open bar

MrsL2010 Posted: Jul 04, 2009 01:40 AM

open bar

have any of you girls been to a wedding where you were told that it was top shelf, but it wasn't?

I was at a wedding tonight where every time i asked for a drink, i was told that they didn't have the liquor to make that drink. i asked for a margarita - i was told there was no tequila, i asked for a malibu and pineapple - they told me they had no coconut rum, i asked for a sex on the beach - they told me they ran out of peach schnapps.

this wedding was on long island, has anyone else encountered this situation? i'm asking this because now i'm a little concerned that this may happen at my reception.

Angel06 Posted: Jul 04, 2009 02:53 AM

Re: open bar

When we went to my best friends wedding at G i o r g i o s i know that they didnt have Bourbon and to be honest with you i think it was at the side bar but i do think the main bar had it.

MsPotterhead Posted: Jul 04, 2009 11:04 AM

Re: open bar

I never experienced that where there was supposed to be an open bar.
I have been to smaller weddings that had only wine, but I thought that was OK, you weren't expecting anything else. Your experience sounds crazy - that's a lot of things to run out of!

lolalovesacroat Posted: Jul 04, 2009 11:10 AM

Re: open bar

Maybe they didn't opt for the top shelf open bar,and wanted the basic bar menu.

I remember when I went to visit various reception halls they talk about the bar menu's for hours.

LIVineBride09 Posted: Jul 04, 2009 11:28 AM

Re: open bar

I have been to a wedding where this has happened, but it was in the middle of Kansas and was the strangest wedding I have ever been to. If you're concerned, I would just ask the RH about it. Tell them that you are concerned, or ask them to attend a wedding to sample what it will be like. My RH offered that to us, but we're going to trust them. Plus, they name all of the top shelf liquors on their menu so I pretty much trust them if they're naming the specific alcohol!

lori7570 Posted: Jul 04, 2009 12:33 PM

Re: open bar

Wow...that's crazy!! I would have been very unhappy...

FM me the name of the RH if you can

RitasEngaged Posted: Jul 04, 2009 12:36 PM

Re: open bar

that is nuts i guess it depends on the place you are talking abotu though

gina409 Posted: Jul 04, 2009 12:45 PM

Re: open bar

Posted by lolalovesacroat

Maybe they didn't opt for the top shelf open bar,and wanted the basic bar menu.

I remember when I went to visit various reception halls they talk about the bar menu's for hours.

ita..can u send me the nmae of the pace im worried now

Nina1010 Posted: Jul 04, 2009 02:50 PM

Re: open bar

One of the questions you need to ask and have in your contract is 'IS it Top Shelf liquor' and what do you consider to be Top Shelf... They also offer a premium list now... it does happen though. Other brides wrote about it before I started my RH hunt and it helped me alot. It was one of my first questions.

tgrlily339 Posted: Jul 04, 2009 03:27 PM

Re: open bar

I found that at a lot of the halls I visited what they consider 'top shelf' is often NOT what most of us think it is. I was very dissappointed and made it a point to ask to see their lists. Most of what most people think it Top shelf is usually their premium (which i their way of getting more $$ out of us) . But what you just described should all be in a top shelf menu . Maybe they did opt out for just a basic bar package... BUT I know one of the halls I went too considered coconut rum premium! I was a bar manager at the time and called them out on it and they got pissy with me... so they became an automatic no for us.

tgrlily339 Posted: Jul 04, 2009 03:28 PM

Re: open bar

Posted by lori7570

Wow...that's crazy!! I would have been very unhappy...

FM me the name of the RH if you can

same here I would love to know as well

iHeartMoogle Posted: Jul 04, 2009 03:44 PM

Re: open bar

I want to know what RH this is too!!!!

allegracristina Posted: Jul 04, 2009 04:11 PM

Re: open bar

Top shelf at The Royalton includes Grey Goose for sure. Also includes a single malt scotch which people were thrilled about. I would ask exactly what BRANDS they consider 'top shelf' in your package.

MrsCM Posted: Jul 04, 2009 04:17 PM

Re: open bar

I'm definitely going to talk to my RH about a concern like this. They have a bar downstairs at the restaurant but I'm sure they don't want to tap it out. I'm also wondering how the outdoor cocktail hour bar will work out.

tgrlily339 Posted: Jul 04, 2009 07:32 PM

Re: open bar

Posted by allegracristina

Top shelf at The Royalton includes Grey Goose for sure. Also includes a single malt scotch which people were thrilled about. I would ask exactly what BRANDS they consider 'top shelf' in your package.

WOW that is great! All of the halls I looked at said grey goose and ketel one were premium and an added charge!

WeddingGem Posted: Jul 04, 2009 10:52 PM

Re: open bar

I´m glad I saw this today. I think we´re booking a RH tomorrow. I´ll be sure to double check their list and make sure theyhave what I want.

Thanks

sophisticat13 Posted: Jul 05, 2009 10:41 AM

Re: open bar

I neve encountered this at a wedding but it sounds so strange. I would ask your BM...to make sure it doesn't happen to you.
To me it is their job to keep their bar stocked, it's a wedding for goodness' sake!!!

marinai7 Posted: Jul 05, 2009 10:49 AM

Re: open bar

Hi, it's definitely a good idea to ask what they consider premium. Our RH listed all of them without us even asking.

Ivansgirl Posted: Jul 05, 2009 12:57 PM

Re: open bar

Wow.... I went to a wedding last year that didn't have orange vodka but they had some other citrus flavor so i was like ok.....but it was weird because the bride loves orange vodka.