bar question

We were thinking of having the reception run from 6:30ish to 11:30 last call. Thats a 5 hour bar... we were doing limited (specific cocktails, wine, beer, etc) bar because we realized with open bar people would just be too sloppy! How many drinks do you think each person will consume over the course of five hours?

a friend of mine is a party planner and said the rule of thumb is 3 cocktails person. I throw parties regularly, use his formula and it's always worked....

I think that's a great question! Our venue has options to do a full open bar where you pay per person or based on consumption.

Since we're having a smaller reception of about 80 and it's a daytime from 11-4 we guessed that 3-4 with 4 being the most they would drink. Not including the champagne toast.

Also, we'll probably have a cocktail drink menu that would kind of gear them toward a say 4 drinks, beer or wine instead of having it WIDE open.

I've been thinking the same question. We plan to have an open bar but with a $2K limit, so whatever goes over the guests will pay for the drinks themselves. We're also going to place a bottle of wine on each table during the reception.

Here's a question that came across my mind, how do we monitor how many drinks we are being charged for at the bar? Let's say I have a bar limit of $2K, what if they they tell me it runs out in an hour. What if the venue is overcharging us, will we ever know?

theDame - does his formula work for longer, evening parties too?
Geoffygirl - we're offering the same selection. FI & I both loathe vodka (we're gin people haha) so we're listing our favorite gin classic cocktails and one champagne one but everything else is beer/wine/soda
Partygirl - there really is no way to know is there??

as far as I know, Champagne, it was for an all evening event. You sort of figure it averages out because some people don't drink @ all or drink less. I have a mix of non, heavy and "normal" drinking people in my life. I'll check with him if he thinks a wedding requires more. How long is your event? My parties average 4- hours and its always worked. I helped a friend with a large 100 person event and they had plenty left over. It can be tricky because you have to spread that number over a variety of alcohol.

party girl, you have to kind of guestimate/eyeball and trust your venue. I know someone who got an astronomical tab and felt it did not reflect the amount of drinking so she challenged the total....

Hi theDame! We're hosting 60 for 5 hours (6:30-11:30ish?) but we figure our parents and their friends (20 ppl) will drop off by 10 so 3-4 hours for them.

then I think the formula is fine for you. Champagne- cheers! : )