Catered events, especially weddings, represent a substantial financial commitment, whether they're intimate backyard gatherings or extravagant ballroom spectacles. Successfully orchestrating such a significant celebration entails a considerable monetary investment, with a significant portion allocated to food and beverages. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to economize, and some couples consider implementing a cash bar as a cost-cutting strategy. However, despite its allure, a cash bar presents certain challenges. Before making this decision for your wedding, it's crucial to be well-informed about the implications.
A cash bar, in essence, involves guests covering the cost of their own drinks throughout the event, using either credit cards or physical cash, as the hosts do not foot the bill. While there is a technical financial advantage to opting for a cash bar, intending to reallocate funds to other aspects of the celebration may not necessarily enhance the overall experience. Guests may be more likely to recall the inconvenience of paying for drinks than any lavish decor or details.
The drawbacks of a cash bar are apparent, with the primary disadvantage being its contradiction to the fundamental principles of hospitality. Ritchie emphasizes that if you extend an invitation, you should be prepared to host guests properly, and attempting to piece together hospitality without adequate means may compromise the event's integrity. Additionally, cash bars have the potential to disrupt the flow of the evening, causing delays as bartenders handle transactions.
In certain circumstances, a cash bar might be deemed acceptable, especially when faced with the choice between a cash bar and no bar at all. If you anticipate a long event, opting for a cash bar is preferable to having no alcoholic beverages available.
Cash bars are most seamlessly executed in venues equipped with in-house electronic sales systems, such as restaurants or country clubs, but can be challenging to coordinate with off-premises caterers. This may be slowly changing as portable electronic sales systems become more advanced. One possible advantage of cash bars is that guests are more likely to drink less, with fewer roudy guests who outstay their welcome.
Regarding the issue of tipping for bartenders, if you have a caterer, bartenders are typically paid hourly regardless of a cash bar. Tips for bartenders are covered in the overall gratuity provided to the caterer, and guests are not obliged to tip, as tip jars on the bar can imply an expectation rather than a choice.
For couples looking to cut alcohol costs without resorting to a cash bar, there are some alternative strategies. You can close the bar during dinner and opt for wine service only, or shut the bar 30 minutes before the end of the event, this can significantly shorten your event, for better or worse. Another option is to redefine the wedding format, perhaps hosting a welcome-style reception in the late afternoon with non-alcoholic beverages, allowing guests to explore dining options on their own later. Another option is a no-host champagne, wine or beer bar. Many venues such as St. James, allow you to provide your own wine for a small corkage fee. As long as you don't charge your guests, you can bring your own beverages and serve them to guests free of charge. In venues without an in-house catering and bar service, there are usually only two options, buy the alcohol off-site and serve it to guests free of charge OR hire a bardender with an alcohol license. This is because in Idaho, like most states, you don't need a license to serve alcohol unless it results in commercial gain. "Champagne tastes" on a kool-aid budget can be achieved with a lower-end champagne vintage and guests are unlikely to notice the difference, especially if you make mimosas or other flavors such as creme de casis, in the french style of Kir Royale. Alternatively, you can opt for a sparkling punch that guests can serve themselves or, similiarly, Sangria, which is a spanish punch made with low-end wine, spices, brandy or rum, and fruit. Another option might be to invite guests to bring their own bottles to share in lieu of gifts and ask catering staff to set aside a drink table where guests can mingle and serve themselves. For those who don't need or want gifts, this may be the perfect money saving solution and it eliminates the need to register for unwanted gifts. Many weddings are non-traditional second weddings or the newlyweds are older and already have their own households set up. In such cases, you should feel free to choose your own preferences. After all, it's YOUR wedding and a beautiful and elegant wedding doesn't need to be expensive.
The greatest way to minimize your expenses and reduce alcohol charges is to choose an Event venue like St James that doesn't require its own staff and caterers to host your wedding. When you have the freedom to choose, you will often save money over inhouse wedding staff
Here at St James we have a punch bowl and cocktail trays for an elegant cocktail reception. A sparkling punch and hor d'oeuvres are both elegant and easy to serve. Plus, if you serve buffet style with guests browsing on food and beverages, you save significantly on staffing and this gives guests more control over portions. In the end, you may also opt for a no-alcohol recepetion. A natural choice for no alcohol might be an afternoon tea with fingerfood. St James has the serving platters, plates, tea cups and everything you need for an elegant tea reception whether you choose to buy the food and bring it or hire a caterer. If you choose not to hire a caterer make sure you assign someone display, serve and clean-up the buffet. This is not a detail you should have to attend to during the event, for your peace of mind and enjoyment.
We hope you will stop by and check out our dining hall and our historic english gothic style church. We are proud to provide a venue that is both affordable and elegant and we cater to a myriad of tastes and budgets. Please feel free to discuss your budget limitations with us, we are always looking for ways to save clients money with compromising on enjoyment. We want your day to be special, with no financial regrets.
Comments