Reception Drinks

KK22_2

Just looking for some opinions from you lovely people...

Trying to sort out costings for the venue, meals, drinks etc at the moment and came across a bit of a sticking point.

The drinks package that was suggested works out at £15 per person. This for sparkling wine after the ceremony, sparkling wine with the toasts and half a bottle of wine per person for the meal. I am finding it a real struggle to budget in £15 per person for drinks at this time, but my mum is horrified at the thought of serving my guests with anything less than what is involved in that package.

What do you all think? Would anyone mind or notice if i cut of the glass of wine for after the ceremony? Or should it be something else i have to cut back on?

I know that i don't have to get any of this but we had wanted to allow for the budget to get some drinks for the guests.

codemonkey

The first alternative I can think of is to check corkage at your venue. In a lot of places, getting your wine on offer at a supermarket and paying corkage can work out cheaper than their drinks packages. (by the way, if you're in Scotland and can't get special offers on drinks, if you order online from certain supermarkets, the discounts still apply as they come from England).

The other thing is maybe to pay for the first drink for your guests and a toast drink and that's it. I've been to weddings where that's happened and it was a good compromise.

White_Sapphire

Another compromise would be to not have toast drinks, and people can just toast with whatever drink they have in their hand at the time.

If your mum is truly horrified at the thought of not providing the full drinks package despite you not having the budget for it, then perhaps she could contribute?

KK22_2

Codemonkey - i had thought of that idea but the venue although allow for themselves to cater the alcohol unfortunately! Thanks for the idea of the compromise drinks though, i hadn't thought of that as an alternative.

White Sapphire - Not having the toast drinks was what i had originally thought of as we are having the toasts before the meal and thought that they could have poured themselves a glass of wine from the table for the purpose of toasting. Also, my mum is paying for my dress, the band and the videographer so i think i might get a slap in the chops if i asked her to contribute any more haha Thanks

mrshassall1987

My guests got 1 glass of bucks fizz each and most of them didn't even expect that so were very happy

sweetilemon

We are having pimms after the ceromony, a glass of wine for the meal and sparkling wine for the toast. 1/2 a bottle is a lot if there are oppertunities for guests to purchase their own drinks.

split_second

ours works out at a bottle of wine per person, it was never intended to be that much but the amount of other stuff we get for what we paid its a case of ''meh why not and if its too much then thats fine too''

zcrat41

Whoever pays has their opinion listened too.

If she doesn't pay for drinks she gets what she's given.

Mrs_Moore_To_Be

Maybe take out the wine after the ceremony?

Ours included sparkling wine on arrival. 1/2 bottle wine pp and sparkling wine for toasts. I took the arrival one out and added in half the allocation with cosmopolitan coacktails and the other half with OJ. If people wanted others they bought them from the bar and everyone was happy with this.

Ask if you can some OJ, ederflower water etc instead of sparkiling wine after ceremony - that will bring cost down x

wiggychick

I think it is perfectly reasonable that people buy their own drinks for with their meal. Lots of people won't drink wine, so instead of a half bottle each you end up with a few very jolly souls who manage to snaffle a bottle (or two) to themselves. (I have been just such a jolly soul...)

I think it is usually expected to provide drinks for the toast and it is a lovely idea to give people the extra drink after the service too. I'm sure you have bigger priorities than further booze when it comes to the budget? If it is a particular worry for your mum, perhaps you could compromise by providing a few bottles for the top table only?

lisajane8482

We're having bucks fizz or fresh orange juice (for the drivers and kids) on arrival and then having a glass of sparkling wine for the toast which is costing £5.50 per person as it is all we can budget for.

We may closer to the date depending on how much money we save on other things (like dresses, shoes etc) be able to afford a glass of red/white or rose with the meal too at £7.50 per person but if not it's tough luck.

I have been to weddings where you don't get a drink on arrival just a toast, to weddings where the only drink you get is on arrival and to weddings where you get no drinks at all and I have never heard anyone complain.

Could you pick a cheaper drinks package and then if you can afford the £15 drinks package change it closer to the date?