Consumption Bar or Alcohol Package?!

Hold on!!! those that $52 include food or that's just for alcohol? That's really high for just alcohol if that's the case. Anyway, I would start by figuring out how many of your 285 guests actually drink alcohol, and if possible how many of them are heavy drinker, depending on what your answers are then it would be easy to figure out which way to and of course finding out how much they will charge you for mixed drinks, beers, wine etc...per glasses or bottle

Http://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/open-bar-or-consumption-based-bar/640bc021e0e7b1a4.html

$52 is just the alcohol. Food is extra per person

So, that is $10.40 per hour per person.

Ask what the typical drinks cost. and do the math to see what you estimate your bill to be.

They say 2.5 drinks per hour.... but lets also figure out 1 and 2 per hour to stay low...

Consumption: take out underage and (15 ? ) older crowd

Let's say 250 people x 5 drinks @ $5 per drink (guess) = $6250

250 x 10 drinks x $5 = $12,500

250 x 2.5 drinks x 5 hrs x $5 = $15,625

280 x $52 = $14,560

I would ask your hall what the price is on beer and a jack and coke... try to figure out if it would be worth it... you know the drinking habits of your crowd... I know I would have 6 - 9 drinks and my hubby would be 9 - 12....

drink calculator...

http://www.evite.com/pages/party/drink-calculator.jsp

Wow we are doing an open bar and its costing us $1875 for 5 hours for half the guest your having that seems a little pricey. We also have the option of having an open bar to whatever limit we set and then switch to a cash bar maybe it would be a good idea to see if you have that option.. As Hayley has already caldulated that is way to much just for liqour and no food those people must be out of there minds.

I am all for an open bar for my guests, be it based on consumption or flat rate price. However, this is a tad pricey. I would check to see what the average drink costs, what the premium drinks cost(Walker Black and Glenlivet or Glenfiddich; Gray Goose and how much sodas, iced tea or Shirley temples cost. I would also find out what type of champagne/sparkling wine they are offering for the toast, and what kind of wine they are serving from the bar. These prices could be justified if they are charging the same for sodas with or without alcohol(Yes, some places do.)

Sorry, I just checked. You are in Ontario. That pricing could be spot on.

I did an open bar for about 100 people for 5 hours and it ended up costing $1017 plus tip and my friends are drinkers. $52 sounds pretty high and a lot of people aren't going to continue drinking for the full 5 hours.

We opted out doing an alcoholic bar mainly because of the price and most of the people who is coming to the wedding don't drink (why spend like another $2000 for maybe 30 people out of 170). I would think more so how many guest will use it? If you have more guest that will drink, I would say go for it and if not, just leave it be.

Holy Cow, these people are killing you $52 for just alcohol is way over the top, I've never heard it being so pricey. Ours is only $10/person if we add an open bar for 4hours. I'd suggest you get more info in your area and check if they'll allow you to bring your own drinks or maybe reduced the price, but if that's the norm take Hayley's caluculation into account in order to figure out what the total costs will be

Not sure what prices are like in your area but that sounds about right for where I live. I live in the Boston area where all things wedding are super expensive. We are spending $52/pp for a premium open bar with all top shelf liquor PLUS the hotel is bringing in a few extra brands that FH wants that they don't normally stock PLUS champagne toast and wine service with dinner. I think you need to negotiate on that price especially when you consider how many people you are having and that's just looking at the bar bill. I was able to negotiate with the hotel and got a liquor rider included in our contract as I want no surprises at the end of the day.