Decisions, decisions, decisions. From venues and themes to food and, you guessed it, drinks, how you budget for your wedding boils down to a combination of crucial choices. When it comes to ensuring that guests have a glass in hand to celebrate the newlyweds, the cost of an open bar becomes a significant consideration in the budget.
And just as certain cities and destinations have their unique vibe and atmosphere, they also bring their own price tags to the party. To help you plan, we dove deep into the numbers and unearthed which cities might leave you with a bit more change in your pocket and which might require you to add a few more zeros to the budget. Read on to see what we found.
The 10 U.S. Cities That Pay the Most for a Wedding Reception Open Bar
The neon lights, the captivating shows, the allure of luck — Las Vegas has long been known for its larger-than-life atmosphere, and this reputation makes it a highly sought-after wedding destination. Couples from all over the world come here to tie the knot in a uniquely “Vegas” style, whether it’s a spontaneous chapel wedding officiated by an Elvis impersonator or a grand affair in one of the city’s luxurious hotel ballrooms.
But the glam and glitz don’t come cheap. When it comes to bartender services alone, Sin City tops our list with an average cost of around $800 per bartender, likely due to the high demand for bartenders in this city teeming with nightlife, along with the expertise needed to serve an array of cocktails fitting the grandeur of a Vegas wedding.
Similarly, Nashville (or “Nashvegas,” to some) offers visitors a rich blend of history, lively music, and Southern hospitality, making it a hotspot for weddings. From rustic barn venues to elegant downtown rooftops with views of the city skyline, Nashville offers a wide array of Instagram-worthy wedding locales.
However, hosting a wedding in the heart of country music comes with a hefty bar tab. Stocking the bar in Nashville is particularly pricey, costing an average of about $1,250 for alcohol and mixers. Nashville sets the standard for Southern cuisine with its vibrant food scene, making it no surprise that these signature cocktails and local brews cost a pretty penny to grace the menu at any wedding.
The 10 U.S. Cities That Pay the Least for a Wedding Reception Open Bar
The soulful city of Memphis, Tennessee, which sits along the Mississippi River, is known for many things: its musical legacy, mouthwatering barbecue, and, apparently, some of the most affordable wedding bartender services in the U.S.
At just $200 per bartender, Memphis offers couples an economical option without compromising on the Southern charm and hospitality it’s renowned for. Memphis is also among a trifecta of cities, including Indianapolis and Kansas City, where the cost to stock the bar exceeds that of hiring the bartenders.
A little to the northeast, Louisville, Kentucky, emerges as another budget-friendly wedding destination. Known for its fast horses at the Kentucky Derby and slow-aged bourbon, it’s the latter that plays into the city’s favor when it comes to wedding expenses.
With an average spending of $769.67 on alcohol, Louisville may not have cracked the top 10 list, but it leads as the city that spends the least on spirits for wedding celebrations. Perhaps its proximity to numerous renowned bourbon distilleries helps its cost efficiency.
U.S. Cities That Pay the Most & Least for a Wedding Reception Open Bar
Curious to see how much an open bar costs at a wedding in your city? Use the table above to search for a city and see how much it costs to pick up the tab at a wedding in your hometown.
Closing Thoughts
Whether you choose the city that never sleeps or one with soulful tunes and a vibrant food scene, planning the perfect wedding is all about finding a place that resonates with your story (and your budget). As you ponder over drinks, venues, and many other wedding details, one thing remains clear: the symbol of your love.
For that unchanging facet, turn to Shane Co.’s gorgeous selection of fine jewelry and wedding bands. Our timeless designs are a testament to the fact that, although the bar tab might vary depending on where you are, the commitment to love and your partner remains the same.
Methodology
The “Cost of a Wedding Reception Open Bar” includes the cost of the bartender service and stocking the bar. To uncover the cost of an open bar in each city, we used The Knot’s Wedding Drink Calculator, where we determined the amount of beverages needed to stock the bar for the average wedding (167, according to Brides.com).
We calculated the average cost of hiring a bartender service in all 50 of the most populated U.S. cities by referring to Thumbtack and Premier Staff. From there, we found the costs of wine, beer, liquor, mixers, and water to find the total cost of stocking the bar.
