Money Bar at Weddings: Etiquette and Recommendation

It is no secret that weddings are a serious monetary funding. Whether or not it is a yard affair or a ballroom blowout, pulling off a celebration this momentous requires a major sum of money—and food and drinks are sometimes the most important a part of a wedding ceremony finances. Fortunately, there are many methods to save lots of. One technique {couples} would possibly use to slash prices is having a money bar (as a substitute of an open one). However whereas passing off alcohol prices to your company would possibly sound tempting, a money bar wedding ceremony comes with some complications.

For starters, your company may not be solely used to this beverage mannequin, since most celebrations do, in actual fact, include open bars. That does not imply you could’t have one—nevertheless it makes introducing your attendees to the concept lengthy earlier than the massive day significantly essential. Earlier than you make a alternative, nonetheless, it is essential to weigh the professionals and cons of money bars at weddings (and browse up on the etiquette surrounding them). To assist, we tapped Laura Ritchie, a marriage planner, occasion designer, and the founding father of Grit & Grace.

Right here, Ritchie shares every little thing it’s good to learn about having a money bar at your wedding ceremony, from tipping expectations to various choices that provide the identical stage of financial savings.

What Is a Money Bar?

While you host a marriage with a money bar, you’re asking company to pay for their very own drinks all through the occasion, whether or not with bank cards or precise money. The purpose is that you simply, the host, should not masking the fee.

The Professionals of a Money Bar at Weddings 

The stand-out professional is, in fact, cash financial savings. In case you aren’t paying to inventory a bar with liquor, wine, and beer, you are slicing out a serious line of your catering finances. It additionally permits {couples} who may not drink to remain true to their values—however nonetheless ensures that their company, who do, have the choice to imbibe, if desired.

Technically, having a money bar at your wedding ceremony will unlock funds that could possibly be used elsewhere, in one other precedence class (like flowers, favors, or leisure). However in line with Ritchie, this plan will not have the specified impact—and also you’ll doubtless do extra hurt than good. “Friends aren’t going to recollect over-the-top flowers in the event that they’re pulling out their pockets,” she says. “What they’re going to recollect is taking out their bank card.”

The Cons of a Money Bar at Weddings

The largest con of a money bar just about speaks for itself: It goes in opposition to the core tenets of hospitality. “In case you’re inviting somebody to one thing, you need to be ready to host them,” says Ritchie. “In case you don’t have the means to host correctly, don’t attempt to piecemeal it collectively.” Past that, money bars may interrupt the circulation of a night. “If bartenders are mixing drinks and operating playing cards, there shall be traces identical to there are at a membership,” Ritchie provides. “It holds up service.”

Money Bars at Weddings: Suggestions and Etiquette

When confronted with the selection between a money bar or no bar in any respect, go along with the money bar. “In case you’re asking individuals to remain till midnight they usually haven’t any liquor, they may be heading out the door before you want,” warns Ritchie. “It’s higher to have alcohol or drinks generally than to not.”

If you are going to stick to this mannequin, preserve the next logistical and etiquette recommendation in thoughts.

Make Positive Your Venue (and Distributors) Can Help a Money Bar

Money bars work greatest at venues which might be already arrange with in-house digital gross sales programs and processes for dealing with a number of buyer transactions, akin to eating places and nation golf equipment. They’re much tougher to coordinate when working with an off-premises caterer.

Inform Your Friends Earlier than the Marriage ceremony

You’ll want to talk that you’re having a money bar on the small print card of your wedding ceremony invitation suite and in your wedding ceremony web site. As soon as the occasion arrives, resort welcome luggage and door tags are different alternatives for a reminder—and your wedding ceremony celebration may unfold the phrase. In case you’re offering transportation from a resort, ask a couple of pals or members of the family to remind company to cease on the foyer ATM (or bear in mind their wallets) earlier than they hop on the shuttle.

In relation to phrasing, intention for easy, easy, and gracious. A couple of recommendations from Ritchie:

• We’re so excited to host you for dinner! Sadly, we are able to’t host the bar, so please be at liberty to carry money or a bank card for alcoholic drinks.
• In case you want to take part in drinks all through the night time, please carry a bank card or money to benefit from the bar.
• Sadly, we are able to’t host the bar, however please know they may settle for money or bank cards.

Skip the Tip Jar

“If in case you have a caterer, [your bartenders] are paid hourly to be there, no matter it being a money bar, identical to each different staffer,” explains Ritchie. Their suggestions ought to be coated by you in any gratuity you cross on to your caterer as a complete.

If company want to tip, that’s their alternative, however they should not really feel pressured to take action. “Tip jars on the bar are all the time a no,” Ritchie provides, as a result of they counsel gratuity is predicted as a substitute of elective.

Methods to Reduce Prices on Marriage ceremony Alcohol With out Having a Money Bar 

Many {couples} assume money bars are the one possibility for slicing wedding-day beverage prices. However that is merely not true: There are a myriad of how to host an open bar with out spending a fortune. “Shut the bar throughout dinner and simply do wine service, or shut the bar half-hour earlier than the tip of the night time,” suggests Ritchie. “You can even keep away from liquor altogether and serve solely beer and wine.” One other various that lets you have some exhausting liquor at your wedding ceremony? Contemplate providing two predetermined signature cocktails (we propose one that’s vodka- or gin-based, and one other that’s whiskey-based) solely—and limiting the remainder of the menu to wine, beer, and exhausting seltzers.

Another choice: Reframe your wedding ceremony type. “Attempt a welcome-style reception within the late afternoon, when a bar received’t be as anticipated,” says Ritchie. “Put out enjoyable sodas or La Croix, then let individuals go away and exit to dinner on their very own dime.”