Eat, drink and be merry. But how much will it cost to have an open bar at your wedding?
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Whether you’re having a summer soiree or high class celebration, alcohol is deeply intertwined with weddings of all kinds. From the champagne toasts to the drinks that provide the liquid courage for your guests to hit the dancefloor, alcohols of various types have found special places amongst wedding receptions.
But this begs one important question amidst wedding planning: Are you planning to foot the bill for your guests to drink on the house? What will that look like? If you’re planning to have an open bar, there’s a lot to consider when determining a budget. Here are aspects to consider when calculating the potential costs.
An open bar has fixed-rate or per-person pricing: The cost has been calculated in advance of the event and prepaid by the host. There is an hourly rate plus a bartending fee, and is based on an estimate of how much alcohol your guests will drink.
Other Things to Consider
Now that youve got the basics of an open bar down, lets chat about some important details that shouldnt go undiscussed.
How Much Does an Open Bar Cost Per Person?
The price-per-person can vary based on your location, venue, and alcohol package. On average, the standard cost-per-person can be from $11 to $45 a head, with the average being around $20-$30. For a generalized list of what you might expect, look below. These are the average costs per person, depending on your drink package.
- Full open bar: $35-$45/person
- Limited open bar: $20-$25/person
- Beer and wine only: $15-20/person
How to Determine Pricing For Beer, Liquor & Wine [Restaurant Business Plan]
FAQ
How do you estimate the cost of an open bar?
What is the formula for pricing liquor at a bar?
How do open bars make money?
How do I estimate the cost of an open bar?
Well, that’s where our handy Open Bar Cost Estimator comes in. With this intuitive tool, you can estimate the cost of an open bar at your wedding, based on the number of guests, the cost per guest, and the duration of the reception. This allows you to plan your budget more accurately and avoid any unpleasant surprises.
How much does an open bar cost in Los Angeles?
The average starting rate per guest for an open bar in Los Angeles is $20–$30. The more guests at an event, the higher the open bar cost will be. Regardless of whether the host or the bar catering company pruchases the alcohol, the more guests of drinking age invited to the party, the higher the overall bar tab.
How much does an open bar cost for a wedding?
The majority of the catering companies promote open bars as having unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, mixed drinks, wine, and beer. After researching through different wedding sites from the United States we found that the cost of an open bar will be anywhere between $16 and $95 per guest for a four hours reception.
Are open bars expensive?
Open bars can become very costly very quickly, especially if premium spirits are being served. Custom cocktails with a large number of ingredients or a complicated preparation process are likely going to cost more. Look up cocktails that you may want to include and research the standard bar pricing for each.