Save on Catering - Don't Let Your Bar Break Your Wedding Budget

OK - so you’ve read the etiquette rules proclaiming cash bars a no no, and now you’re fretting the potential costs of a pricey open bar at your wedding reception. Relax, an open bar does not have to kill carefully planned wedding budget. For me, an open bar was a must (hey - my group likes to have a good time). So I did a little bit of research to find out how I could pull this off without breaking the bank. And now I'll pass this knowledge on to you! Consider these ways to save:

Find a Reception Site that Allows Outside Alcohol
This proved to be my saving grace - and I had never even realized this was an option until I began touring reception facilities. Believe it or not – many wedding reception sites will let you bring your own alcohol – which can lead to extensive savings! Liquor store prices are always less, and you can usually return any unopened bottles for a full refund after the wedding. When prospecting potential reception sites, ask whether stocking your own bar is a possibility. *Tip - hotels, restaurants and country clubs seldom allow outside alcohol because they're in the business of selling food and beverage. If you want to take advantage of these savings - consider having your wedding in an historic mansion, museum or other unique location. These types of venues are more likely to allow - even require - outside food and beverage. I got married at a Georgia plantation - and almost half of the locations I considered allowed outside alcohol.

Select a Reception Site with Reasonal Bar Prices
Even if you can’t find a desirable reception site that will allow you to stock your own bar, compare bar prices when interviewing facilities. Yes, this sounds like a given - but just like catering menus, all bar menus are not created equal. Many reception sites offer reasonable bar rates (anywhere from $15-$25 per person), while others charge exorbitantly. Choose wisely…

Serve a Limited Bar
Even though cash bars are frowned upon, you don’t necessarily have to provide a completely open bar at your wedding reception. Consider serving beer and wine only; this will substantially cut down on bar costs and most wedding guests will hardly notice. If you’ve got a number of liquor drinkers on your guest list - serve a full bar stocked with only well brands - or only a few types of liquor.

Cut the Guest List
I know you’ve heard it before, but the only way to substantially cut your wedding budget is to decrease your guest list. Almost all wedding costs are tallied on a per person basis – bar packages included. Decreasing the number of people in attendance will significantly decrease your bar costs.

Looking for more tips to help you plan your wedding menu? Visit my complete Catering Guide at Elegala.com - Elegant Galas Made Simple.