One of the biggest wedding no-nos is having a cash bar at your wedding reception-guests should never have to pay to enjoy a few drinks at your wedding. So, with the bar bill threatening to squeeze 10% to 20% from your total budget, what's a bride to do? Here, some useful tips.
1. Ask Questions
First, arm yourself with as much information as you can get about your venue's bar policies. Find out if you're required to order wine and spirits through them, or if you will be allowed to bring in your own libations. You may be able to save money by purchasing your liquor from another supplier, but if your venue charges a corkage fee, you could be required to pay an extra $10 to $35 per bottle.
Your site may charge a flat rate per guest or determine the fee by the number of drinks poured. If your venue allows you to choose your payment option, it can help you save if you have an idea about how much your crowd is apt to drink.
Also, find out how much your site marks up its wines, which can vary from bottle to bottle. 'You can save by choosing a brand with a smaller markup,' says Saurabh Abrol, owner of WineChateau.com. And you may even be able to afford a wine with a slightly higher base price if it has a smaller mark-up.
If your site's house wine and premium brands are costly, ask them to order nonbrands and less expensive wine. And inquire as to what happens to any bottles leftover from the reception that you've paid for.
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