A wedding, in many ways, is an event of two halves. There are two partners, joining together with promises to last a lifetime. Two families; split by an aisle that will soon be erased. And two celebrations for the happy day: the ceremony and the reception.
Ask your guests for their favourite part of your day, and most will tell you that they prefer where they get to celebrate with good food, great drinks, and maybe even a dance.
In fact, 53.13% of guests say that the reception is their favourite part of the wedding day. 15.63% say that cocktail hour is their favourite.
While your wedding is about you and your partner, you’d be caught lying if you said you weren’t looking forward to seeing your tipsy uncles do the Macarena on your big day.
Concentrating on the guest-favourite reception, you may be looking for ways to elevate the night — and set it apart from other friends and family weddings.
If you’re considering doughnut walls and sundae stations, stop and consider a different way to give guests a good time: an open bar.
Much loved, but rarely used
In the UK, only 21% of couples offer a paid bar at their wedding. However, an open bar could be the ultimate sign of gratitude for your guests and can make more of a celebration. One event director, Kristen Baxter, says: “Your guests appreciate coming and not having to bring their wallet, or worry about how many drinks they want to pay for. It makes the events more seamless and enjoyable because you just don’t have to think about those things.”
An open bar can come in a variety of forms. A full service is not necessarily required. Instead, couples can provide modified open bars that cater to different needs and tastes. This may come in the form of a beer-and-wine-only bar, a cocktails-only bar, or even a non-alcoholic bar that serves only juices and sodas. Using a subsidised bar can also be a bright idea.
That being said, open bars might land you with a hefty tab by the end of the night. People also drink 47% more than usual when an open bar is provided. So while an open bar is a great idea to celebrate your wedding reception, be prepared to accommodate the cost of your guests’ appetite.
Bangor is the best city to have an open bar
An analysis from botanical beverage creator, Fentimans, has calculated the average cost of an open bar in each UK city. Comparing the average cost of a beer and the average cost of a cocktail in each city against the average number of guests at a wedding reception (103 people), the research found the average cost of an open bar over five hours.
Bangor was revealed as the most affordable place to have an open bar, with the average beer costing only £2 per pint and £5 per cocktail. The total cost of the average open bar in this city came to £1,648.
Meanwhile, the UK capital was the most expensive place to host an open bar for a wedding. Estimates suggest that it could cost as much as £4,239, based on the average cost of beverages in the city.
10% of UK weddings take place in London, so one in ten couples could be forking out a significant amount. 39% of couples also report going over budget for their wedding.
Of course, the cost of an open bar can be reduced by adopting a DIY approach to your wedding.
A rustic wedding
We’ve established that open bars are popular among guests, but they do require a substantial investment.
DIY is already a prominent aspect of wedding planning. 52% of couples opt for DIY decorations and favours, and 33% make their own wedding stationery. But could we use this approach for an open bar?
Private bars can mark up the price of beer by over 300%. So stocking your own bar or drinks table could be a viable way to save money.
Consider buying a range of gin mixers, spirits, beer, and wine. Stock them on tables and large ice buckets. What to use for an ice bucket? The world is your oyster. Wheelbarrows, planters, and crates can provide a rustic aesthetic for your put-together bar. They’re easily accessible, easily refillable, and will easily be the best part of your wedding reception.
Whether you opt for an open bar or no bar at all for your wedding, your guests will appreciate all the hard work that went into crafting an intimate event that brings two families together. But if you’re looking for some liquid encouragement to get people on the dancefloor for the celebrations, a gratuitous drink never goes unwanted.
