Please give me a vocabulary lesson: Open Bar vs Full Bar

100% agree with you.

You're totally correct! Open bar can also mean different tiers of liquor! You don't have to go with top shelf liquor if you're trying to stay budget friendly

No such thing as full bar in terms of payment. Full bar refers to when a restaurant/bar has a full selection of spirits.

Open bar = guests drink however much they want. The price of alcohol for the evening is set before hand, usually per guest.

Consumption bar = the couple pays for whatever the guests drink over the evening, per drink.

Yes, I've been to weddings wear they only have wine and beer and it's fine....As long I have a drink i am fine.

Correct. I've been to weddings that didn't have a full open bar. It's disappointing if I was looking forward to a specific cocktail, but they're not bad hosts.

You are correct!! There is also a lot of confusion about consumption bar and open bar. They are the same thing. If the bride and groom are paying it's an open bar. Whether the venue charges by consumption or per person doesn't matter.

@ALC I meant payment from the guest's perspective/experience. Which to them is not paying

There's a lot of posts on here to the effect of "im hosting beer, wine, soft drinks only, and I can't afford an an open bar." In my head I'm thinking, you're doing open bar.

Consumption versus open to the guest doesn't make a difference either, as long as their wallet doesn't have to come out.

An open bar can be full and a full bar should be open!

OP you are correct. Erin is also correct - a consumption bar IS an open bar (drinks are free to guests, it does not matter how hosts pay). There is a lot of confusion about that one too.

Is it ok to let the bartender have a tip jar for the guests to tip or is that impolite?

View Quoted Comment That’s entirely up you and what you are comfortable with. Some couples prefer to tip the bartender on their own after the wedding is over and others prefer to allow guests to tip at their discretion. Speak with the bartender about what their policies are because some may require a tip jar and others don’t.

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This is an old thread so you may want to start a current one. Asking guests to tip is not appropriate. A wedding Is a private, hosted social event not a fundraiser or a business meeting. Plan an event that you can afford, but guests should not have to open their wallets. You are responsible for the cost of entertaining and refreshments, including any tips.

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Thank you very much!