Answering Your Wedding Alcohol Questions!

Lupins + Lava Photography

​Some of the most common questions we receive relate to alcohol. Should we provide alcohol? How much does it cost? What’s included? Should I also do liquor? Today, we’re answering all these questions and more!

Should I Serve Alcohol?
First things first, should you even serve alcohol at your wedding? Like many things wedding-related, there is no set answer. It’s up to you! However, there are a few things we recommend considering before you decide either yes or no.

One of the main reasons couples decide to host a dry wedding comes down to cost, whether that means it’s out of their budget entirely or they prefer to spend their money elsewhere. However, while money is an important factor when it comes to alcohol, it shouldn’t be the only one.

People expect there to be a bar or some sort of alcohol at weddings nowadays. While this doesn’t mean you have to provide alcohol, it is a nice gesture. After the ceremony, your guests will be dismissed to cocktail hour while you and your spouse will be off taking portraits. It's considered good hosting to make sure your guests feel taken care of by serving them appetizers and drinks. If you choose not to serve alcohol, we still recommend serving some sort of drinks, whether it’s tea, water, lemonade, or even soda.

How Much Does It Cost?
According to The Knot, the average cost of serving alcohol is $2,300. While this seems like a large chunk of change to some, it is a necessity to others.

If you’re wanting to serve alcohol but don’t want to spend that much, there are ways you can cut that number down. An open bar, for example, will be more expensive than either a cash bar or providing the alcohol yourself.

The answer to this question can also depend on other factors, including your venue’s policies and fees, your guest count, and what you’re wanting to serve. 

When you’re touring a venue, be sure to ask questions regarding their alcohol policy, what their fees are, what those fees include, etc. It’s important to know the answers to these questions upfront.

Some venues, for example, take care of providing the alcohol for you. While the options for what you can serve may be more limited, you often will know the price upfront.

At other venues, you may be the providers of the alcohol. This option is great for couples who either want to serve specific alcoholic options or for those who think they can find a better deal than what the venue might charge. The challenge is that while this option is often cheaper, the total cost for alcohol might be spread out over several areas rather than be one lump sum.

Alcohol at Four Oaks
If you’re considering having your wedding at Four Oaks Manor (or if you’re already one of our couples), then here are answers to some of the questions you might have regarding our alcohol policy.
Can we serve alcohol?
Yes, you can serve alcohol at Four Oaks Manor.
Am I required to serve alcohol?
No, we don’t require you to serve alcohol if you choose not to.
What is the cost to serve alcohol? And what does it include?
Our bar cost is $3.75 per person. This includes glasses, ice, maintenance, as well as setup and breakdown of the bar if you don’t have a bartender.
Does the venue provide the alcohol? Or do we provide our own?
You are the providers of the alcohol. Since you are the providers of the beer & wine, you will have to obtain a one-day event liability insurance so you are covered in case accidents occur. You can either go through one of our preferred vendors for the insurance or through your own insurance. It is easy to obtain and usually costs around $200.
Is event liability insurance required?
Yes, we require that you obtain event liability insurance to cover you as the providers.
Can we serve liquor?
Yes, we allow you to serve liquor. If you are also providing liquor at the event, we require the event insurance as well as an off-duty police officer and a bartender.
Do you allow shots?
No, we do not allow guests to take shots at our venue.
Do I need a bartender?
We require a bartender if you are providing liquor. If you are just serving beer and wine, we offer a self-serve option.
What if we want to do signature drinks?
You are allowed to do signature drinks. If the signature drink comes premixed (such as a margarita), we can set that up to be self-serve. However, if the signature drink is not premixed, you would need to hire a bartender to serve your guests.
When do we drop off the alcohol?
You will bring your alcohol to Four Oaks Manor at your rehearsal. Our staff will help unload the alcohol and take care of stocking it at our smokehouse bar.

We hope this helps answer any of your wedding day alcohol questions! Do you have other alcohol-related questions? Leave them in the comment section below!

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Unsure where to start when it comes to choosing a wine for your wedding day? Check out this guide from Firstleaf that gives advice on how to pair the right wines with your whatever you choose to serve. Their top piece of advice? Find a red and white that can be enjoyed by wine novices and enthusiasts alike!

Image Source: Firstleaf.