and we will streamline the process for your bar structure and more. Check out our services and then reach out to schedule a complimentary consultation to see how we can guide you!
Photo Photography Credits Blush Wedding Photography