Bar

The cost of the bar for your Israeli wedding is usually not included in price-per-meal and charged by the venue as a separate fee. Some Israeli wedding venues utilize an external company to provide the bar (both the liquor selection and bartenders). Naturally, you can expect a wide range of what’s considered normal to pay per guest for the bar – and what’s included in the price can vary significantly.

You can expect to pay between 20 to 35 shekels per guest.

The lower end of this range may not include all the drinks you want. Soft drinks, wine and beer are likely to be included, but hard liquor probably isn’t.

The higher-end of this pricing (30 shekels per guest and up) most likely includes midrange imported spirits. For example, Absolut for the choice of vodka, Jameson for the whiskey, Beefeater for gin, etc. Usually you’ll have at least two options for each spirit.

It is totally standard in Israel to add specific bottles that you’d like. You might want to add a higher-end whiskey to the bar, or flavored vodka (for some inexplicable reason, you will find espresso flavored Van Gogh vodka at every Israeli wedding!) You can buy the bottles from the venue, or bring your own on the day of the wedding as a cheaper option.

It’s out of the ordinary, but some venues may charge 7 – 10 shekels per guest as a corkage fee for bringing your own booze.

The venue may offer to add a champagne or Cava station for a welcome drink, where guests will arrive, get their table number, and be handed a glass of bubbly. Some venues also offer a craft cocktail bar, where mixologists go above-and-beyond the normal whiskey and coke. You can expect to be charged extra for a welcome drink and/or craft cocktail bar – but remember, every price is negotiable.

And on the bright side? The end of wedding coffee bar is included with price-per-meal, and is always great.