How can I let know guests subtly that I have a maximun budget for drink consumption?

Question

I will be celebrating my boyfriends Bday party in a hotel lounge this weekend. To reserve the area, the hotels asks me form a minimun drink consumption of $500. That would be my maximun since I have to add taxes and gratuity. I will have around 15 guests. I am not sure if I buy the liquor bottles to the hotel including mixers which the prices are between $120 and $150 or to have each person asks for their drinks which prices are between $8 and $10 per drink. If I choose my second option, how could I let know the guests in a subtly manner that after Im on the top of my budget they will have to pay for their drinks? I am still not sure which opetion is better, buy the bottles and have the guests serve their drinks or have a bartender adding each drink to the account until top of my $500. Of course i wll also have appetizers... Any advice?

Answer 1

Maybe you could set a time when drinks are "on you," and after that time, they pay for any additional drinks...    If you stayed with wine & beer, it would be cheaper, because you wouldn't be paying for mixers & hard liquor.  Or maybe, you could have a margarita/daiquiri punch bowl?

Answer 2

I would suggest figuring out how many drinks per person your budget will allow, then giving each guest that many drink tickets.    After their drink tickets run out, they can buy their own drinks.  I was at a wedding at a resort hotel recently where this worked nicely.  If all the tickets are used and you're still under budget, you can always spend the last on a round of shooters or somesuch.

Answer 3

Not to worry.  This is a very common thing.  In your invitations state that the first drink is on the house.

Answer 4

i would suggest you prepay for a selection of alcohol of your choice, then you can be certain of what is availible, im sure the venue can help you with the fine details. after all they;re in the business of customer service and want you enjoy your evening

Answer 5

Hi.  I think you should maybe do a rough estimate as  to how many they can each have, and then thell them they each get 3? drinks, after that they are responsible for the rest.  I would have no problem with that being a guest.  I would not even expect alcoholic beverages be provided.

Answer 6

I went to a wedding where each guest was given 3 drink tickets.  After those were gone, you had to buy your own drinks.  Arrange something like this with the hotel.

Answer 7

For my sister's reheral dinner only two drinks per person were included w/ the meal.  The rest came out of your own pocket.  At $10 a drink you could let each guest have 3 drinks on you.

Answer 8

I doubt very much that 15 people could drink $500 worth of liquor, most people drink wine and beer anyway. There is nothing wrong with buying the bottles and letting your guest serve themselves. You could just purchase beer and wine and one kind of "special" drink (what ever you boyfriends favorite is)  If you do that make sure you get to keep all the leftovers.

Answer 9

I seriously doubt the place will let you buy the bottles. I am more than sure they will charge you pretty much the same price as normal. No matter how many guests you have.

As for the limit and telling everyone..I'll give ya a star for that one as i want to see your answers too..