Open bar advice for AHR!

[happygilmore]

We are going to put down $1000 for an open bar for our AHR this Saturday. We are doing it at a local Eagles club and they've agreed to do $3.5 across the board for drinks (beer/wine/liquor), which with our guest total comes out to be about 2 free drinks per person.

 

So my question:

1) The eagles club works off a chip system. Should I have someone pass out two chips to each adult?

2) Do I leave the chips with the bartender and when they are gone, they are gone?

 

I am just afraid we'll have "Mr./Mrs. greedy" get their drink on when they find out there is an open bar-- meaning some might not get any free drinks, while joe smoe is triple fisting it on the dance floor!

 

I can't imagine anyone doing that...but I think we've all learned that people get weird with weddings and free stuff!!!

 

Thoughts?

[Ginalyn]

I think if you want to make sure everyone gets a drink you should have someone pass out 2 chips per person...it's not unusual because I've heard of other people who have done drink tickets before. This way everyone gets drink(s). Those who prefer not to drink will find someone to give their tickets/chips to!

[2bebridejamaica]

We went with the ticket system for our AHR. It made things alot easier and this way we know everyone had the opportunity to get 2 on us. If they decided to give them away so be it.. but it was our gesture for them coming... espec when we had a HUGE snow storm the day before and some were only digging out just for the reception. The stories of "thank goodness I snowed out for some free booze".. LOL They actually had no idea till they got there because it was super lastminute .. like that day we had the extra cash for it. Just had someone stand just beyond the place card table and she passed them out.

[Tilly in the Sun]

I think that giving the chips out is definitely a fair way to make sure everyone gets their drink(s), and as mentioned before if someone doesn't want theirs they can just give them away.

[JOSIE]

I agree, I would distribute them, or, is there any way you can incorporate them into the place settings (like under their place cards or something?).

[chloe55]

I think it would be cute to make them like a favor. You could get some of those bulk tulle things that jodan almonds go in and tie them up with a ribbon and a tag that says 'Thanks for celebrating with us! Let us buy you a drink ... or two!' That way nobody has to stand around and hand them out and I think it's pretty cute. I never considered doing tickets or chips, but the open bar thing is stressing me out. I know a lot of my friends would get a drink, take a sip, set it down to go dance, lose it and just get another. This is actually a good way to avoid that, so thanks for posting!

[march132010]

i think it is a great idea----

[DanielleNDerek]

Ummm maybe i just hang out with a bunch of alchies but i've been to plenty of weddings were people go up and get 2 drinks at a time for themselves and about 30 minutes later go up and get 2 more. So i would definately go with the chip system. i've never been anywhere that did it but i think it would work out good.

[mich999]

I was initially thinking you should leave chips on bar so you don't have to deal with distributing them, but after reading comments, I agree that you should hand them out in some fun way so everyone gets their 2 drinks if they want it. If people don't use them, I'm sure they'll give them to someone else.

[barcelo1162010]

I think the idea to put them in a little favor bag with a note "have a drink...or 2 on us" is really cute.