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PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER-ONLY FEED Gain expert knowledge, share hearty laughs, and discover the best tips to maximize your budget and wedding planning experience. Hosted by 2 Wedding Planners with with decades of experience, they share invaluable insights and industry secrets to empower you on your path to ’I Do.’ 🎉 We celebrate inclusivity here, making this podcast a perfect companion for EVERYONE planning their wedding. 👰🤵 🌎 🤝 🏳️‍🌈👭👬

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Episodes

Friday Jul 14, 2017

A bonus Quick Focus episode!Who gives a toast?Typically, two ‘honored attendants’ give a toast during dinner. (The Best Man, and the Maid of Honor, for example.) A parents or relative may give a Welcome Toast before dinner starts, and a lot of times, we see the couple themselves give a toast before they cut the cake.The content of a great wedding toast follows this simple formula:A brief history of your personal relationship to the bride/groom and why you think they are so so specialAn anecdote about the couple proving how awesome they are togetherA wish for the couple or a ‘May Your Life always…’ heartfelt sentiment for their wedding dayAn actual toast - ‘To Lauren and Blake!’ or ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, to the couple!’Keep the following in mind:Introduce yourselfThank the hostsEnd with an actual proclamation of Toasting the couple! And introduce the next toaster if applicable.Don’t forget to hold a glass of wine/champagne/beer - or have it close to you!Remember to keep toasts around 5 minutes long. 7-8 if you are a REALLY good toaster! Try not to go off on a tangent!The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.
Edited by Veronica Gruba
On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!
Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook.
Easy to get in touch with. Email us at thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode
On Patreon. Become a member and with as little as $6.99 per month, you get 2 exclusive, ad-free episodes, + Zoom Happy Hour with Michelle and fellow patrons every month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#41 A Sister’s Toast

Wednesday Jul 12, 2017

Wednesday Jul 12, 2017

We talk about every element of wedding planning on this podcast, and we try to break things down so that the information we are sharing is useful and accessible. We share our personal experiences, our opinions (so many opinions), and our best advice after more than two decades of being professional wedding planners. In this episode, we go one step deeper - and get a little personal. Michelle is interviewing her dear friend Sarah about Sarah’s wedding toast. Sarah was recently the Matron of Honor at her sister’s wedding and Michelle was the planner. The experience is fresh in their minds and together, they dissect the beautiful toast that Sarah gave at the wedding. This is true insider information!Big TakeawaysA great wedding toast goes down in the history of a family. It’s something that people never forget...even if they forget the words, they never forget the accompanying feeling. A great wedding toast is heartfelt and introductory. It’s funny and poignant and it shares something about the couple - about both of them - that guests at the wedding might not be aware of. It celebrates each individual, but showers praise upon them as a couple. There are inside jokes and home run jokes, maybe a tear or two. All in under about 7 minutes.Writing a toast takes a little time! Marinate. List things out...memories, stories, qualities.We suggest writing it down - if not word-for-word, an outline. Remember, you may be a little emotional, and having words to refer to instead of just relying on your memory will come in handy, trust us. We also suggest rehearsing it a little! (A lot.)On a less logistical note, this episode is really a celebration of the love Sarah has for her sister - we’re so glad she was open to sharing this experience with us. We hope you enjoy listening to her story as much as Michelle enjoyed recording it. It was an honor!Links we referenced Manly Bands -Remember to use the promo code TBWPP to get a 15% discount on any order! Sarah on Instagram SHRH Designs and InstagramSarah’s Design company on EtsyThe Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.
Edited by Veronica Gruba
On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!
Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook.
Easy to get in touch with. Email us at thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode
On Patreon. Become a member and with as little as $6.99 per month, you get 2 exclusive, ad-free episodes, + Zoom Happy Hour with Michelle and fellow patrons every month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#40 Groom Interrupted

Wednesday Jul 05, 2017

Wednesday Jul 05, 2017

Big TakeawaysSometimes a leap of faith is necessary, and if you both feel good about it, do it! In Dre’s case, he and Andrea signed a contract and paid a deposit on a venue, sight unseen. When they did get a chance to visit it, they were pleasantly surprised (and relieved), but they also knew that once the deposit was paid, they were going to have to make the venue work no matter what, so compromises were on the horizon.One big compromise - PORK!Money and budgeting for a weddingAdvice to bridesPlanning the ‘fun stuff’Another big compromise was the guestlist - Andrea wanted 200 guests, Dre wanted 100 or less. Ultimately, the venue decided for them since it has a max capacity of 150. This happens a lot - the venue is such a HUGE decision because it directly informs the wedding date, the overall budget, and the guestlist. Not to mention the look and feel of a wedding. This couple fell in love with a ranch in California, and that decision means that Andrea has to drastically cut back her guestlist.Links we referenced Manly Bands Love Languages Online QuizThe Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.
Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics
On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!
Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook.
Easy to get in touch with. Email us at thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode
On Patreon. Become a member and with as little as $6.99 per month, you get 2 exclusive, ad-free episodes, + Zoom Happy Hour with Michelle and fellow patrons every month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#39 The Serial Bridesmaid

Wednesday Jun 28, 2017

Wednesday Jun 28, 2017

Special Guest today - Mia! Mia is Christy’s cousin and at 25 years old, she has been a bridesmaid in 7 weddings in last 2 years (and a guest to plenty more). We’re talking today about the role of ‘Bridesmaid’ and how this experienced ‘maid feels about all the money, dresses, parties, duties and of course, the honor of the job.Click HERE to become a premium subscriber and unlock all of the amazingness: 
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Big TakeawaysMia has been a bridesmaid for her sister, several ladies in her close-knit group of work girlfriends, and 2 life-long friends. She said the best experience was for her sister - when she was the only bridesmaid, and the maid-of-honor. The big toast was totally daunting, but she liked feeling extra special on the wedding day, and the idea of standing by her sister was an honor...the importance of the role didn’t get lost in the size of the bridal party.Things Bridesmaids Like:
When the bride shows appreciation with thoughtful gifts, cards and meaningful words. It’s especially appreciated when the bride gives these gifts
When the bride lets them pick their dress
When the dress doesn’t cost an arm and a leg (Mia hasn’t ever worn a bridesmaid dress a second time)
The Bachelorette Party - this is fun for bridesmaids, as long as no one brings the drama. It’s a big expense for the bridesmaids that plan it, so if you’re a bride
The Getting Ready day of - as Mia said, it feels like a last slumber party and she’s never felt put-out by having to arrive at a hotel at 6am for the hair and makeup and mimosas to begin.
Sitting next to the bride/groom at the reception, but also sitting next to their significant others. Yes, boyfriends count, not just husbands. Meaning: A bridesmaid doesn’t love sitting at the King’s Table at the reception, if her partner/date is at another table.
Bridesmaids just want to have fun! The reception is a party, and a party is only as much fun as the hosts. So, if you are the couple, kick up your heels and have a wonderful time celebrating your wedding day with all your loved ones. Your bridesmaids will have fun dancing the night away with you.
It’s ok NOT to ask someone to be in your bridal party, even if you were in theirs.Your bridesmaids should be your closest friends or relatives. It doesn’t matter if they all know each other or run in the same circles. The important thing is that they all love you and are there to celebrate and support you, the bride, on the wedding day. Mia was asked to be a bridesmaid by a school friend that she barely kept in touch with...it was awkward. The best bridal parties are the true inner circle of the bride.Links we referencedManly BandsProfessional BridesmaidDessy GroupGet In Touch: The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is…Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez 
Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics 
On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!
Easy to get in touch with. Email us at hello@thebigweddingplanningpodcast.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode

#38 Wedding Fatigue

Wednesday Jun 21, 2017

Wednesday Jun 21, 2017

Is wedding planning this stressful for all couples?! Short answer: Yes, yes it is. Listen, planning a huge party is a big endeavor. Layered into that, is a LOT of money, a LOT of emotions and some crazy expectations. Family. Emotions. History. It can feel very weighted. It feels overwhelming. Totally normal! In this episode, Michelle and Christy share the experiences of some of our clients - past and present, and discuss the elements of wedding planning that seem to be universally stressful for couples. How can you manage it all? We’re here to help.Big TakeawaysHere are the stress commonalities we discovered:VenueBudgetSurprise StressGuest listWho is steering this ship anyway? The more people involved in planning your wedding, the messier if can be (the planning process, not the wedding itself. We know lots of couples have parents contributing financially to the wedding, and this often means that the parents reserve the right to invite who they want to, and to make decisions about the wedding that they otherwise wouldn’t be involved in.Family drama happens with every wedding. Trust us. We validate you. You are not crazy. Everyone else is! (Kidding. But not kidding about how family drama being very common. Try to remember that emotions are high and it won’t always feel like this.)Links we referencedmanlybands.com.thebigweddingplanningpodcast.com/the-guest-listThe Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.
Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics
On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!
Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook.
Easy to get in touch with. Email us at thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode
On Patreon. Become a member and with as little as $6.99 per month, you get 2 exclusive, ad-free episodes, + Zoom Happy Hour with Michelle and fellow patrons every month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#37 Rehearsals do NOT suck!

Wednesday Jun 14, 2017

Wednesday Jun 14, 2017

The rehearsal. Necessary? Yes! Fun? Totally! Well, maybe more necessary than fun, but hear us out. There are lots of reasons why a rehearsal is important, and it’s not just to run through the actual ceremony ‘script’. You need to do that, in some way, at a rehearsal, sure. But it’s also super important to gather your VIPs (wedding party, officiant, parents, readers…)Big TakeawaysReligious or cultural ceremonies are sometimes ‘run’ by the church lady, or the priest or rabbi. For these weddings, planners have less to do, technically, but it’s still an opportunity for everyone in your wedding party to get on the same page.We’re seeing more and more couples resistant to the idea of rehearsals. Smaller wedding parties, less religious ceremonies...busier couples? Some couples think that the rehearsal will take away from the wedding day.Rehearsals are particularly important if your officiant is not a ‘professional’ - and a lot of weddings these days are in this category.Rings! Don’t let kids handle the rings. Just don’t. Not at the rehearsal, not at the wedding. Not on a train, not in the rain...Elements of a rehearsal
10 minutes - gather, wrangle, introduce everyone
30 minutes - ceremony cue to cue. Beginning with butts-in-seats in the first row or two (have your dad stand where he will sit on the wedding day. The flower girl’s mom needs to be in an aisle seat. Map it out and put people in their places physically. Make a ceremony seating chart. (You should write this down ahead of time.) Then you basically go through the beginnings and endings of the ceremony paragraphs...do NOT read verbatim the whole thing. Anytime there is a physical action - like exchanging rings - you practice it. You rehearse, get it? Practice lining up for the processional and walking in, and then practice the recessional.
30 minutes - Powwow. Share information so that everyone is on the same page on the wedding day. Arrival times, ‘getting ready’ plan, who is doing the first toast and when, etc. Remind the bride to eat and drink lots of water! Also, take time to make sure that ushers or greeters know their job.
10-30 minutes - STUFF. It’s your wedding, you’ll have stuff! Probably about a trunk-load, give or take. (Including but not limited to - toasting flutes, signage, jars filled w candy, your marriage license in it’s utilitarian manila envelope…)
What if the venue isn’t available for a rehearsal? What if your officiant can’t come to a rehearsal? We still suggest you have a rehearsal - you need some space, and as many VIPs as possible. Have it at the time that the most people can come.Hint - a rehearsal is smoothest if:
There are as many people from the VIP category as possible.
If ‘extra’ people are NOT there. If you have 5 bridesmaids and they have 5 boyfriends that are not in the wedding party...request that the boyfriends don’t attend the actual rehearsal.
The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.
Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics
On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!
Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook.
Easy to get in touch with. Email us at thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode
On Patreon. Become a member and with as little as $6.99 per month, you get 2 exclusive, ad-free episodes, + Zoom Happy Hour with Michelle and fellow patrons every month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#36 Lessons (Planners) Learned

Wednesday Jun 07, 2017

Wednesday Jun 07, 2017

Big TakeawaysMay is the beginning of WEDDING SEASON in most of the country, and industry pros are very busy (usually happily)! We may not be as responsive as quickly at this time - it’s like tax accountants in early April. If you know a wedding planner, and it’s May, give her a hug. We love it, but this job is tough!Second systems needed from your DJ, for a ceremony: ask questions, get specifics, and make sure that the second system that you are hiring a DJ to set up is an actual system. Do not approve of a DJ simply plugging in his phone to a speaker or 2. This can be a hard lesson to learn if a giant mistake is made during a very important time in your ceremony. There are a lot of variables that can go into what is ultimately a giant mistake...don’t let spotty wifi or a distracted DJ be one of them!Microphones for the ceremony: You probably want at least one for amplification, and this is often a lapel mic clipped to your Officiant. We suggest that you ALSO have a wireless, handheld mic available as well, in the event that the lapel mic on the Officiant cuts in and out, or doesn’t pick up any sound from the couple saying their vows.All your vendors will be working together on the wedding day. A photographer may motion to an Officiant to step out of the way for a second during the exchanging of the vows - the photographer is trying to get the best shot, but this move may affect the amplification if the Officiant is the one wearing the mic. Just have a plan B available to you up there!Share the cost of things like ceremony florals if at all possible. Think outside the box! It doesn’t hurt to ask! This works the best when your venue has a strict preferred vendors list, or even a house vendor, like a florist. Also, it’s most convenient when your wedding is on a Friday, or Sunday...see if it’s possible to use the same lighting company as the other weddings that share your wedding weekend. You could end up saving a couple hundred bucks because they are already installing something that both weddings can actually use.Whatever decisions you make for your wedding day - let the decision making be done by your actual wedding day. Give yourself permission to actually let things flow on the wedding day. The more laid back and happy you can be, the better. It sounds too simple, but trust us, we’re professionals. Getting hung up on details is great during the planning process, but not during the wedding day.Links we referenced Michelle’s Instagram Feed DJ Justin Foreign Cinema Eothen Floral Helena and Laurent Photography VenmoThe Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.
Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics
On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!
Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook.
Easy to get in touch with. Email us at thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode
On Patreon. Become a member and with as little as $6.99 per month, you get 2 exclusive, ad-free episodes, + Zoom Happy Hour with Michelle and fellow patrons every month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#35 Rentals Guru - Kathy Newby

Wednesday May 31, 2017

Wednesday May 31, 2017

Kathy Newby is an Event Specialist at Abbey Party Rentals in the San Francisco Bay Area. Kathy and Michelle started working together on events almost 2 decades ago! Kathy got her degree from the ‘school of hard knocks’ - moved around a lot, has a ton of experience, and settled in the Bay Area and began her events career on the hospitality side. She started working for a big rental company in 1994, and eventually landed at Abbey. She is a networking guru, she gives back to the industry, mentors young people in the industry and she is a wealth of knowledge on all things rentals!Big TakeawaysTenting is intense! You have to think about dimensions, sunlight, flooring, lighting, generators, restrooms, connectors, weather...basically, if you need tenting for your outdoor wedding, you need to hire an experienced professional. Like Kathy! She talks about how to tent a wedding without breaking the bank - tricks of the trade to glam up a basic tent: lighting, swagging, pre-fab ceiling liners (as opposed to hand-pleated).Covering a pool - a flooring and rental company can do it! Plexiglass, staging, raised walkway above the pool, boarding it and putting astroturf down, lots of options.Backyard weddings, private estate events...just because you get a ‘free’ space, doesn't mean you’ll save money. In fact, typically, it costs more to transform a space into a venue. Michelle and Kathy break down the logistics for a 75 person backyard wedding...for example, a clear tent may be a hard NO, depending on the location and weather - they act like greenhouses and can get super hot and uncomfortable. Kitchen generators, lux porto potties, distances that the set up techs will have to load -in, permits, noise ordinances... There are many variables and everything is customized, so getting a price estimate isn’t a simple formula.Plan B. The Bad Weather Plan. You have to decide this plan in advance (not a week out), and then 48 hours beforehand, you can decide if you’re using the plan B or not. And then, fingers crossed. (A deposit will be required to hold the inventory, and have a crew standing-by.)Delivery and Strike - these times have to be arranged when you book your rentals. The prices depend on the time allotted and the crew/equipment needed. This can be expensive. Labor is the biggest cost in the rental industry.Just a quick example of basic inventory from the Abbey website - rental prices vary, but you can get an idea of overall pricing by checking the websiteSilver Chiavari Chair - $8/ea3’x3’ square of dancefloor - $1560” round table - $10Links we referenced Abbey Party Rentals SF website The Water CottageThe luxury portable restroom company Kathy recommends One True Love Vintage The vintage furntiure rentals and sister company Kathy works with at Abbey Kathy's Instagram Page @askforkathyThe Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.
Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics
On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!
Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook.
Easy to get in touch with. Email us at thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode
On Patreon. Become a member and with as little as $6.99 per month, you get 2 exclusive, ad-free episodes, + Zoom Happy Hour with Michelle and fellow patrons every month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#34 Unofficial Officiant

Wednesday May 24, 2017

Wednesday May 24, 2017

More and more couples are choosing someone very special in their lives to officiate their wedding ceremony. We want to tell you about those very special people out there and how that all works. Officiating weddings when you’re not really an officiant? How does that work?It used to be that couples who were not getting married in a House of Worship would have an “Officiant For Hire” marry them. These are seasoned professionals who put a lot of work and time and thought into writing a ceremony for their clients. When you hire them to be your officiant, they take the lead on writing your ceremony script which is one of the hardest parts.Christy is going to be a guest at 3 weddings in the next 6 weeks and all 3 have friends as their officiants. Not only that but 2 of these ceremonies will incorporate a “Toast” to their guests as part of the ceremony. Drinks in hand.Big TakeawaysChoose the right person. Someone you trust and cares about you as a couple. Someone who believes in marriage.
This is not just about public speaking
A Big Ego need not apply
Engaging / Comforting
Once you ask this person, be realistic and let them know how much work it will entail and how much you expect from them.
It’s not a small ask. You expect them to be there for you. To help you write the ceremony. To come up with some beautiful words and thoughts.
There will be lots of emails back and forth
There will be a couple of times you get together and work on the ceremony
They need to be there for the rehearsal
They need to wear appropriate attire or maybe even something specific that fits with your theme or colors.
They need to arrive early and on time on the wedding day.
They need to get ordained
How does one become a legal ordained minister?Whomever you choose must get ordained to legally perform a wedding. Christy will be officiating her cousin’s wedding and is using Universal Life Church . ULC is a an online non-denominational, non-profit religious organization. And guess what? You can become ordained in a matter of minutes for free! But be aware that depending on where the ceremony is going to take place, you may need to register with the city or county as well. You can easily look this up here.You need to compensate that special person!It is customary that you, the couple give this special person a thoughtful gift for doing this. Not only that, but if they do not live local to the wedding location, you should offer to pay for their travel costs and hotel.The Ceremony Script:One of the pros is the freedom to write your own script, but it can also be a con because of how hard it is to do and especially if you are asking that of your friend who is officiating.The couple getting married should create an outline of the order of events for the ceremony script.Some couples choose to take care of the legal part prior to the wedding date.Links We ReferencedUniversal Life Church Dr. Lawrence Krauss Love Wins Texas (the only same-sex wedding magazine).The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.
Edited by Veronica Gruba
Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics
On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!
Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook.
Easy to get in touch with. Email us at thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode
On Patreon. Become a member and with as little as $6.99 per month, you get 2 exclusive, ad-free episodes, + Zoom Happy Hour with Michelle and fellow patrons every month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#33 Quick Focus! Bar Service

Wednesday May 17, 2017

Wednesday May 17, 2017

When will you need beverage service / bar at your wedding?
Cocktail Reception. Most weddings will have a cocktail reception directly after the ceremony and that typically lasts 1 hour.
Dinner. Champagne and wine during dinner, but some couples chose to keep the bar open during dinner as well to allow guests to grab a drink at their leisure. Typically 90 min.
Dancing / After Dinner. After dinner, during dancing
Pre-ceremony: Some couples like to have beverage service available to guests as they are arriving and waiting for the ceremony to start.
2 Types of Bar Service Options
Cash Bar (also known as No Host Bar)
Open Bar (also known as Hosted Bar)
Cash Bar (not recommended for weddings)
Guests pay bartender directly for their drinks. Exactly like going out on your own.
If your wedding is at a hotel, you may be charged for a “cashier”, as some hotels do not allow bartenders to handle cash.
Open Bar
Drinks are paid for by hosts
2 Pricing Methods are By Consumption - OR - Per Person
By Consumption The host pays for each drink served or each bottle opened plus tax & gratuity.
Bartender keeps a running tally of number of drinks served.
Per Person The host pays a flat amount for the duration of the event or for each hour, whether or not the guest chooses an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage.
This pricing option is typically higher. Why? Because with an open bar, the caterer does not have as much control over consumption and therefore the caterer wants to make sure they are profitable.
Most economical Beverage serviceBeer, Wine and Champagne for the Toast
No hard alcohol
Champagne is only offered at dinner for toasts
The bar is closed during dinner and in addition to champagne toast, you offer wine service during dinner. For a table of 10 guests, you would offer 3 bottles of white and 2 bottles of red
Bar re-opens for dinner until approximately 30 minutes prior to end time.
An add-on to this would be a Signature Drink
Rule of Thumb
Average Consumption at a wedding (Open Bar) is typically 2-2.5 drinks per person, per hour
1 bottle of Wine = 3-4 glasses per bottle OR 2-3 guests per bottle (depending on who’s pouring)
1 bottle of Champagne = 6 glasses
1 Keg of beer (15.5 gallons) serves 180 (10 oz glasses)
The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.
Edited by Veronica Gruba
On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!
Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook.
Easy to get in touch with. Email us at thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode
On Patreon. Become a member and with as little as $6.99 per month, you get 2 exclusive, ad-free episodes, + Zoom Happy Hour with Michelle and fellow patrons every month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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