Because bringing the booze to your big day shouldn't be a bust.
Cash Bars vs. Hosted Bars at Weddings: What’s the Right Move?
The bar situation at a wedding can be a bit of a hot topic. Some couples wouldn’t dream of making their guests pay for drinks, while others see a cash bar as a perfectly reasonable way to keep costs under control. So, which one is right for your wedding? Let’s break it down.
A hosted bar (aka an open bar) is the gold standard when it comes to guest experience. Drinks are on the house (well, on your tab), and your friends and family can sip whatever they’d like without worrying about pulling out their wallets. It’s generous, it keeps the party going, and honestly, it just feels a little more celebratory. But it’s also expensive—potentially thousands of dollars, depending on your guest count and drink selection. If your budget allows for it, great. If not, there are ways to offer a hosted bar without going overboard, like covering beer and wine only or capping the bar at a set amount before switching to a cash bar.
A cash bar, on the other hand, means guests are responsible for paying for their own drinks. This is common at more budget-conscious weddings or in cases where the venue requires it. While it does take the financial pressure off you, cash bar weddings can feel a little less hospitable—especially if guests weren’t expecting it. If you go this route, it’s a good idea to give people a heads-up on your wedding website so they can come prepared. You could also soften the blow by covering at least a signature drink or providing drink tickets to each guest.
There’s no right or wrong answer here—it all comes down to your budget and priorities. If you can swing a hosted bar (even a partial one), your guests will definitely appreciate it. But if a cash bar is what makes the most sense for you, don’t stress too much about it. At the end of the day, people are there to celebrate you, not to critique your bar setup. Just make sure there’s plenty of water and maybe some late-night snacks to keep the party balanced, no matter what’s in their cup.
Do you need a bartender?
The answer is almost always yes. Most venues will require a licensed bartender to
serve your guests, and most caterers are capable and licensed to serve your alcohol.
We recommend you hire your bartender through your caterer, if possible, because
they will run point on crucial service elements that DIY bars don’t have. There are also
a lot of roles that the bartender typically covers that someone else would need to be
responsible for if you were to skip on this vendor:
● Sourcing the alcohol and mixers
● Preparing and testing recipes
● Setting up the bar
● Setting up non-alcoholic drinks and the water station
● Providing bar equipment
● Providing ice (and enough of it)
● Chilling the alcohol
● Bussing the glassware / plastic cups
● Restocking the bar
● Restocking cups and cleaning glasses if needed
● Packing up the leftovers
● Cleaning up the spillage
What do I need to stock my own bar?
If you want to stock your own bar, you will need to not only provide the alcohol, but in some cases provide the equipment as well. Here are a few things to think about:
● How are each beverage being served?
● What cups do each beverage go in?
● What is going to keep the beverages cold?
How much should I buy?
Ask yourself who is coming. If it is primarily friends, and they are going with just beer and wine, plan to go heavy on beer, and white/rose/sparkling wine in your estimates. If it is primarily friends and they are having cocktails, plan 50% cocktails,
25% beer, 25% wine. If it is primarily family and they are serving beer and wine, go heavier on
wine (red and white) than beer. If they are serving cocktails to a large family group plan on 30% cocktails, 40% wine, 30% beer
Average Consumption at Weddings:
○ (1) drink pp/hour - people will gravitate towards cocktails fir
○ (1) NA drink pp/hour regardless - double water stock if temperature is
over 80 degrees
Serving Conversions:
○ (1) 1/2 bbl keg - 15.5 gal will yield about 145 16oz beers
○ (1) 1/6 bbl keg - 5.2 gal will yield about 45 16oz beers
○ (1) 750 ml bottle of wine - will yield about 5 5oz glasses
○ (1) 750 ml bottle of champagne - will yield about 6 4 oz glasses
○ (1) case of wine - 12 750ml bottles will yield about 50-60 glasses
○ 24 bottles/cans of beer is one case
Serving Sizes:
○ Beer - 12 oz or 16oz
○ Wine - 5 oz
○ Cocktails - 1-2 oz liquor per 10 oz cocktail
○ Champagne - for toasts - 4 oz in a 6oz flute
PRO TIP: Always pre-cool beverages the day before, especially if you’re
getting married in the summer. There isn’t always time or facilities
for the bar to cool your beverages. This will help save your ice!
Love what you see? We would love to help you plan your unique wedding vision. Let us provide tailored vendor recommendations and create a unique design that fits your style and your budget. Don't have a venue yet? No problem. Having a planner as the first step in the process can save you time, energy and money.