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Karilyn
Dedicated September 2018

Drink Tickets Logistics

Karilyn, on March 27, 2018 at 5:05 PM

Posted in Wedding Reception 230

Okay, first, I know how many of you feel about drink tickets and say it's rude. Please know we've pretty much made up our mind based on the details below but wanted feedback on a few logistics. It doesn't appear we have another option unless we had a dry wedding so do not try to talk us out of it (a...

Okay, first, I know how many of you feel about drink tickets and say it's rude. Please know we've pretty much made up our mind based on the details below but wanted feedback on a few logistics.
It doesn't appear we have another option unless we had a dry wedding so do not try to talk us out of it (a friend got married at the same place and it turned out her open bar tab was $10,000 for only a slightly higher guest count). And no, beer and wine only are not something we're interested in, nor much cheaper anyhow since they charge by the drink and house wine is $8/glass; even soda is $4/ea. I've been to plenty of weddings and never expected an open bar so maybe it depends on where you're from.


Now, the reception package already includes complimentary wine service with dinner and a champagne toast. We are currently thinking of giving 2 drink tickets per person to use as they please. We will have a beverage table with lemonade, iced tea, coffee, water. Our main questions are:

1. Do the tickets move hands pretty easily on their own? (I know 2 drinks seems low but we are hoping/assuming some will likely drink nothing and they'll get passed on to the heavier drinkers).

2. How do we distribute the tickets? Right now we're thinking to put them on/under the name card that gives them their table number as well. We'd prefer for the reception hall not to get a hold of them to avoid unnecessary overcharging and we don't want to leave on the table since we're only doing assigned tables, not seats.

3. How should we communicate the fact that some wine and champagne will already be offered in addition to their tickets? Just put a simple message under their name placard with the drink tickets?

4. For those who have attended an event or wedding with tickets, how was it overall?


This isn't fine-tuned, but just a rough idea..... "Below are your tickets to be used for two complimentary alcoholic drinks. You will also receive complimentary wine service with dinner and a champagne toast will occur later in the evening."

230 Comments

  • P
    Devoted July 2018
    Precious Stone ·
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    Well, that is what she can afford and guest need to deal with it. This is a wedding and every guest know weddings are expensive. Like I said. If you don't want four drinks just stay home. She doesn't have to break the bank because a guest wants 10 drinks. Good for you that you can afford any amount of drinks for your guest but she can't. Therefore she gives them the four she can afford. What is the big deal if you are a heavy drinker and knowing how expensive a wedding is you spend an extra 20 bucks to satisfy your thirst. I believe everyone at the wedding is either family or a supportive friend. So if you cannot deal with the fact that the couple can only afford 4 drinks then you shouldn't be there.
    I don't know what kind of people you guys have around you but my people want be bothered at all. And this has nothing to do with etiquette.
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  • Karilyn
    Dedicated September 2018
    Karilyn ·
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    I never said that, plenty of people on here were respectful, offered their opinions, and feedback even when they didn't agree and tbh, they were the most helpful. There were a few that were completely disrespectful not only to me, but to others as well.

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  • Mrsbdg
    Champion August 2017
    Mrsbdg ·
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    We had those too! If you haven't ordered them already we got them for super cheap from a really random website!
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  • Mrsbdg
    Champion August 2017
    Mrsbdg ·
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    It has everything to do with etiquette. If you want some references I have two book suggestions for anyone who wants to do a little etiquette research.
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  • magnolia5
    VIP June 2019
    magnolia5 ·
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    This has everything to do about etiquette. It's called proper hosting.
    I have loved ones and friends at my wedding. I appreciate them coming to watch me get married, so I properly host them as a thank you. I make cuts elsewhere to afford to properly host them, because like you said weddings are expensive. If you choose not to, that's fine.
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  • P
    Devoted July 2018
    Precious Stone ·
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    Not everybook deserves a read. No thank you, I will pass.
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  • Baconater
    Dedicated April 2017
    Baconater ·
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    I hate to break it to you, but the reception is a Thank You to your guests for coming to ceremony. The reception isn't about you. This is why it's important to host well.

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  • Karilyn
    Dedicated September 2018
    Karilyn ·
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    Thanks. Yeah some of the feedback here has helped to maybe come up with a combo-plan. The open bar for just beer and wine (from what I recall) was $20/per person for the first hour and then a couple bucks less for the next couple hours. Whatever it was, it ended up being about an extra $50/person at the minimum if we cut it short an hour too. And since most of our guests won't drink as much to average the 5 drinks (plus the included wine and champagne) it didn't make sense to pay for drinks that wouldn't get used. After everyone's comments I'll likely be crunching the numbers to see what it would look like for an open bar til dinner, then close the dinner down and either do cash, consumption, or tickets after that. Or, just do consumption and tell them to cap it and notify us/planner when we get close. For corporate events and parties I think their pricing is reasonable, just with our crowd and number of guests it just didn't make sense for the whole night -- but maybe part of the night :-). Thank you.

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  • Ashley
    VIP December 2018
    Ashley ·
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    We thought about doing this at first, but then decided on hosted wine with dinner, plus a few hundred down on the bar and cash bar after. It’s like $20 per head per hour for an open bar, regardless of age. Yeah noooot happening.
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  • Karilyn
    Dedicated September 2018
    Karilyn ·
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    I've read all sorts of differing opinions when it comes to etiquette regarding every aspect about a wedding. We have modified our wedding to accommodate our guests already and do not feel that modifying it more to allow for a larger alcohol budget is necessary considering our crowd.

    However, I have been open to options regarding how to get that budget to work best for us at our venue. If alcohol is the reason you're coming, stay home. But I know this is not true for my guests and the reason we want to make sure they will get their fill but will not be bottomless.

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  • Karilyn
    Dedicated September 2018
    Karilyn ·
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    Exactly what I thought when they told me the per hour. The wine with dinner is already included so that's good and I'm glad someone suggested shutting the bar down during that time which will allow us to get them to utilize the included wine instead of our pockets. We both love cocktails and don't care for beer or wine so we couldn't just limit it to just beer or wine; plus some other whiskey drinkers. We'll likely have to put a few thousand down to cover what I think it will cost.

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  • Karilyn
    Dedicated September 2018
    Karilyn ·
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    Do you have a link? With things adding up, I don't think I can justify the etsy ones I wanted lol.

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  • Xandria
    VIP December 2018
    Xandria ·
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    This sounds like a really lovely plan. And something, if your venue usually does corporate events, they will know how to handle. Most corporate events look like this.

    If you go to consumption and have them notify someone when you get close, make sure its not you, this is what a DOC is for. And you don't want to have to deal with that kind of question when you're in the middle of enjoying your reception.

    I do think you should think about trusting your venue, this is what they do, and most likely they have your best interests at heart. I have literally spent the entity of today making sure the event we have next week goes well, not because of what they're paying, and I work in a role where I might not even ever meet these people, but because its my job to make sure that they have a good event, and that's honestly what I, and my entire team want to happen.


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  • Karilyn
    Dedicated September 2018
    Karilyn ·
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    For any of you not passed out from exhaustion on this yet, if we went the capped-consumption route based on my inflated estimates and likely wouldn't run out until the end of the night, how would we communicate this to guests? Do it ahead of time? Just have the DJ announce it throughout the night? I don't want it to be a surprise, but if I plan well enough we won't really hit our cap unless a few ruin it for everyone and drink more than their 10 estimated drinks so I don't necessarily want to put it on the invite or anything and maybe not even the website since they should be taken care of.
    Thoughts/ideas?

    Edit: Especially if we shut the bar down during dinner we likely shouldn't hit our cap. But just in case what do you plan on communicating?

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  • Xandria
    VIP December 2018
    Xandria ·
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    I don't think you need to communicate this until someone comes up to your DOC and says "you're nearing your cap", then do a last call announcement. People will get the last drink, and it'll all be well.

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  • Mrsbdg
    Champion August 2017
    Mrsbdg ·
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    I'm sure this is buried in the recesses of this post but how long is your reception?
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  • Karilyn
    Dedicated September 2018
    Karilyn ·
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    Good call (pun intended). Thanks.

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  • Xandria
    VIP December 2018
    Xandria ·
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    Love your pun!

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  • Karilyn
    Dedicated September 2018
    Karilyn ·
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    You didn't miss it.

    It's contracted for 5 hours but this how they have the time laid our in our contract.

    It says Reception with Cocktail Rounds 5-6pm, Reception 6-10pm, Wedding Party Holding Room 5-11pm.

    We have to clarify the details but I'm assuming it's cocktail hour from 5-6pm and then the traditional reception from 6-10pm. If bar is shut down during dinner we might be fine.

    Edit: I know the "package" lists a 6-hour reception so I'll be going over the hours with them in person since I think they shorted an hour and it should either be 5-11p or 6p-12a.

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  • Karilyn
    Dedicated September 2018
    Karilyn ·
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    Sounds good, thank you

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