We understand there is a lot to planning a wedding. We hope this section will help you keep things focused, up to date and on the ball.
Here are a few key things to remember for organizing bar services:
- Make sure to apply for your Special Event Permit no longer than 6 weeks before your big day. There is more information below about the SEP.
- With our packages we are always willing to make changes up to 2 weeks before your big day. Depending on your final guest count etc.
- We are here to help if you need such things like:
Arranging alcohol to or from the venue (fee applies)
Keg Tap Rentals
Organizing Alcohol Quantities - We suggest you get a wedding planning guide to help make notes and plan key times along the way. We have a partnered with the UBC Boathouse on a wedding vendor directory and Wedding Planning Guide. This will be available soon.
Some of our partners and industry recommendations:
Common Toonie Bar Facts, Insights and Tips
When it comes to the bar, more often we see Toonie bars being an options for brides and grooms. There are many great factors for doing a Toonie bar and we thought we'd outline a few key things to consider when deciding if it's right for you.
A Toonie Bar can be a great way to help SOME of expenses for your bar services/alcohol
It can also help with the amount of wasted drinks, and over consuming. Guests feel more likely to finish their drinks when they have to pay for it.
Some couples are good with having a Toonie Bar just so that drinks are not completely free, but it helps cover some of the cost without doing an open bar.
Unless there is a very, very large consumption and high guest count.
In most cases the reality is NO.
If you have a dear relative who is contributing to your honey moon, and donating all the alcohol to you, then YES you will be very lucky to be getting all the monies from the Toonie Bar.
Here are some insights from our experience over the years.
We believe most couples expect that because they have purchased X amount of alcohol, that if they were to recoup each and every drink at a Toonie that they would then have Y amount.
Because there might be an exception of making a whole lot of money back at the end, we need to clarify that the expectation VS the actual might be different.
When it comes to calculating how a Toonie Bar might work out in the end, here are a few really important things to keep in mind with so many variables:
- After the ceremony most cocktail hours we see are no-charge for guests - the drinks consumed would not be recouped
Depending on how long and what is being offered, it is very challenging to estimate how many drinks were consumed for free - If there are any number of free drinks giving out to guests as complimentary - those will not be recouped
- If there is wine put out on the tables for guests - those will not be recouped
- If drinks are giving out to guests such as the wedding party, or a few friends, then there is no real accurate way to calculate how many drinks/shots would be consumed.
- When doing a Toonie Bar you must take into account that if you pay say $18 a bottle for wine, and you only get $10 back, then you essentially lost $8
- When it comes to nonreturnable open spirits,wine bottles or boxes of beer, you could not count those as fully recouped.
If there is only a few drink units consumed for say $10 back, and yet you paid $60 for the bottle.
If there is only a few beers consumed out of a box for say $14 back, and yet you paid $28 for the box.
If there is only a few glasses of wine consumed out of a bottle for say $6 back, and yet you paid $18 for the bottle. - Wine and beer you essential loose money on - whereas spirits in some aspects you might get back considering if you buy a 26oz bottle for $30 and all 26 drinks were consumed, you'd get $52 back. However the bottle still cost you $30 and you made $22 above.
Because of the many variables above we just like to make sure that there should be no expectation to make a bunch of money.
YES - We certainly can bring a float to make change for guests.
At the end of the evening we will retain our float and all remaining monies are yours.
Applying for your Wedding SEP:
The SEP online application is pretty straight forward and easy to use. Events that do not require police or LCRB approvals are approved instantly.
Unless you are charging for drinks, most applications cost is $25 and may take only about 15 to complete.
The BC liquor board has their Wedding Planning Guide to help with quantities and other valuable information.
A few key details to make note of:
- Make sure to apply about 6 weeks prior to your event date. This will allow for plenty of time for the application process and any reviews, or re-submissions if needed.
- You will need your Serving it Right number. (When discussing your event with us please ask us about this)
- For wedding events the applicant is usually someone who will be attending the celebration and the for the duration of the event and that will not be drinking. A close relative is most likely a good choice.
When you have all of your information and are ready to go, click the button below.
You can save your application and fill in any remaining details.
For any clarification on all rules and guidelines, please refer to the BCLDB guide on their website.
