Bar Tips: Budget vs. Boujee

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Bar tips: budget vs. boujee

The bar is one of the most popular elements at your wedding. Whether alcohol is served or not, guests need a fresh libation to quench their thirst during your celebration. Lucky for you, we’re here to help you ball with your wedding bar while keeping within your budget!

Generally, you should plan about 10-20% of your wedding budget to go to your wedding bar. Since this is such a large portion, you need to do your research to see what bar options fit you best! The typical bar types are as follows:

Different Bar Types

Open or Consumption Bar

You are paying for your guests’ drinks. The only difference is in an open bar, you pay a flat rate upfront, whereas with a consumption bar you pay at the end of the evening based on how much your guests drank.

Cash Bar

Your guests pay for their own drinks throughout the evening.

Dry Bar

An ideal option for those who don’t drink, this can be any sort of bar that doesn’t serve alcohol. Looking for ideas to make your dry bar fun? Check out our dry-bar seasonal menu suggestions!

Boujee Bar Tips

Using real glasses as opposed to plastic cups can give your bar an elevated feel. There are many places you can rent drink glasses, or you can purchase them wholesale and sell them once your wedding is over!
Having a signature cocktail gives your indecisive guests an easy drink option.
Showy bartenders not only provide drinks but they provide a show that your guests can experience.
Providing top-shelf liquors albeit expensive is the easiest way to add luxury to your bar.
Go a step beyond regular beer and wine – check out local breweries and wineries in your area! This creates a unique experience for your guests, and might introduce them to something they have never tried before!
Bar décor is a super simple way to dress up your bar. It gives your guests something to admire while waiting on their drinks.
Don’t forget garnishes! Garnishes are important because they add an elegant feel to their drink. Garnishes brighten the color palette, compliment the taste, and take up empty space.
For the whisky lovers out there, big ice cubes are a must!!
If you want opulence and fun – a champagne tower is sure to please! It’s also so much fun to pour!
A signature drink wall is always a great idea! This way your guests all have a drink ready after the ceremony without overwhelming the bartender!
Monogrammed cocktail napkins are a simple touch that really takes your event to the next level!

Wedding Bar on a Budget

A key advantage of booking a full bartending service is the ease and simplicity they provide during your overall planning process. However, if you’re looking to save money on alcohol markups and additional fees, supplying your own alcohol might be the way to go.
If you are planning on serving canned or bottled beer, koozies are a great and popular addition for your guests! However, koozies are absolutely optional! If you need to cut them out of your budget to allocate more money towards the bar itself, your guests will appreciate both 😉
You should assume that every guest is going to drink in order to accommodate everyone. The general rule of thumb is that each guest will drink 2 drinks within the first hour and 1 drink for each hour after that.
A trendy and outwardly boujee option, signature drinks will also help save you money! When you have a signature drink menu, you will be purchasing more of those specific ingredients – therefore making your overall cost lower.
Limit liquor to cocktail hour. By capping the time that liquor is served allows guests to enjoy their go-to cocktail without breaking your bank.
Skip the champagne toast. Most guests will toast to you with any drink that they have, and many will not even notice if you don’t offer champagne.

Still on the hunt for a bartender for your wedding? Check out one of our favorite and most trusted vendors Corn and Rye! Happy planning and cheers!