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Kristin
Dedicated July 2018

Kegs at the wedding

Kristin, on November 19, 2017 at 9:41 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 22

Our venue allows us to bring our own alcohol. After doing some preliminary research, it seems that it is the less expensive and better way to go for us. We are offering a full bar, but the wedding is Oktoberfest themed, and will have a lot of beer themed decor and such, so we expect most people will be drinking beer. We wanted to do kegs for our "main beer" and then also have some bottles. However, one of the day of coordinators we have been talking to and considering hiring told us absolutely do not do kegs, that they are only ok in very casual backyard settings, and because they need to be kept on ice that bartenders from catering companies will not want to work with them, and basically implied they are trashy. That opinion surprised me. So I'm curious what the consensus is here about them.

22 Comments

Latest activity by Mrs. Fall Bride, on November 20, 2017 at 4:26 PM
  • DuttonSandersWedding
    Expert September 2019
    DuttonSandersWedding ·
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    You can get something to cover them if you are concerned with them looking trashy. And who cares what the bartender thinks? You're paying him to serve the alcohol you purchsed he can deal with it.

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  • FutureFuji
    VIP September 2017
    FutureFuji ·
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    As long as a bartender is pouring them and not guests I don't see an issue. Really they should put the beer into pitchers so that people aren't waiting for the bartenders to tap the keg. One thing to consider is that if you do a keg you will need to rent glasses from the caterer whereas if you do bottles people would just drink out of those. It might bring them to about the same price

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  • BoudreauToBe
    Master July 2018
    BoudreauToBe ·
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    While draft beer is better beer, kegs can be a lot of work for bartenders and can take up a lot of room at a bar. If they don't have a proper draft system, it isn't worth it.

    I would look into purchasing cases of bottled beer from a place that will let you return unopened cases (BevMo, total wine, etc).

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  • Kristin
    Dedicated July 2018
    Kristin ·
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    Everyone will be getting a beer mug as a favor that they can use. Thoigh figuring out how to wash them all first may be tricky

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  • karen
    Master October 2017
    karen ·
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    If the place has a good draft system, I think that most beer drinkers prefer draft to bottles.

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  • Kristin
    Dedicated July 2018
    Kristin ·
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    What is a beer truck exactly? And no one would see the kegs they would be behind the bar.....there would be no keg stands and such or red solo cups. And it would be MUCH better beer inside of it than anything at a college party.

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  • BoudreauToBe
    Master July 2018
    BoudreauToBe ·
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    Please don't make your guests reuse the same glass all night. It's unsanitary and I'm sure they will forget to bring it to the bar with them.

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  • MrsMcK
    VIP September 2017
    MrsMcK ·
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    We used bottles, less waste that way.

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  • Kristin
    Dedicated July 2018
    Kristin ·
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    Bordreau to be that's a good point......regardless if we had bottles we would probably have the bartenders pour bottled beer into beer mugs anyway, even if it wasn't the ones we bought as favors

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  • Kristin
    Dedicated July 2018
    Kristin ·
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    Olivia that does sound cool.....but probably not feasible for our event to have everyone have to go outside to get their drinks

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  • Rosered
    Devoted January 2019
    Rosered ·
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    I don't see a problem so long as your venue allows kegs. Mine doesn't, although it is BYO.

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  • BeachDreams
    Master May 2017
    BeachDreams ·
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    As long as bartenders are the ones serving from the kegs, I think they are fine.

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  • Joanna
    Expert October 2017
    Joanna ·
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    I've worked wedding with kegs and weddings without. While the ones without were easier, the ones with kegs ran equally well. And were in no way trashy. I would just advise that you give your bartending/catering staff a heads up that there will be kegs. Different equipment is needed, so it'll be good for them to know so they can prepare.

    Also, pony kegs are much easier to handle and store than full kegs. Being only 5'0" tall, trying to maneuver a full keg is risky and I've hurt my back in the past at weddings where the couple opted for full kegs. Pony kegs are much less problematic.

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  • Kristin
    Dedicated July 2018
    Kristin ·
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    Yeah it would probably not be the giant kegs.....the liquor store we were looking at actually only does smaller kegs, like half size of the ones that people do keg stands on in college

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  • stephanie
    Super October 2017
    stephanie ·
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    We had kegs at my wedding. And I was able to return untapped ones, so we over ordered to make sure there would be plenty. We also had bottle beer options available.

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  • lizard554
    Beginner April 2018
    lizard554 ·
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    I think it's fine of they are tucked away. Draft beer is better and as a guest I'd prefer it.

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  • K
    Just Said Yes November 2019
    Kaylia ·
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    When my mom got remarried we had kegs at the wedding and they were great!

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  • N
    Beginner April 2018
    Nicole ·
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    I work for a brewery and used to work catered events. Both ways work equally well and no kegs are not trashy. Since there is such a huge craft beer movement especially here in San Diego, kegs are not frowned upon.

    However kegs require more equipment. You will probably need trash cans of ice if you are getting sixtels (5.2 gallon kegs) as the beer needs to be cold for the least amount of foam. You will need party pumps or a jockey box to serve the beer from, if you get the latter you'll also need a CO2 tank. Most beer snobs will want their glass rinsed as it's 1. Unsanitary to pour into, 2. The water will reduce the foam and 3. You won't be mixing beers therefore giving the best flavor.

    You also may need to get pitchers because if the bartender doesn't know how to pour the beer i.e. at a 45 degree angle they will end up with too much foam, lots of beer wasted and a huge mess. Good luck!

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  • Dreamer
    Master May 2013
    Dreamer ·
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    The last keg stand I saw was on NYE, almost 10 years ago. A bunch of dunk men picking up a woman ... Yep, they face-planted her on the keg. Not a pretty sight.

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  • bluevelvet
    Devoted October 2017
    bluevelvet ·
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    Kegs are fine, we had them at my first wedding. The bartender needs to tap it and shut it.

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