This never occurred to me before.
Not until I was asked, How do I Develop a Realistic Budget for a Corporate Event with (for) 250 People?
The reason being... It's not uncommon that I'm asked questions that are specific to the inquirers particular situation. The answers often lead to detailed, targeted answers that I don't think you'd be interested in reading.
Periodically, when I receive these general-type questions - that most people are Googling an answer for, anyway - I'll share the responses with you, too.
This post answers a question that I've been asked quite a few times.
Can you have a cash bar at a wedding reception?
First, let me say - I want you to have a beautiful wedding day and lovely reception, with no embarrassment.
If you read nothing else here at Cater-Hater today, I won't be offended. Yet I will be offended big time - if you don't stop to read this.
Because regardless of what type of an event you're planning, I want it to be flawless for you.
No worries. No trouble.
If your budget is tight and you feel that you simply must serve alcohol, whatever you do - don't skimp on your liquor order. Unless you know for a fact that most of your guests are teetotalers (people who completely abstain from alcoholic beverages), cutback somewhere else on your budget.
Of course, what wines and liquors you serve more or less depends on your budget. If your desire is to serve the very best, serve "call liquors" (brand name liquors) and French champagne. If your budget won't permit you to afford top-of-the-line brands, there are many excellent brands available that cost considerably less.
But like I already said, if you simply must serve alcohol... What's thought to be acceptable, by most guests attending a wedding reception - is a "soft bar". The definition of a "soft bar" is: wine and/or champagne and soft drinks.
Serve champagne only with your toasts, if you'd like. Serve champagne and strawberries right when you begin dessert service. Serve red and white wine with dinner only.
What's great is you can do whatever you like. You make the rules. In fact, you don't have to serve any alcoholic beverages at all.
If your budget is super tight and you want to serve something with an alcoholic kick regardless, serve two punches instead; an alcoholic punch and a non-alcoholic punch. It's less expensive than mixed drinks and wines, and easy and quick to prep and setup.
Cater-Hater Tip: Go light on the alcohol in your punch, which should be well chilled and not too sweet. Too sweet, and they'll drink it like it's orange juice. Not good. You might run out punch. And more importantly, your guests will get drunk. This could be the beginning of some major problems.Heaven forbid that happening!
If your reception will be held at a venue that permits alcohol, I strongly suggest that you speak with a knowledgeable wine aficionado who will be able to recommend a variety of wines and liquors at different price points.
You can ask them to help you with how much liquor and champagne you'll need (based upon the number of guests expected to attend and the number of hours your reception will last), or check to see if I've written a post about it. And I haven't. Not yet, anyway. They'll even tell you how many ounces to put in a drink (to help prevent guests from becoming intoxicated).
I specialize in planning and catering large (500 to 3000 guests) parties and special events. So the unopened bottle question is an important issue for me. Thinking economically for my clients, every dollar counts - especially for costly wedding receptions. I do not want them spending money on unopened bottles of alcohol that wasn't served. That's money that can be spent somewhere else, like on your honeymoon or an upgrade to your floral budget.
Cater-Hater Tip: The unopened bottle question is a definite wedding reception planning must! When you buy your alcohol, be sure to ask whether or not you may return unopened bottles for credit. Get answers to every bar-related question you can think of. If you're having your wedding reception at a hotel or private club, it's always good to know a little something about wines and liquors when you talk to their people about your bar and the drinks that will be served.
Let me stop and think for a minute. Did I forget anything?
Oh my goodness! How could I forget liquor liability insurance? Besides the original question, this is the most important part of this article.
If I found out that something bad happened, I would never forgive myself for not mentioning this.
For good measure, even if your wedding reception venue has coverage, to be on the safe side - be sure to talk to an insurance broker about a one-time insurance policy for liability coverage for alcohol.
I highly recommend you look into getting a policy through Chubb Insurance Group. They're a lot like Lloyd's of London. They'll insure just about anything. And the real plus is, because you get what you pay for - they don't usually take you through 3000 negative changes if you have to file a claim. They're truly the best!
I have to tell you, I mention this to my clients, especially the ones that serve alcohol at their off-premise catered events. But like renters who should have renter's insurance at an apartment complex; because I can't make them buy insurance for their party, they usually don't.
"Oh, no one will sue me", they say. Uh huh. Yeah, right.
And apartment buildings never catch on fire, either.
I feel like it's my duty to say this. Having this conversation with you is sincerely necessary. People that throw parties are festive and fun people. It's easy to get caught up in the hoop-la of planning everything, and not think about a serious subject like this.
If a guest leaves your reception (drunk) and drives on the wrong side of the road, killing two cars full of people - including themselves (like the lady in the news recently), somebody is going to be sued.
My smart clients, who don't scoff at the idea of paying for liquor liability coverage, have nine times out of ten been sued at some point in their life. After listening to their stories, it's pretty apparent that they know, firsthand, what can happen. They've ,been through a complete legal living hell, by not having coverage (or enough coverage) at some point, and lost something (money, their business, a house, or worse yet, a life) as a result of being sued for something. A DUI or DWI, maybe. I guess.
It's a tough reality. But this is so important to talk about.
Especially because holiday parties are right around the corner.
So please take heed! You definitely want to protect yourself against any law suits filed by intoxicated guests, and/or their family members. Not to fail to mention, the potential lawsuits by the drivers (and family members of the drivers) in other cars that may get hit by your guest(s).
You might think, "We made it. We've escaped having any problem." And off to your perfect, dream honeymoon you go. You leave town headed for your exotic honeymoon vacation, feeling completely carefree.
But sometimes things happen at parties that people don't hear about, until later. I've heard about newlyweds returning home from their honeymoon, to a lawsuit, for a bartender serving liquor to a minor, at their wedding reception.
I know. It sucks. But this is the reality of what can happen these days. But you know this, already. Better safe than sorry. Get some insurance.
Image source: Wikipedia
Alcohol, Alcoholic beverage, Alcoholism, Beverages, Driving under the influence, Law, Orange juice, Soft drink, United States, Wedding reception, Wine:Technorati Tags
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