Planning
your reception can be a little
overwhelming with all of the other
responsibilities ahead of you. After
you have chosen your caterer and menu,
it’s time to consider liquid
refreshment. There are many options
available.
Punch and Coffee –
Definitely the least expensive route.
This is good for a small wedding in
the morning, a reception serving cake
and fruit only, or for couples who
prefer not to serve alcohol because of
personal beliefs.
Cash Bar – One way
to cut costs at a larger reception.
You hire and pay for the bartender,
the guests pay for their alcohol. You
may also be charged a fee for any
beverages that are non-alcoholic. This
is a good thing to find out before
booking a reception room.
Beer and Wine –
Rather than offering full bar service,
you can have beer, wine, a punch and
assorted soft drinks. To further cut
costs, you can fill tubs of ice and
let your guests help themselves rather
than hiring a bartender.
Open Bar – Probably the
most popular choice. While not as cost
effective as a plain punch and coffee
reception, there are ways to keep your
expenses down and still have a great
celebration.
When you are booking a reception, ask
if there are bar facilities available.
Any business that promotes party or
conference should have at least a
portable bar included, but it’s best
to be sure. You also want to find out
if you can supply your own alcohol or
if you have to use theirs. They will
charge you a lot more than a package
store, especially since they have to
use mini bottles rather than full
size. You also want to find out if you
can use your own bartender as well. |
Some places
will allow you to do your own bar
service but will charge you a corkage
fee, usually a cost per bottle which
can add up quite fast.
Purchasing your own alcohol will save
you a lot of money. You want to seek
out a provider than can help you plan
for your reception. A smaller package
store can offer you more personalized
service and can help you from going
over your budget. They also tend to
have more knowledge about the liquors
themselves and what your guests will
like. Find out if there is someone
that you can meet with that will help
you plan. If you just stop in, they
will probably be trying to attend to
customers and you at the same time.
Try to make an appointment, this way
they can arrange for additional help
or meet with you during a slow period.
A bartending service can relieve you
of a lot of steps and headaches. Many
brides consider using a friend or
family member to bartend their
reception, but this means whoever is
working probably won’t enjoy the
reception very much! A good service
will supply you with everything you
need, eliminating a lot of trips to
different stores. They can also set up
the bar and break it down when the
reception is over. Many services
charge a small fee in addition to the
cost of the bartender and goods used.
When looking for a service, be sure to
get some idea of their qualifications
and what their service can offer for
you. You also want to ask them about
their bartenders and what kind of
experience they have.
Once these details are taken care of,
you can concentrate on more important
things – like the honeymoon! Don’t
forget to take a great bottle of wine
to continue the celebration! |
