In short
- There are three main formats: per person, by consumption, by the hour. They change who carries the risk on the final bill.
- Quantities should be estimated on guests, age, length and season: there is no rule that fits everyone.
- Ask in writing for the hours included, labels, number of bartenders and the cost of an extra hour.
- Think about getting guests home: villas and farmhouses outside Rome are almost always reached by car.
After the cake cutting, the evening changes. The music gets louder, people dance, and the bar becomes the centre of the party. An open bar lets guests drink without paying, at a cost that needs to be well understood before you sign.
What an open bar is
"Open bar" means a bar available to guests, with drinks included in the price paid by the couple. It usually covers cocktails, spirits, beer, wine and soft drinks, served by one or more bartenders.
It should not be confused with the drinks served at dinner. Water, table wine and coffee are often already in the banquet's price per person. The open bar is an additional item, almost always quoted separately.
Formats and how they are paid
| Format | How it is paid | Advantage | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per person (flat rate) | Fixed price per adult guest | Predictable bill | You also pay for those who don't drink |
| By consumption | Per bottle opened or per drink | You only pay for what is drunk | Total known only at the end of the night |
| By the hour | Cost for each hour of service | Clear on timing | What each hour includes |
| Short drinks list | A few chosen cocktails and wine | Contained cost | Less choice for guests |
Prices vary a lot by label, length and number of bartenders. We don't give per-person figures because we haven't found a reliable source for Rome: ask the caterer for a quote based on your guest count and the real hours.
How much people drink: estimating quantities
There is no official table of quantities for a wedding. Caterers use their own schemes, based on experience. The variables that count are these:
- guests' ages: a wedding with many people in their thirties goes through more cocktails than one with many families with children;
- length: every extra hour of party is another round of drinks;
- season: in summer people drink more water, beer and long drinks; in winter more spirits and red wine;
- what has already been drunk: an aperitivo with sparkling wine and a dinner with wine reduce consumption after dinner;
- who is driving: at a villa on the Appia Antica or in the Castelli many guests drive home, and drink less.
A practical method: ask the caterer how many drinks per guest they have estimated and over how many hours. Then compare the estimate with your guest list. If you know your friends, you know whether they drink gin and tonic or sparkling water.
For food and drink quantities across the rest of the reception, there is the guide on how much food per person.
What to put on the bar
A short drinks list works better than an endless one. The bartender works faster and queues are shorter.
- Three or four classic cocktails, including a spritz and a gin and tonic;
- a signature cocktail for the couple, perhaps with a Roman or Lazio ingredient: an amaro, a herbal liqueur, citrus fruit;
- cold beer, including craft beer from Lazio;
- spirits for those who drink them neat;
- proper alcohol-free drinks, not just soft drinks: for non-drinkers, teenagers, drivers and pregnant guests.
Alongside the bar you can serve wine from the Castelli Romani. Frascati and Cesanese have a history tied to Rome worth telling. You will find more ideas in the guide to Lazio wines for events.
Bartenders and staff
The number of bartenders changes the waiting time at the counter. There is no fixed rule: it depends on how many guests, how many complex cocktails and how many bar points. A carefully made drink takes longer than a draught beer.
Ask for the quote to state:
- how many bartenders are planned and for how many hours;
- whether the counter, ice, glasses and equipment are included;
- whether the bar is run by the caterer or by an outside supplier.
To understand how many staff you need at each stage of the evening, read the guide on how many waiters you need.
Corkage and outside alcohol
Corkage is a fee the caterer or venue charges for each bottle brought by the couple and opened during the reception. It covers service, glasses and responsibility.
- Some caterers charge it on wine and sparkling wine, others on spirits too.
- Some venues don't accept outside alcohol.
- The cost varies a lot: ask in advance and get it in writing.
This and other costs that often surface at the end of the night are explained in the guide to catering extra costs.
The rules to know
Two general rules concern the open bar. We summarise them briefly: always check the current text at the official sources.
- Minors: Italian law forbids serving alcoholic drinks to anyone under 18 (Article 689 of the Criminal Code, as amended). The bartender must be able to refuse a drink to a teenager, even if a parent insists.
- Driving: the Highway Code sets the blood alcohol limit at 0.5 g/l, and at zero for newly qualified drivers in their first three years and for anyone under 21 (Articles 186 and 186-bis).
For a wedding at a villa or a farmhouse outside the city, think about getting home: shuttles to Rome, pre-booked taxis, a list of numbers for guests. It is a detail that those who stay dancing until late appreciate.
Questions to ask the caterer
- Is the open bar per person, by consumption or by the hour? What happens beyond the planned hours?
- Which labels are included? Can I see the list?
- How many bartenders and bar points do you plan for our guest count?
- Are ice, glasses and the counter included?
- Can I bring my own wine or spirits? How much is corkage?
- How do you handle minors at the bar?
- Are there alcohol-free drinks made to order?
- What time does the bar close, given the venue's cut-off time?
To finish
An open bar brings fewer surprises if you decide it with the same criteria as the menu: a clear format, quantities estimated on real guests, everything in writing. To see the caterers who work at weddings, browse the wedding catering section. When you have guests, hours and a venue, request a quote with the open bar as a separate item: comparing will be easier.
Sources
- Italian Criminal Code, Art. 689 (serving alcoholic drinks to minors), Normattiva: https://www.normattiva.it
- Italian Highway Code, Arts. 186 and 186-bis, Normattiva: https://www.normattiva.it
- Italian Ministry of Health, alcohol and health: https://www.salute.gov.it
