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Devoted January 2021 Ontario

Buffet Restaurant?- Drinks!

Andrea, on November 8, 2018 at 17:46 Posted in Wedding reception 0 6

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Hi everyone!

My FH and I are having a super intimate wedding ceremony/reception. Only 30 people or so.Our ceremony is going to be at a small chapel, and for a smooth finish to our special day, we've decided to have our reception at a buffet restaurant. We've decided on two favourite restaurants, but I do have a question:

Drinks?! Have any of you attended a wedding reception that took place at a buffet restaurant, for example Mandarin restaurant or Tucker's Marketplace or any other kind? How were drinks worked out? Did the couple have signature drinks? Pitchers of soda? Wine on the table, etc? I know buffet restaurants here in Toronto don't allow outside alcohol, rightfully so. We want to provide drinks of course, but don't know how many and what kinds?

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6 Comments

Latest activity by Bianca, on November 11, 2018 at 16:16

Master August 2019 Ontario
Bianca · On November 11, 2018 at 16:16
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Hey Andrea! So I have a lot of experience WORKING at an all-inclusive restaurant. I’ve been the server to plenty of weddings and unless people are drinking like monsters, it doesn’t tend to get to be too much. Often the hosts tell us that it’s beer and wine only, so we offer only that and it keeps cost low. As for pop, these types of restaurants usually have pop packages ($3-$5 per head for bottomless).

Best of luck figuring it all out!
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Super July 2019 Ontario
Jennifer · On November 9, 2018 at 13:10
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Give them a call and see what they will do. if you want to provide drinks. but want to have a rough idea of cost. you could do bottles of wine, a couple kinds of beer and a signature drink.
The restaurant we are having our rehearsal dinner at (which will be about 30-40 people). we are picking a red wine and a white wine (they will charge us by the bottle or 1/2 litre), beer, and 2 signature cocktails (using ingredients/alcohol they already carry). so that way my FMIL has a rough idea on price ahead of time.
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Devoted January 2021 Ontario
Andrea · On November 8, 2018 at 18:29
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Hi everyone! Thank you so much for your input. I realize that buffets work a lot different and drinks are their big sellers, of course, since dinner is inclusive. I will get in touch with these restaurants and ask to see what they allow when it's involving larger groups.
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Expert June 2019 Ontario
Kim · On November 8, 2018 at 18:16
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We're having our wedding at a restaurant as well... although it's not a buffet restaurant we are just running a tab and will pay for all the drinks at the end of the night. We also just recently attended a birthday party at a restaurant and it was done that way as well. I've used online alcohol calculators just to get a rough idea of how many drinks we would be paying for and estimated cost based on the average price of drinks at the restaurant. You can likely request that top shelf liquor not be made available if you're concerned about cost.
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VIP May 2019 Ontario
Stephanie · On November 8, 2018 at 18:06
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I agree with Emma! See if they can make you a drink tab to cover for everyone! I have been to buffet parties before where we got pitchers of beer and sangria and they were shared among guests! Larger orders of a few different options and people can help themselves to those or get their own!
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Expert December 2018 Ontario
Emma · On November 8, 2018 at 17:59
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I’m guessing you could just have guests order drinks and you guys pay the bill? Buffet places make a lot of their money from drinks so I don’t think they will be likely to give you a deal. But you can always ask
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