Flat-rate vs. consumption: which is better?
A flat-rate drinks package charges a fixed amount per person for the evening, regardless of how much they drink. A consumption model tracks every drink and adds it to the final bill.
For most weddings, the flat-rate is the better choice — it removes the anxiety of a running bar tab, lets you plan a fixed cost, and removes the incentive for the venue to upsell more expensive bottles.
Consumption billing works if you have a smaller, older guest list where many people will drink little or nothing. But for a mixed group of 60 to 100 people celebrating until 3 a.m., the flat-rate almost always works out more predictably.
What a flat-rate package typically includes.
Most flat-rate packages include beer, wine (white and red), Sekt (sparkling wine), soft drinks, water, and juice. Some include cocktails or long drinks; many do not — those are often charged extra.
The welcome drink is usually included. Hot drinks (coffee, tea) at the end of the night may or may not be part of the package — worth asking.
Premium spirits — whisky, gin, specialty cocktails — are almost never included in the base package. If those matter to you, ask specifically.
Time limits and what they mean.
Some packages are time-limited: they cover drinks from, say, 2 p.m. to midnight, and then the bar closes or switches to consumption. This is common at venues with a midnight curfew.
For a wedding that runs until 4 a.m., a time-limited package creates a situation where the bar stops before the night does. The last two hours of the party become awkward.
Ask specifically: "Does the drinks package run for the full duration of the event?" If the answer is anything other than a clear yes, ask what the bar situation is after the package period ends.
What determines the price per person.
The price typically depends on the duration of the event, the types of drinks included, and the expected per-person consumption. A package for a 6-hour wedding costs less than one for a 14-hour celebration.
Regional differences matter too. In wine-producing regions like the Palatinate, house wine is often locally sourced and the base cost is lower than in areas that import everything.
Children and non-drinkers are usually on a reduced rate — ask if this is automatic or if you need to request it.
At Villa Renting
At Villa Renting (Eisenberg, Palatinate), the drinks package is €80 per person — unlimited from 2 p.m. to 3 a.m. Beer, wine, Palatinate sparkling wine, soft drinks, and water are included. The package runs for the full event with no cut-off time. Children under 4 drink for free; ages 4 to 6 are €20 and ages 7 to 14 are €35. An alcohol-free package is available at €45 per person.
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