@SOSConcern - where is/was your wedding? My S was trying to find an affordable jazz band, more along the lines of a New Orleans style jazz band, but they were out of his budget.
@runnersmom - I think he is going to be OK with the wristbands. We had an experience with his Bar Mitzvah with an open bar, and while there was a bar in the room where the meal was, the pre-function, with appetizers, was in an open area with a general public bar and pool tables, and we hadn’t done such a good job of managing the people/crashers ordering drinks on our tab. When the bar bill was unfurled it rolled across the floor.
@thumper1 If you find a good poem, please pass it on. There is a spot at D’s reception that would be perfect for that, and she likes the idea. Something I can organize from afar with help from groom’s mom on his side.
I totally understand your concern, especially given your prior experiences. To be honest, we had a minimum and didn’t meet it. It was s Saturday night, and I understood the necessity for the minimum since we were taking over their outdoor space (which of course we couldn’t use because there was a monsoon that night), so if a few tab crashers had appeared, i never would have known. Glad it sounds like he’ll agree to the wristbands so you don’t have to worry.
IMO, there is nothing wrong with using bracelets. As I recall, there was a company that made rfid bracelets that could be programmed and used for charges of drinks to a specific tab.
@scout59 so sorry for your loss. @thumper1 , I too think those were some great questions. It’s a popular city, let’s hope they do have choices of venues. I am with you @runnersmom, The planner I am, I couldn’t imagine sending out save the date without a venue. Then again, my opinion was not sought. So I shall smile and nod and show up.
Lol I sent the RFID suggestion to my DS. His response was along the lines of “ it’s a complex solution to a simple problem. You’ll fit right in Silicon Valley”.
You could have something that said ‘wedding’ even more than the wrist bands. A button with the cute couple’s picture on it? Mardi gras beads? Is there a ‘theme’ to the party? Name tags with a sticker on them? Do you need name tags anyway or will everyone know each other? If you need them anyway, you could custom design them with the wedding banner or something that the bartenders could easily recognize, like ‘jack and diane’s wedding weekend’ around the border, or ‘Mary, MOB’ or ‘Stacy, MOH.’
I think most people are okay with wearing the bracelets if it means free drinks. If you are talking 25 people, I think the bartenders can probably keep track. If you are talking 50 or more, you may have crashers.
Are you saying they can’t or won’t set up a service bar in your reception area, the deck? Guests will trek to the venue bar any patron uses? Bartenders know how to set this up.
If you are having over 20+ people they could have dedicated wait staff to take orders from your guests so they won’t have to go to the bar. For 50+ people they could set up a service bar at the deck.
There are no wait staff and apparently no way to arrange for such for the event. So everyone goes to the bar. We are inviting everyone who is invited to the wedding. Have asked for a response in the digital rsvp but have no idea past the 40ish who will be at the rehearsal dinner. And sadly there is zero chance ds would be ok with pins, necklaces, etc. we had pins for the kids at his bar mitzvah party to try to keep track of the kids when they left the party room into the general venue. No one wore them. And he told me the RFID idea was “an extremely over engineered solution to a simple problem”. I am gonna smack that boy :-L
@jym626, i think your low tech solution of rubber wristbands is just what the situation calls for. It’s clearly a casual space and it doesn’t sound like a very flexible setup. I totally understand your desire to have some control over the tab, given your previous experience, and the bands should solve the problem. I’m sure everyone will enjoy the chance to meet and greet and having to go to the bar will likely reduce consumption. Hope your minimum is not too high!
Our meet and greet venue has no minimum for a consumption tab for drinks.
But here is a true story…a friend’s kid got married on a VERY hot weekend. They ran a consumption tab at the bar. Figured it would be less costly. They had about 40 people. Well…the guests were going to the bar, and were running a tab for bottled water…and it wasn’t cheap. People got three or four bottles of water each. Some got sparkling water.
Their tab was over $700…and most of the tab was for some kind of water.
They didn’t even think to have water in the venue room…which they could have done…for free.
One of DDs bridesmaids had to decline…at this late date. It’s for an excellent reason. We feel badly she won’t be able to join all of us. DD asked if she should ask someone else…and I said…no. It’s 50 days to the wedding…and expecting someone to order a dress, and shoes, and come early for a bridal party celebration is not reasonable.
She still has four bridesmaids. That’s plenty.
Then again…the groom has five groomsmen. But I think that will be…fine!
