September 2025
Bar packages are one of the most confusing line items in a wedding budget, partly because different venues use different terminology for the same thing. Here's a plain-English breakdown of the options available at Fab! Weddings venues and how to think about which one fits your day.
Beer & Wine Only
The most budget-friendly option. Guests have access to draft and bottled beer, house wines (red and white), and non-alcoholic beverages. No liquor, no cocktails.
This works well for afternoon weddings, brunch receptions, or events where you know your guest list skews toward light drinkers. It also works when your budget is genuinely tight and you need to cut somewhere — the experience is still complete, just lower-volume.
One practical note: beer-and-wine bars tend to close earlier in the evening, since the crowd energy typically settles faster without spirits. If you want a dance floor that goes until midnight, beer-and-wine is a harder setup for that.
Standard Hosted Bar
The most common choice. Guests have access to beer, wine, and a standard selection of spirits (well liquor, mixers) for the full reception window. You pay a flat per-head rate for the package rather than by consumption.
The flat rate is predictable for budgeting. You know what you're paying before the event, regardless of how much your guests drink. It also removes the awkward dynamic of guests feeling like they should drink less to save you money.
Premium Hosted Bar
Same structure as the standard hosted bar, but with an upgraded spirit selection — call liquors and premium wines instead of well. The visual and experiential difference is modest for most guests, but it matters to guests who drink cocktails regularly. If you have a crowd that knows the difference between well vodka and a named brand, the upgrade is worth it.
The premium bar is also what enables a signature cocktail program — you need the call liquor tier to build a real cocktail menu. If you want a his-and-hers cocktail at the bar, you're looking at the premium tier.
Consumption Bar
With a consumption bar, you pay for what's actually poured rather than a flat per-head rate. This can work in your favor if your guest list includes a significant percentage of non-drinkers, designated drivers, or guests who drink very little.
The risk is unpredictability. If your guests drink more than you budgeted, the cost goes up. Most couples find the flat-rate hosted bar easier to budget and less stressful on the day — you're not watching the tab accumulate during the reception.
How to Choose
- Budget-constrained and guests are light drinkers: beer-and-wine package.
- Standard guest mix, want a full bar without budget anxiety: standard hosted bar.
- Want premium cocktails or a signature drink program: premium hosted bar.
- Guest list is largely non-drinkers or you have strong data on your crowd's consumption: ask about consumption pricing.
When in doubt, go one tier above where you think you need to be. The difference in per-head cost between standard and premium is smaller than you'd expect, and the upgrade tends to go noticed in a positive way.
