Do I cater alcohol in full for all guests or a percentage?

tamarto

binkyboo wrote: »

sorry if i wasn't clear, my brain is a bit fuzzy in the mornings! We are paying corkage per bottle of wine/champagne that we provide I have budgeted for 10 bottles for the drinks reception. 25 bottles for the wedding breakfast and 10 bottles for the toast. this gives 1 drink per person each for the drinks reception 2 for the meal and 1 for a toast for 50 people. What I was really asking was should I leave it at this and hope the non drinkers make up for the extra guests invited or should I get additional bottles and pay extra in corkage?
As for soft drinks I can have jugs of squash but the prices are ridiculous and any other soft drinks would just be priced by the glass which we can't afford on top of everything else. Perhaps I can just get enough jugs for the kids to have a drink each at the reception and the meal and then get jugs of water free of charge. I just assumed if anyone wanted different to what we had catered for then they would buy their own?

Again, if you are providing drinks for people who drink alcohol, you should really provide an alternative, if you only have alcohol available freely, you are in effect punishing those who chose not to drink it for all sorts of very good reasons, usually yes if people want different than catered for they do get their own, however as it stands you have provided nothing for those who don't want to ruin their livers

binkyboo_2

tamarto wrote: »

Again, if you are providing drinks for people who drink alcohol, you should really provide an alternative, if you only have alcohol available freely, you are in effect punishing those who chose not to drink it for all sorts of very good reasons, usually yes if people want different than catered for they do get their own, however as it stands you have provided nothing for those who don't want to ruin their livers

Thanks, you are right I have just never noticed people mention providing soft drinks other than water on tables during the wedding breakfast etc.
there will be a bar open the whole day for buying soft drinks but I will now make sure i arrange something with the hotel but I think the only other think they offer by the jug is orange juice or orange squash, would this be ok or should i be offering some thing like lemonade/coca cola? I don't want them to feel like children just because they aren't drinking wine.

LEJC

I dont think you need to provide lemonade/cola for the children but you do need to provide them a drink...squash is perfectly acceptable and if the parents then wish to purchase something additional then thats their perogative to do so....

maggie111

I wont be providing soft drinks. In fact I get annoyed thinking about it. If you want something different than standard, sort yourself out. I have asked for soft drinks at a wedding (in fact I have walked to the bar more often than not - you get it quicker that way) and I was not embarrassed.

If anyone gets that uncomfortable there's water on the table at almost every wedding - and there's no justifiable reason why you can't drink that.

Though this has reminded me to check that the kid's table will get squash.

binkyboo_2

maggie111 wrote: »

I wont be providing soft drinks. In fact I get annoyed thinking about it. If you want something different than standard, sort yourself out. I have asked for soft drinks at a wedding (in fact I have walked to the bar more often than not - you get it quicker that way) and I was not embarrassed.

If anyone gets that uncomfortable there's water on the table at almost every wedding - and there's no justifiable reason why you can't drink that.

Though this has reminded me to check that the kid's table will get squash.

This was the way I thought things would work. I think i will stick to my original plan and just provide squash and water a jug of each on each table and a jug or 2 of squash at the drinks reception. Then if anyone wants different they can buy from the bar.

maggie111

You will never make everyone happy.

My friend reasoned for her wedding there was no point putting wine on the tables as it would be unfair - she knew too many people who only drank beer and she wasn't providing them with a drink.

Suddenly all the wine drinkers had something to moan about - it's not necessary to provide everyone with everything. Putting wine on the tables is a nice gesture, not something you have to do. Suddenly putting more on there in case the wine isn't enough, and an alternative if the alternative isn't nice enough either... And I will bet you someone will still end up moaning.

You wouldn't go round for dinner at someone's house and assume they had your preferred soft drink, or your preferred alcoholic one. You take whatever it is you want to drink and you're lucky if you get additional.

LEJC

Whats standard? if you want something else...sort yourself out....

UM...are you having the same rule for vegetarians....sorry to stick my oar in here but what if you have a recovering alcoholic as a guest...or a dedicated driver ...who offers to drive the others to your reception and home so they get back safely....

I guess you know what type of drinkers you have as guests but I do think there is an element of politeness to cater for your guests...sometimes guests will opt for the soft drink especially if it is hot....

annie-c

binkyboo wrote: »

Thanks, you are right I have just never noticed people mention providing soft drinks other than water on tables during the wedding breakfast etc.
there will be a bar open the whole day for buying soft drinks but I will now make sure i arrange something with the hotel but I think the only other think they offer by the jug is orange juice or orange squash, would this be ok or should i be offering some thing like lemonade/coca cola? I don't want them to feel like children just because they aren't drinking wine.

I would think jugs of orange squash and tap water is great. I wouldn't think anyone would expect you to provide individual fizzy drinks from the bar. It is just about having an option available for those who don't do alcohol, really.

If it is possible to have the staff serve the wine, rather than bottles on the table then that is also a more economical way to do things

maggie111

LEJC wrote: »

Whats standard? if you want something else...sort yourself out....

UM...are you having the same rule for vegetarians....sorry to stick my oar in here but what if you have a recovering alcoholic as a guest...or a dedicated driver ...who offers to drive the others to your reception and home so they get back safely....

I guess you know what type of drinkers you have as guests but I do think there is an element of politeness to cater for your guests...sometimes guests will opt for the soft drink especially if it is hot....

Vegetarianism is now a common thing and most places will offer a vegetarian option at no extra cost.

I am providing my guests with a non-alcoholic drink at no extra cost - water. If they want something different, they can pay for it. If someone drinks alcohol and doesn't like my choice of wine - if they want something different they can pay for it. If you don't like the food that is served and you are still hungry... Go and buy yourself a packet of crisps at the bar or walk to the nearest chippy I don't mind - but they can pay for it.

With 70-80 people attending my wedding, not including evening guests, I'm not going to make everyone happy with the food that I serve, the drinks that are offered and the music that is played.

I don't have the money to provide endless alternatives in case someone is left out. If someone is fussy, and wants something different than the standard - that is, what is provided at that particular wedding, then they should sort themselves out.

I don't have unlimited money. And you only have to look at Four Weddings USA at the tens of thousands of dollars spent on weddings with so much food and choice and people STILL moan.

I will do the best I can for the average guest at my wedding. The average being a meat eating wine drinker. If people had no option but to drink what was on the table then yes I would provide an alternative - but the bar is within walking distance so people can sort themselves out.

LEJC

it wasnt a personal dig maggie....you dont need to justify yourself...I was just putting another perspective on the forum....

Im sure you will have a fantastic wedding ...best of luck