Open Bar Cost?

We were quoted for 5 drinks per person as an average at about $6.00 a drink. But then we also have to add taxes and a liquor service fees for the bartenders. So each drink actually works out to be closer to $10/drink. For 175 people the open bar tab (not including table wine) will be about $6,000. But there will be a fair number of kids and people who don’t drInk at all so it will probably come out quite a bit lower.

You can take an average of 5-7 drinks per person depending on how much your group usually drinks and then use the average cost per drink for your reception location. But don’t forget to add on the taxes and any liquor fees for your area. Cause it added a substantial amount to our bar tab after I added up all the costs. We would actually be much cheaper per drink to go to a loonie or toonie bar than open bar.

Ours was ~$40 per person above dinner

Most venues around me estimate your bar (if they are providing) at 8-9 drinks a person. yes that seems like a lot. but when you think of those who don't drink. and those who do, it makes up. so even at 5 bucks a drink and 8 drinks a person. you are about $800 (not counting the wine on the table)

for ours. we are providing out own bar (and the bar charges a fee per person for the bartender/mix/cups/straws/clean up etc). Our open bar is costing us about $6000 (that's estimated 200 people. and buying extra booze as my friends are drinkers...but we can return unopened bottles).

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We were going to budget about $1000 for our guests as well.

This is in addition to the fixed wine costs.

I know that's way too much but I don't want to get caught without enough funds.

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Your wedding sounds lovely! A weekend bash will be fun.

For our wedding we are doing the same thing as Stephanie but we have 250 guests! Lol as much as his family hits the bottle kind of heavy - lots of my side don't drink at all so we estimated the cost to be roughly $4000 - $5000 at top of the budget (that is roughly going to be 4-5 drinks per person though). If we run out then I will rely on my personal stash (We are having a weekend wedding and the venue has 3 cabins for the close family and bridal party).

We are able to purchase our own alcohol and are charged a fee per person. We budgeted $1000 and we have 80 guests. I am okay if we run out though