How Much Does an Open Bar Cost at a Wedding? A Complete Guide

There are a few options when it comes to providing beverages at your wedding. 

You could have a hosted bar, a cash bar, a limited bar, or an open bar. 

However, as per the title of this article, we’ll be talking here about open bars. 

But how much is an open bar at a wedding? 

It’s a reasonable thing to wonder. 

And rather than give you a number that won’t even be the same in a year or two after prices climb higher and the currency inflates another 10%, we’re going to walk you through it. 

We hope that, after reading this, you’ll be able to calculate it yourself based on a more complete understanding of the factors involved. 

What Kind Of Alcohol Will Be Served At Your Wedding?

Will you only have beer in bottles and maybe some table wine, or will you be stocking bottles of Gran Patron Platinum tequila and Diplomatica Ambassador rum? 

In case you didn’t know, those are very expensive. 

It’s ok if you didn’t know. 

Neither did I before I looked them up just now. 

But that’s kind of the point. 

If you don’t know exactly what is being served and how much of it you or your bartender has in supply, your bill could rise quickly, and you might not even understand why. 

So, run inventory and ensure that you can afford whatever alcohol is potentially going to be dispensed. 

Seriously, alcohol can get truly insane. 

Like, “Why aren’t you using some of this money to build a maternity clinic instead of buying diamond-encrusted liquor bottles?” insane.

And Who Will Be Serving It?

Are you going to recruit one of your cousins to be the designated bartender, or are you going to hire a professional to do it? 

Realistically, if you want to offer things like cocktails, you’ll need a professional unless you’ve got a relative or friend who’s good at that stuff. 

And professionals aren’t all the same. 

More importantly, they don’t all charge the same amount. 

If this is something you want to do, it’s wise to shop around, read reviews, and get some recommendations. 

Know that you don’t necessarily need to hire the most expensive person within 50 miles. 

While bartending is a craft and they often have a lot of professional pride, there are really only so many different ways to mix a mimosa. 

Just choose someone who has good reviews and seems to be likeable and friendly. 

Does Anyone At Your Wedding Have a Problem?

Yes, including you. 

This is America, where around 10% of all people over the age of 12 have a medically diagnosable disorder involving alcohol. 

If you gather 100 people in a room together, the odds are high that 10 of them are alcoholics. 

That number may be lower or higher depending on who your friends and relatives are, but almost every family has at least one. 

And whether they’re “functioning” or not, they are going to drink more than everyone else. 

These are people you need to be aware of when considering whether or not to have an open bar because the answer to “How much is an open bar at a wedding?” is going to depend a lot on them. 

Especially if they really “wild out,” a single one of these individuals could consume hundreds of dollars ‘ worth of expensive drinks in one day. 

Think of all the fancy cocktails and pricey imported liquors. 

And that’s not counting any property damage or other issues they might cause while under the influence. 

How Will I Know Who It Is?

That’s the really messed-up part: unless they’ve already been arrested or something, you probably won’t know until they do something that causes a real problem. 

Loads of people have drunk parents, but never realize it until they become adults. 

Maybe they didn’t notice anything unusual because they grew up in a house with multiple liquor cabinets and haven’t ever seen their parents fully sober. 

Likewise, there are plenty of people who are themselves unaware of their issues with alcohol (or unwilling to accept them) simply because they haven’t yet lost control to the point that they got a DUI or assaulted a bartender who was trying to take their keys from them. 

Essentially, the probability that you’ll have at least one problem drunk at your wedding is something you’ll just have to expect and budget for if you decide to have an open bar at your wedding. 

Side Note: Because alcoholics have a tendency to cause damage and even fight people when they’re drunk, we recommend getting a wedding insurance policy that covers such things. 

Wedding Non-Alcoholic Alternatives

If you want to save money or just be more kid-friendly, you might want to consider a few other options that don’t actually involve alcohol at all. 

In reality, the most expensive part of having an open bar at your wedding is most likely going to be the alcohol itself. 

So, if you just don’t have alcohol, you’re cutting out most of the financial burden right there. 

Whether it’s different types of fruit juices and ciders sourced from a local orchard or imported exotic teas, there’s a whole world of non-alcoholic possibilities available. 

Don’t Bankrupt Yourself

So, now you know the basic considerations to keep in mind when trying to calculate your booze costs. 

The question of “How much is an open bar at a wedding?” is a tricky one to answer, just because of all the variables that change from event to event. 

But if you ask about the right things and stay open to potentially cheaper alternatives to more expensive things others might be suggesting to you right now, you could save yourself a lot. 

Credit card debt is no joke, and if you can avoid it, it’s best to do so.