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Pros and Cons of Open Bars For Your Wedding
If you’re planning an affordable wedding, an open bar sounds like a blessing. Guests will drink more and be happier, so it’s a win-win situation, right? Not exactly. The open bar is an idea that has been around for many years now. However, in recent times it has become slightly controversial as many couples have discovered that there are pros and cons to having one. How you feel about this subject depends on your budget, your guests and your personal preferences. Read on to discover whether the open bar is right for you.
What is an Open Bar?
An open bar is an all-inclusive bar where guests pay one fee at the start of the event, and then they have unlimited access to drinks throughout the evening. There are many variations on this popular theme, including hosted bars, cash bars and BYOB, which means that guests are encouraged to bring their own alcohol and will only have to pay for the service of providing and pouring the drinks.The open bar is a great option for both casual and formal events. It’s especially great for weddings, where you most likely don’t know your guests and will want to make sure that they are having a good time. It’s a great way to encourage guests to drink more and stay longer. An open bar option is also a great choice if your guests have different budgets and you don’t want anyone to feel left out.
The Costs of an Open Bar
An open bar that is staffed by a bartender will cost you approximately $7.50 per head, but an open bar that is self-serve will cost you around $9.50 per head. If you choose to serve alcohol that your guests bring themselves, you’ll need to factor in the cost of renting equipment like glassware, ice, etc. The average cost of an open bar is $1,200, and that includes the bartender’s gratuity.These numbers are just averages, and you may find that hiring an open bar for your wedding is more or less expensive than this, depending on where you live. You should also keep in mind that you will also have to factor in the cost of the alcohol, as well as any service charges that are imposed by your venue. The best way to find out how much it will cost to have an open bar for your event is to get in touch with local caterers and venue managers to get a quote.
Pros of Having an Open Bar
There are many reasons why couples choose to have an open bar at their weddings. Here are a few of the most common reasons why couples choose to have an open bar.- Guests will drink more – If you’re worried that your guests won’t drink enough, an open bar will ensure that they consume enough alcohol to have a good time. An open bar also eliminates the awkwardness of asking guests to contribute to the bar tab.- Guests will stay longer – An open bar is great if you want your guests to stay longer at your event. An open bar encourages guests to drink more, which means that they’ll need to go to the bar more frequently and will therefore stay at the event for a longer period of time.- Guests won’t feel left out – An open bar is a great choice if you want to make sure that guests feel included. By offering an open bar, you eliminate the awkwardness of guests having to ask you for a drink and then having to contribute to the cost of it.- You can save money – If you’re planning an affordable wedding, an open bar is a great option. You will only have to pay for the cost of the alcohol once, rather than having to pay for each drink as it is ordered.
Cons of Having an Open Bar
Having an open bar at your wedding is not all sunshine and roses. While it may encourage guests to drink more, it also gives them the opportunity to drink badly. There are several reasons why you might decide not to have an open bar at your wedding. Here are a few of them.- It’s not as personal – One of the great things about weddings is how personal they are. They are a celebration of two people who love each other, and they are attended by people who want nothing more than for them to be happy. When you decide to serve an open bar, you lose some of that personal touch.- It encourages guests to drink too much – An open bar is, in a sense, a bottomless pit of alcohol. While it may encourage your guests to drink more than they normally would, it also gives them the opportunity to drink too much.- It can be unromantic – An open bar may be practical, but it’s not very romantic. It can conjure up images of a loud, crowded bar instead of a beautiful, elegant wedding.- It can be messy – An open bar can lead to some unromantic scenes, like guests who are too inebriated to walk unassisted or who feel the need to vomit in the bushes outside your venue.
When is an Open Bar a Good Idea?
When is an Open Bar a Good Idea? Here are a few scenarios when an open bar is a great choice.- You want your guests to drink more – If you’re worried that your guests won’t drink enough, an open bar will ensure that they consume enough alcohol to have a good time. An open bar also eliminates the awkwardness of asking guests to contribute to the bar tab.- You want your guests to stay longer – An open bar is great if you want your guests to stay longer at your event. An open bar encourages guests to drink more, which means that they will go to the bar more frequently, and therefore they will stay at the event longer.- You want to make sure that guests don’t feel left out – An open bar is a great choice if you want to make sure that guests don’t feel left out. By offering an open bar, you eliminate the awkwardness of guests having to ask you for a drink and then having to contribute to the cost of it.- You want to save money – If you’re planning an affordable wedding, an open bar is a great option. You will only have to pay for the cost of the alcohol once, rather than having to pay for each drink as it is ordered.
When is an Open Bar a Bad Idea?
When is an Open Bar a Bad Idea? Here are a few scenarios in which an open bar is a poor choice.- You want your guests to drink more – If you’re worried that your guests won’t drink enough, an open bar will ensure that they consume enough alcohol to have a good time. An open bar also eliminates the awkwardness of asking guests to contribute to the bar tab.- You want your guests to stay longer – An open bar is great if you want your guests to stay longer at your event. An open bar encourages guests to drink more, which means that they will go to the bar more frequently, and therefore they will stay at the event longer.- You want to make sure that guests don’t feel left out – An open bar is a great choice if you want to make sure that guests don’t feel left out. By offering an open bar, you eliminate the awkwardness of guests having to ask you for a drink and then having to contribute to the cost of it.- You want to save money – If you’re planning an affordable wedding, an open bar is a great option. You will only have to pay for the cost of the alcohol once, rather than having to pay for each drink as it is ordered.
Final Words
An open bar is a great option for an affordable wedding. It encourages guests to drink more and stay longer, and it saves the bride and groom money that they can put towards other aspects of their wedding. An open bar is best suited to casual and informal weddings.If you’re planning an affordable wedding, an open bar sounds like a blessing. Guests will drink more and be happier, so it’s a win-win situation, right? Not exactly.The open bar is an idea that has been around for many years now. However, in recent times it has become slightly controversial as many couples have discovered that there are pros and cons to having one. How you feel about this subject depends on your budget, your guests and your personal preferences.