Consumption Bar vs. Host Bar???

Well, the planning of “the wedding planners” wedding is underway and I can honestly say I am enjoying it but find there are some elements I cannot get my head around.  Being a wedding coordinator and planning your own wedding really is easier than the average person however… Some details for food and drink can be stressful. So, that brings me to this blog…

As some of you may have read, I am getting married to a previous blogger on our site, known to most in the eventdecorator.com family as Dan the Man. Here is the post if you have not seen it, http://eventdecorator.com/blog/page/3 .  In there, Dan mentions the importance of having varieties of alcohol, which I agree the important elements of a wedding include food and drinks. However as I venture on this journey of payment for a consumption or host bar I start to learn why many do not believe it is perhaps one of the most important elements to try and budget. So, I am here to offer up what I have learned and hopefully some advice on how to choose.

Many may or may not be aware of the hidden costs of a “per plate” amount for a wedding. It can cost on average $125.00 to $150.00 per plate at a wedding.  However the issue I have seen is when venues list cost per plate for the food separate from the alcohol.  When you know that then the question arises, consumption bar or host bar

I have started to wonder if it may be smarter to go the other route…consumption bar. Now, if you have a crowd that loves to have fun as Dan and I are very fortunate to have, you have to be concerned with the premise behind a consumption bar. At $5 to $6 a drink a consumption bar can be quite expensive however after many hours of thought, I look at it very differently. It is almost like playing blackjack. Take the risk or leave the cards as they are on the table. On the average host bar, a venue will charge $12.00 for the first hour of an open bar and $5.00 for each hour after that per person. So, if you have a 6 hour bar service that equals $37.00 for each person which is $3,700 just for the bar alone.

Now, seeing the number separate from the food makes it sounds expensive however, if you go to a venue that is charging $125.00 a plate on average they are really charging $70.00 for the food, depending on your menu but a standard sit down meal on average would costs around that price, which leaves $65 a person for alcohol. If you decide to go with a consumption bar the dealer may bust and you come out on top. Weddings are always a gamble and people seem to like knowing exactly what they are paying for .  We have we eliminated the consumption bar just because we are afraid of what the damage may be at the end of the night? I am still conflicted I must say, but when you look at the breakdown and the monetary aspects of the two a consumption bar could save you money depending on the guests in attendance.

Just a little food for thought;)

Jessica Stevens, Wedding Planner and Bride to be!