2 replies to this topic

[Jules82]

Hi ladies

Our venue allows us to bring our own drink- which is great as it'll save us a lot of money - but how much should we buy?! So far we're thinking:

For post ceremony drinks (35 - 40 people):

Processo - 20 bottles
Pimms - 1 bottle
Beer - 10 (there will probably only be 5 people drinking beer at this stage)

For the wedding breakfast (35 - 40 people)

Wine - 20 bottles - what split of white/red/rose?
Beer - 10 (again 5 people drinking beer at this stage)
Sort drinks - say a jug of orange juice per table?

Evening drinks reception (150 people for 2 hours)

Processo - 75 bottles
Pimms - 3 bottles
Beer - 100 bottles

Toasts (150 people)

Processo - 25 bottles (allowing for 1 glass per person)

Party - 7pm to 1am (we realise not everyone will stay until 1am!)

We think we need to supply:

Wine
Beer
Vodka
Gin
Rum
Whikey
Tequila (or another shot)
Mixers and soft drinks

This is where we're really stuck as I just don't know how much to allow? My worst nightmare would be to run out of drink! Also, we're thinking processo as it's cheaper than champers and we actually perfer it - but also quite like the idea of bucks fizz

Any comments/suggestions much appreciated!!

[Helen]

We ran our own bar at our reception. I'm not sure how much alcohol we got through, I will ask my husband when he gets in as that was his department!

We went to our local pub and bought all our alcohol through him, he also took back all the unopened bottles and the kegs and didn't charge us for those. Do you have a friendly local landlord you could ask to get the alcohol through? Or even just ask for advice on how much they think you would need for your numbers?

On our evening bar we had...
Bitter
Lager
Cider
Vodka
Whiskey
Gin
Tequila
Rum
Mixers (make sure you have diet versions for diabetics etc)

We didn't have any wine on the bar only what my dad had put on the tables for us. We didn't give a massive choice but it was more of a choice than some weddings we have been to, so seemed to make everyone happy.

We also had cocktails as welcome drinks, these were based on our evening bar stock so we could keep it simple.

[Becky]

We had prosecco after the ceremony (champagne is overrated in my view!), enough for a couple of glasses each I think. During the meal, we had half red wine and half white wine (no rose), enough for half a bottle each. There was one glass of prosecco each for toasts. After that, it was up to everyone to buy their own drinks! We set up a tab for all the bridesmaids, ushers etc and their partners. Luckily the bar at our venue (a barn) was run by the local pub, at local pub prices which was brilliant.

It is very generous of you to provide all the booze! I'd tread carefully though, as everyone tends to drink more when it's free...!