The New York Institute of Art and Design offers online wedding planner courses and because we do, we like to provide free tips for wedding planners. Enjoy!
For many weddings and events, alcohol is a big part of the reception planning process. Whether you personally agree with this or not, as a wedding planner, you will be working with a variety of couples and this project may be important to some. You therefore need to know the right things to ask about bar and booze planning during an interview with the caterer or venue owner. For the most part, if you cover these 6 questions, you should have a pretty comprehensive knowledge of your options moving forward:
- If you’re working with a caterer, you need to ask them if they provide alcohol as part of their services.
- If you are planning to host an open bar event, you need to ask the caterer how much the bride and groom will be charged for each individual drink served.
- If the bar is cash, you’ll need to ask for a full menu of listed drink prices.
- Always ask what brands of alcohol will be served. Sometimes, you’ll have the option of selecting brand name versus well brand liquor, and a slight downgrade in booze quality could save the couple a substantial amount of money.
- If the couple simply wants to provide their own wine and champagne, you need to ask the venue owner if you will be charged a corkage fee.
- Always ask if there is a time limit on bar service for the night./li>
In addition to these 6 basic questions, some couples like the wedding planner to ask the venue owner if the staff is trained in alcohol safety awareness. Will waiters or bartenders be on the lookout for guests who have been drinking too much? Will said staff ensure taxis or car service is called for intoxicated guests? These are things you’ll need to discuss with the bride and groom. If you want to help them prepare the perfect day, you need to know what they’re comfortable with and how they want the party aspect of the evening to unfold.
Want to learn more? The New York Institute of Art and Design offers online wedding planning courses that can teach you how to plan and execute the perfect wedding. Request your free course catalog today!
