Open Bar/limited bar, for our wedding in Richadrson (Dallas) Tx?

Question

I am looking to see if anyone has had an open bar around the Dallas area. I'm estimating a size of between 300 to 400 guests. Does anyone have an idea of what the cost is, and what needs to be provided or if a company you hire provides it all.

i'm seeing some companies with a flat rate of 30hr/4hr minimum but they don't tell you what is provided. I know there will be other costs.

I"m only gong to serve a few drinks, so its not really open bar.

I will provide cognac, and champane and beer for the tables and wanted to give some of the guests an option for other drinks.

i'm going to probably limit the selection to a few drinks.

mojito

vodka cherry sour

margarita's

crown shots

maybe one or two others.

i'm basicaly asking if anyone has had a wedding or know of a wedding around that size and can give me a cost and what needs to be provided, if by us, or by the bartending company.

Answer 1

The "30hr/4hr minimum" is most likely translate as this: thirty dollars per guest for up to four hours.  Having an open bar is EXPENSIVE.  Also, this is most likely the starting rate and will include a few different house/well liquors (i.e. Aristocrat or Seagram's... cheap liquors), three to four beers and one of each red and white wine.

Here are a couple recommendations: if you decide to offer a selection of mixed drinks, drop the mojito.  It is a bartending nightmare especially for large groups.  Whereas a margarita or shot can be made in thirty seconds, you're looking at two to three minute turn times for that mojito: muddling the mint and squeezing the lime in simple syrup, adding the ice and rum, shaking, and topping with club soda. It may not sound like a big deal but it's the difference between serving ten people in five minutes and serving ten people in thirty.  Your guests will feel it.

You also may want to consider buying tons of your own liquor, champagne and wine (as well as the garden variety of sodas, tonic, club soda, juices, etc.)  You will get a lot of great discounts for buying in bulk and when the bar runs out, the bar runs out.  People understand that.  It may seem like a huge hassle, but you could offer a better selection and probably still save a hefty amount of money.  

Go to a restaurant or bar you like and talk to your favorite bartender about doing a one-time gig, as well as getting references for some other good bartenders (trust me, they will know some other good bartenders).  If you truly anticipate 300 to 400 people, I would get one bartender per 30 people.  For a four hour event, I would pay each bartender one hundred dollars.

Good luck; I hope this helps.