How to Save Money on Drinks for your Wedding Reception

What if want to splurge on flowers or decorations at your wedding and you're on a budget? Simply find another place to tighten your belt. Here’s how to save money on drinks for your wedding reception.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Guest list
• List of vendors, caterers

1. Select a package deal with the caterer. Sometimes you can get a discount on drinks if you deal with the same caterer for food and beverages.

2. Ask the caterer or your wine and spirits merchant to select solid, second-line merchandise. You don't have to serve top shelf liquors. Consumers often pay for a company's advertising and marketing budgets when they buy top brands. Many smaller houses can offer the same quality at a better price.

3. If you're serving beer, think kegs rather than bottle. Kegs cost less.

4. Choose generic mixed-drink ingredients rather than name brands. When you are paying for a hundred guests the difference in price makes itself felt.

5. Ask the caterer to go light on the salt. Salty foods will increase your guests' thirsts.

6. Don't allow the catering staff to take drink orders at the tables. Set up one bar. The longer the wait for service, the fewer drinks get served.

Tips & Warnings

• A cash bar takes the problem completely off your hands. If yours is a relatively non-drinking group of friends and family, they won't even notice. But if you expect a drinking crowd, they may be offended.