Cheers to Savings: Tips to stay in budget for your Wedding Bar from Mobile Bartending Pros!
Hi couples-to-be or party hosts! Most likely, this is the first time planning your wedding or large party, and preparing what & how much to buy for your bar might be a mystery. A lot of times, the bar becomes an afterthought as you are overwhelmed with other planning aspects. In setting your budget, you may have overlooked how much the actual alcohol will cost and have misconceptions or myths about saving money when it comes to the bar. We’re here to shake things up with some proven tips to keep your wedding bar elevated without breaking the budget!
Buying cans vs. kegs:
The most common misconception on how to save money! Buying a keg will require a deposit, extra equipment & effort, and contrary to popular belief, is not that much cheaper. You won’t be able to provide as much variety for guests, and you don’t get a refund for what doesn’t get drank! You’ll spend extra money on ice to keep it cold, and if not stored & transported properly, you’ll lose a ton of beer to foam & waste. Plus, cans are much more environmentally friendly - no plastic cups necessary!
Keg math - one keg of Bud Light gets you 165 beers (if you don’t lose any to waste by foam, which is super likely) and costs $106, plus usage fees of $25, and deposits of $180, and most likely a delivery fee. Upfront total - $311.00 +. If you don’t return everything on time in perfect condition, you could lose your deposits and you won’t get money returned for beer unconsumed. Cans on the other hand, will cost $146 total for 168 Bud Lights, and you can return any unopened cases. No deposits, no extra equipment necessary, no waste due to improper storage or transport!
Limit options:
The more options you provide, the less that gets drank of everything. Having two-three signature cocktails vs. an entirely open bar will save you so much money in mixers, ingredients and alcohol! You don’t need to have one of every type of liquor for people to enjoy the bar menu. Offering 2-3 varieties each of liquor, beer & wine is enough to keep just about everyone happy! You don’t need to spend money on things like vermouth, triple sec, or unpopular liquor just to have them available and barely drank. Also, if providing the same brand of liquors & wine, you can qualify for case discounts, saving you money. Same goes with mixers, you only need to provide enough to pair with what you’re offering; not every soda under the sun.
Providing champagne for toasts is unnecessary:
Allowing people to just toast with the drink they already have prevents premature drunkenness by mixing alcohols, and will save you hundreds of dollars in purchasing cases of champagne. Yes, of course the champs wall is fun, but chances are your guests are already enjoying their drink of choice by the time toasts come around!
Champs math - 3 oz toast for 100 guests = 300 oz or one case of bubbly at the cheapest - $160 saved! Plus the amount you spent on flutes!
Only offering beer & wine:
Another common misconception is that only offering beer & wine will be cheaper. A $25 750 ML bottle of liquor will make around 16 cocktails. A $15 750 ML bottle of wine will only pour 4-5 glasses. A beer & wine only bar could actually end up costing you more money, and people can get just as drunk.
$15 bottle of wine = $3.75 per drink or a $25 bottle of liquor = $1.56 per drink
Hire a professional bar service!
At the end of the day, you should invest in the professionals! Investing in your bar service & ultimately the guest experience will save you money because the alcohol consumption is being monitored. Bar staff is measuring pours, and a great bar company (Mountain Sips!) will help you with all of the above tips, and provide you with a shopping list so you don’t overspend!
Follow us on Instagram @mountainsipsbar for more helpful bar planning tips, resources & information! If you’re in Colorado & interested in a quote from Mountain Sips - send a request via our inquiry form!