Reception Etiqette

Dont worry about looking cheap...everyone knows by now that you wouldnt pay a nickle to watch christ ride a bike.
Glad Im not going to the reseption

This Norte guy/chick is another Layla, or Kim, or whomever.

Anyhoo, as I am a bartender, although not a banquet bartender but I`ve attended my share of weddings, most people who attend receptions or events which are open-bar don`t expect Grey Goose or high call liquors like that. Most bars have the liquor set up so you can see what they have. At an event like this, most people will just order their drinks as "Vodka soda, gin and tonic, rum and coke." No one expects high call liquors at receptions. What liquor is on the first tier? Second? In most bars, your first tier liquor (or your "well" liquor) is Popov, Heaven Hill, Newport, etc. And your second tier (or "call") is Absolut, Smirnoff or Stoli for vodkas, Bacardi for Rum (although Castillo is the exact same rum), Beefeater, Tanqueray or Bombay (not Sapphire) for gin, Seagrams 7, etc. I`d go with the second tier if you can afford it. Get about four bottled beers, maybe Bud or MGD, Bud Light or Miller Light, Labatt and Heineken or maybe Corona. Wine is nice to have but I probably wouldn`t do it because a lot of places cork the bottle and charge you for it and only your aunt has one glass of chardonnay and declares that she`s tipsy and can`t have any more and you`re stuck with the bill. If you want to ask me any advice on liquors, beers, etc, anything having to do with the bar, please feel free. But don`t worry about etiquette regarding what brands of liquor you should serve. The only etiquette you need to know for your bar is that you can`t get away with charging for anything. Some people shut the bar down during dinner to save a few bucks or transfer that hour toward the end of the night and that`s totally acceptable (except for your guests who just want to get wasted). Hope that helps.

I agree with what Ann said, the only difference being that Kristina`s reception will be in a restuarant so people might very well order brand name liquor, and the restaurant is sure to have it. If someone orders a specific brand that you don`t want to make available to your guests, I would have the server say "we have such and such, would that be alright sir?". None of your wedding guests are going to argue or think you are cheap. I wouldn`t worry too much about wine. In restaurants they serve wine by the glass, so you are not going to have to pay a fee to open a bottle that only one guest drinks a glass from. Restaurants expect that. If you are worried you should discuss it with them beforehand.

A few wedding that I have attended had an open bar for well and call name liquors but the higher end liquors such as Cabo Wabo tequilla, Grey Gouse, Gentleman Jack were all paid for by the individual that ordered them. The bartender took down the liqours that were included in the open bar for display and ordering but all of the others were lined up on a higher shelf as an option for those who wanted to pay for it.

Hey Norte,
Do you know what it`s like having to plan the most important day of your life on a budget? Trying to feed everyone you love and give them the best you can when you work full time, go to school full time, 2 car payments and a house payment as well as insurance for all? I`m sure you don`t, you probably live at home in Mommy`s basement. I asked for advice not your griping. It`s not my fault your Mommy took away your car so you can`t get beer anymore. Check yourself into rehb. You`ll be a better person for it.
Kristina

I sure am glad that I found this message board. I didn`t even think of removing the top shelf stuff to save money!!! Even though my dad and brother are paying for the booze, I would like to save them as much money as possible since they are not rich. Thanks!

Kristina,

You could put up a sign that indicates what is complimentary so that everyone knows what you are offering as a choice.

I`m getting married in December and am also concerned about the cost of the liquor. We are having a champagne toast with the champagne at the tables -- offering soda, domestic and imported beer, white and blush wine, and then a vodka - whiskey - and rum. We`re having a sign put up with the beverage choices on them.

Hopefully most people understand the cost of supplying top shelf liquor and don`t expect it. I think of it this way -- your wedding is an event you are hosting just like a dinner party at your home. People don`t expect you to have every sort of liquor they may want at your house -- they find out what their options are and choose from there.

Good luck!

Has everyone noticed that people like Norte, Layla, and Kim can`t spell and they never make sense.

Hmmm...that leads one to belive that they are all uneducated idiots who have two brain cells that they rub together hoping for a small spark.

People like you three need to quit being so depressed that no one will ever marry you and stop hanging out on websites that you don`t belong on.

My theory on the "Laylas" is that they are all one person. Bitter and bored, small minded and lonely.
My thanks to all who have given me suggestions. I appreciate it.
Kristina