Looking for your perfect wedding venue? You won’t go wrong with Granny
Mouse Country House & Spa.
Considered one of the most romantic venues in the KwaZulu Natal
Midlands, weddings at Granny Mouse are truly spectacular. Everything
you could possibly need is based on-site, from the idyllic chapel with
panoramic views over the Caversham Valley, a reception venue catering
for up to 120 guests, a culinary team ready to create your unique
wedding feast to surprise and delight, to a pastry chef to sculpt your
perfect cake. The dedicated team is ready to assist you.
“Our Mouse House offers the very best in opulent accommodation coupled
with old-world charm and service, embedded into the ethos and
foundations of this historic hotel” says GM Sean Granger. “And our
serene and picturesque location along the Lions River combines country
ambiance with modern comforts.”
Whether or not the guests are big drinkers, virtually all wedding
receptions have a bar of some type. But when you’re planning a
wedding, the options can feel overwhelming. Open bar or cash bar? Do
you opt for a drink package, or pay by consumption? And what about
signature cocktails?
The team at Granny Mouse would like to offer up some advice when it
comes to open, partial or paid bars:
Open Bar
An open bar is a setup where guests don’t pay for any of their drinks,
and the hosts foot the full bill. Guests can walk up to the bar and
order whatever they have—whether that’s a full selection or more
limited. The term “open bar” can encompass quite a lot. If the wedding
is in a hotel or restaurant, an establishment that has a bar, your
options are broader. If it’s an outdoor wedding, or what’s called a
‘white box’ (where you bring everything in yourself) you might be a
bit more limited, depending on your caterer.
There are two main ways that open bars are priced:
Pricing by Consumption or Bar Packages
Pricing by consumption means that the hosts are paying for the number
of drinks ordered; the more the guests drink, the higher the tab will
be. This is a good option if most of your crowd aren’t big drinkers.
Bar packages, on the other hand, will charge a fixed price per guest.
They’re a good option if you’re having a long cocktail reception or
overall livelier party and your group likes to drink. If most adults
aren’t drinking, it doesn’t make sense to pay per head. But if they
are, a bar package is often the better deal. Importantly, the hosts
also know the cost upfront.
Open bars generally include spirits, as well as beer and wine. Many
catering companies will have different tiers of service and price them
accordingly.
Signature Cocktails
Some wedding couples serve signature cocktails as part of a full open
liquor bar; others opt for wine, beer, and specialty cocktails only,
which can simplify the workflow of the bar and keep your prices under
control. There are two kinds of specialty cocktails. One is a classic
cocktail that has meaning for the couple. Where it can get more
premium is if you want a mixologist to design a signature cocktail
just for the event.
Beer and Wine
A bar that just serves beer and wine is a great option for people who
want to have some sort of alcohol available at the wedding, but don’t
see themselves cocktail-focused. It’s also a great option for daytime
or lunchtime weddings and will usually save the hosts a substantial
amount of money. There are plenty of ways to make a beer and wine bar
sophisticated, especially at an intimate event, where a wine pairing
dinner could be a really elegant option. Many remarkable weddings have
beer and wine only, where the spirits really aren’t missed.
Dry Bar
Some wedding couples choose to forgo alcohol altogether, whether for
religious or cultural reasons or just because of the atmosphere they
want to create. Serving only non-alcoholic drinks will result in
significant savings. Some hosts, while choosing not to serve alcohol,
might allow guests the option to bring their own drinks, though that
may be venue dependent.
Cash Bar
At a cash bar, guests pay for their own drinks, just as they would at
a bar or restaurant. Having a cash bar can save the hosts a great deal
of money, but does set a different tone for the event, and puts a
number of additional burdens on the guests. Starting a tab, tipping,
or having to close out a credit card can all add up to long lines and
slower service. Cash bars make the most sense when the majority of
people at the wedding aren’t drinking, but there might be a few who
will want a drink. That way, the option is available to them, but it’s
not a focal point of the celebration.
Hosts should keep in mind that at some venues, even if guests pay for
the drinks themselves, they might shoulder a fee to staff the bar
on-site; it all depends on the location.
Pricing
Relative pricing for wedding bars is pretty intuitive; the more
options you give guests, and the more premium those options, the more
you’ll pay. And figures are all over the map. A small-town venue is
likely to charge much less than an exclusive hotel, even if the bar
packages are quite similar.