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How important is drinks with dinner?

123457

Comments

  • #182
    April O Neill
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,305 ✭✭✭April O Neill


    pwurple wrote: »
    It's actually not what this thread was about at all I thought.

    That's true.


  • #183
    pwurple
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,132 ✭✭✭✭pwurple


    January wrote: »
    From the start I've stated my intentions of offering a toast drink and possibly a drink of choice during the meal, I've been lambasted for that.

    Eh? Two drinks is offering your guests a drink with dinner. Why would you think you personally are being lambasted? People think offering NO drink is a bad idea. See title of the thread.

    Two is generous!


  • #184
    Meangadh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,963 ✭✭✭Meangadh


    January wrote: »
    From the start I've stated my intentions of offering a toast drink and possibly a drink of choice during the meal, I've been lambasted for that.

    You weren't lambasted for it- people here are saying that they'd be put out if they weren't offered ANY drink. For convenience sake wine is probably easier, but if there's a choice of drink instead then great. That's still catering for your guests- that's all anyone here is saying.

    I think what surprised people the most about what you said was the amount of weddings you've been to where wine wasn't offered. I'm not saying you were lying (you've no reason to!) but it's just really really surprising. I've been to about 20 weddings and there would have been wine offered at all of them. These weddings would have been friends, families, colleagues... so all from different circles. You must be coming from a very unique group if that many people never offered wine, I really find that amazing.


  • #185
    username123
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,484 ✭✭✭username123


    January wrote: »
    From the start I've stated my intentions of offering a toast drink and possibly a drink of choice during the meal, I've been lambasted for that.

    The hotel stipulates that no shots, no premium drinks and no doubles for the toast drink and I reckon I'd put the same rules on the drink of choice during the meal too.

    What's a premium drink?


  • #186
    pwurple
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,132 ✭✭✭✭pwurple


    username123 wrote: »
    What's a premium drink?

    The good stuff.


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  • #187
    January
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23,862 ✭✭✭✭January


    Champagne, expensive whiskeys/vodka's... I suppose anything that'd probably cost more than 8/9 a glass?


  • #188
    Gatica
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,302 ✭✭✭Gatica


    username123 wrote: »
    What's a premium drink?

    Cocktails, double shots, expensive whiskeys or brandies...

    Heard from a bride that had her wedding at our hotel before us they offered a choice of drink and some guests took advantage by ordering such "premium drinks". :eek: They were flabbergasted but at that stage it wasn't worth worrying about. It cost them quite a bit, but the hotel shouldn't have allowed it. I thought to myself if we offered a choice of drink we'd be sure to tell the hotel to limit cost per drink or such speciality orders.

    Being offended at not getting a choice of drink instead of wine seems a little odd to me though. I think it's a widely acceptable tradition to offer wine with food rather than a random drink with food. If you go to a restaurant you're given a food menu and a wine menu. Some do offer a drinks section (spirits/cocktails/beers) in the menu, same as they offer coffees/teas, but it's primarily white wine, red wine. If you're not a wine drinker, that may be an inconvenience, but you can't deny that that's the way it's done in most restaurants and therefore events/weddings.

    Offering a choice of drink at a wedding (instead of wine) is a generous gesture to your guests, not a required one. I can see how it could get messy, but having said that, I presume hotels must be used to dealing with it if it's become common enough.


  • #189
    lazygal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,644 ✭✭✭✭lazygal


    We had a free bar - but strictly no doubles/cocktails/'premium' spirits/full bottles of wine (as we also did a free pour of bubbly and wine during the drinks reception, meal and afters), and when we saw the bill it was obvious most people had a pint or soft drink. In the grand scheme of the day it wasn't the biggest part of our bill but is still talked about when we run into people.


  • #190
    lazygal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,644 ✭✭✭✭lazygal


    January wrote: »
    Champagne, expensive whiskeys/vodka's... I suppose anything that'd probably cost more than 8/9 a glass?

    At a recent wedding I attended a spirit and mixer cost over 9 euro, and pints were about 6.95. It was mentioned by every guest I was chatting too. There was only one bar as it was a totally private venue so no option to nip out for a cheaper drink. I've often been at weddings where the bar prices are bumped up because the couple got a 'great deal' - the venue has to make the money somewhere.


  • #191
    pwurple
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,132 ✭✭✭✭pwurple


    lazygal wrote: »
    At a recent wedding I attended a spirit and mixer cost over 9 euro, and pints were about 6.95. It was mentioned by every guest I was chatting too. There was only one bar as it was a totally private venue so no option to nip out for a cheaper drink. I've often been at weddings where the bar prices are bumped up because the couple got a 'great deal' - the venue has to make the money somewhere.

    If it's a private venue the booze should be cheaper, not more expensive. They don't need a public license. It's like having a drink in your own house.


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  • #192
    Tyler Breezy Shoplifter
    Posts: 81,308 CMod ✭✭✭✭ Tyler Breezy Shoplifter


    April O Neill wrote: »
    Even foodies have flavours they just don't like. Maybe some people like every taste they've had touch their tongue but I have yet to meet any of them.

    Yes, whatever about the underlying wine flavours, there's always the alcohol taste, and I can't stand it.


  • #193
    Gatica
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,302 ✭✭✭Gatica


    pwurple wrote: »
    If it's a private venue the booze should be cheaper, not more expensive. They don't need a public license. It's like having a drink in your own house.


    I don't know if that's true, but it's always a little more expensive at weddings unless it's a generic hotel catering to >300.


  • #194
    username123
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,484 ✭✭✭username123


    Gatica wrote: »
    I don't know if that's true, but it's always a little more expensive at weddings unless it's a generic hotel catering to >300.

    We had a non traditional wedding party after we got married (we got married away) and it was in a privately hired venue that didnt have a bar so we had to hire in a bar. They had to apply for a special licence to serve alcohol. They charged normal pub prices (they were from a local pub), and served later than they should have. We had to pay for the licence (which is probably why they didnt hike up the drinks prices).

    If youre selling booze you need a licence. The only way you wouldnt need it would be to give it for free. Or do do a voucher system where you seperately sell vouchers and then they are used to pay for booze - bizarre but true.


  • #195
    April O Neill
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,305 ✭✭✭April O Neill


    bluewolf wrote: »
    Yes, whatever about the underlying wine flavours, there's always the alcohol taste, and I can't stand it.

    This is it!


  • #196
    January
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23,862 ✭✭✭✭January


    lazygal wrote: »
    At a recent wedding I attended a spirit and mixer cost over 9 euro, and pints were about 6.95. It was mentioned by every guest I was chatting too. There was only one bar as it was a totally private venue so no option to nip out for a cheaper drink. I've often been at weddings where the bar prices are bumped up because the couple got a 'great deal' - the venue has to make the money somewhere.

    We got a "great deal" but I've already asked about drink prices on the night of the wedding and a spirit and mixer will cost no more than 6 euro. If they get Vodka and a bottle of coke it'll probably be a bit more.


  • #197
    OldNotWIse
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,468 ✭✭✭✭OldNotWIse


    Fittle wrote: »
    Corkage is 12.50 per bottle - already looked into that - so even with a cheap bottle from tesco, it still works out pricey!
    Wedding will have 100 guests...

    I'm glad you agree that you've never been to a wedding where you weren't offered wine with dinner.

    Himself says he has never been offered wine at any wedding he's ever been to.

    But then himself drinks beer...so probably didn't notice that women like me were lashing it down at the table beside him;)

    On another note...if we want the cake served, it's 4.95 per slice for the hotel to cut it for us!! Needless to say, I shall have a cake knife and paper plates hidden somewhere!

    Eh?? Whats with all the wedding extortion? Seriously these people are making money for nothing!


  • #198
    pwurple
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,132 ✭✭✭✭pwurple


    OldNotWIse wrote: »
    Eh?? Whats with all the wedding extortion? Seriously these people are making money for nothing!

    Corkage and cake cutting are not for opening the bottle and literally slicing the cake.

    It's providing the glasses, cleaning the glasses, serving the wine, clearing it up afterwards. Ditto for cake. It's basically to cover the person walking around with this. They aren't doing it for the good of their health. They are working unsociable hours at your wedding, moving, lifting clearing, paying tax, prsi and pensions and getting the few quid an hour at the end of it.

    12:50 and 4.95 are higher than I've heard alright, but I see nothing wrong with charging in general for it. They are providing a service afterall. Unless you want to go and glug the wine by the neck with no glasses, and no-one to pass it around, Or eat the cake with your fingers like pigs out of a trough, you have to pay someone to serve it your guests, and clean up afterwards.

    Staff need to be paid for their work.


  • #199
    Frank Black
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,296 ✭✭✭Frank Black


    pwurple wrote: »

    Or eat the cake with your fingers like pigs out of a trough

    pigs don't eat with their fingers.


  • #200
    January
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23,862 ✭✭✭✭January


    But hotels seem to have no problem cutting the cake for free to serve it with the evening finger food so why would it be a bother to do the same with it as part of the dessert?


  • #201
    BizzyC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,012 ✭✭✭BizzyC


    January wrote: »
    But hotels seem to have no problem cutting the cake for free to serve it with the evening finger food so why would it be a bother to do the same with it as part of the dessert?

    Cause in those cases you've paid the hotel for desert already.

    In this case you're asking to supply your own instead, which reduces the money they're making from your wedding.


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  • #202
    ABajaninCork
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,411 ✭✭✭ABajaninCork


    pwurple wrote: »
    Corkage and cake cutting are not for opening the bottle and literally slicing the cake.

    It's providing the glasses, cleaning the glasses, serving the wine, clearing it up afterwards. Ditto for cake. It's basically to cover the person walking around with this. They aren't doing it for the good of their health. They are working unsociable hours at your wedding, moving, lifting clearing, paying tax, prsi and pensions and getting the few quid an hour at the end of it.

    12:50 and 4.95 are higher than I've heard alright, but I see nothing wrong with charging in general for it. They are providing a service afterall. Unless you want to go and glug the wine by the neck with no glasses, and no-one to pass it around, Or eat the cake with your fingers like pigs out of a trough, you have to pay someone to serve it your guests, and clean up afterwards.

    Staff need to be paid for their work.

    Don't forget licencing issues as well, re: corkage. The client is making use of the venue's licence, which will probably include late opening.

    With regard to the cake? You're also making use of the venue's crockery! That's got to be paid for...

    Many couples think serving cake as dessert is the cheaper option. If the venue charges, then it's not! You might as well serve one of the menu choices...


  • #203
    lazygal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,644 ✭✭✭✭lazygal


    Not to mention it being far less hassle to serve an ordinary dessert than have to wait for a cake to have the ceremonial cutting done, then be taken out to be cut.

    I've only ever had cake served with evening food. In fact, we didn't bother with a cake at all and I've noticed a few couples since haven't had one either. It's an expensive photo prop when it comes down to it.


  • #204
    Reine
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16 ✭Reine


    I was only at one wedding ever where wine was not offered. The bride, for personal reasons, drinks very little and reckoned it wasn't needed in an otherwise plush wedding. Unfortunately it was quite the taking point among the guests as they fought their way to the bar after a rather long and tense meal. Personally I would supply the wine and cut back somewhere else, in fact in Ireland, anywhere else
    ;-)


  • #205
    pwurple
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,132 ✭✭✭✭pwurple


    Frank Black wrote: »
    pigs don't eat with their fingers.

    Say it ain't so!

    r0cuud.jpg


  • #206
    Sala
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,494 ✭✭✭Sala


    Reine wrote: »
    I was only at one wedding ever where wine was not offered. The bride, for personal reasons, drinks very little and reckoned it wasn't needed in an otherwise plush wedding. Unfortunately it was quite the taking point among the guests as they fought their way to the bar after a rather long and tense meal. Personally I would supply the wine and cut back somewhere else, in fact in Ireland, anywhere else
    ;-)

    Agree. I don't see the point spending money on wedding favours, chair covers, flowers even, at the expense of important things. Most of your family and friends just want to be fed and watered/wined!


  • #207
    Frank Black
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,296 ✭✭✭Frank Black


    If you invite people to a wedding, it's incumbent upon you, as the hosts, to provide those guests with food, drink and entertainment.
    Those are the minimum, or baseline requirements.
    Everything else you do on the day is a bonus.
    If you're not providing wine/drinks with the meal, your spending plan is incorrect and should be re-thought.
    I'm not sure how many weddings I've attended. Somewhere between 20 and 50. But I've never been to one where wine wasn't served with the meal.


  • #208
    January
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23,862 ✭✭✭✭January


    If you were throwing a 40th birthday party, or a 21st, would you provide all the drink there too?


  • #209
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 1,040 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    January wrote: »
    If you were throwing a 40th birthday party, or a 21st, would you provide all the drink there too?[/QUOTE

    No comparison, it doesn't cost an absolute fortune to attend these parties.


  • #210
    Berty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,199 ✭✭✭✭Berty


    January wrote: »
    If you were throwing a 40th birthday party, or a 21st, would you provide all the drink there too?

    If I was in my own home then I would provide all the drink(see username) but people would invariably bring drinks as gifts anyway so apples and oranges really.


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  • #211
    January
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23,862 ✭✭✭✭January


    It's never costed me a fortune to attend a wedding, except for the gift... but giving a gift is all relative, you can spend as much, or as little as you want.

    Wear clothes you've worn before, hair and make up done by yourself, a taxi too and from (you'd probably do that at a 21st anyway?) or some people lay on busses and drink for the night. You're not obliged to stay over, buy a new outfit, give €200+ as a gift... etc.


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