ENTERTAINMENT

Find out whether your venue provides professional sound and lighting for a band or DJ. Many bands and DJs will adjust their pricing if they don’t have to provide and/or set up their own sound and lighting equipment. Wayne Willems, booking agent for Little Rock Entertainment Agency, suggests another way to save would be to rent a professional sound system from a local sound company or entertainment agency. “Just plug in your iPhone and get the party started,” he says. This eliminates the cost of gratuity associated with having a DJ or band.

Bonus tips: Local bands may cost less because you won't have to reimburse travel; and smaller bands with fewer musicians or vocalists are usually cheaper (and you'll have fewer folks to tip).

LELA & LYLA PHOTOGRAPHY

BOOZE

Jimmy Hamilton, general manager of Legacy Wine & Spirits, shared how to save big on your reception booze just by doing a little simple math.

1. Figure out the number of “drinking” guests you have.

2. Multiply that times the number of hours you’ll be serving alcohol at the reception.

3. Then multiply times the average number of servings you want to have available.

(Keep in mind that this average takes into consideration light and heavy drinkers. Most averages assume 1.5 drinks per person per hour up to three hours. You can start reducing that number as the hours of service increase.)

DRINKING GUESTS x HOURS OF SERVICE x AVERAGE DRINKS/ HOUR = TOTAL SERVINGS

For example:

100
drinking guests
X 3
hours of service
X 1.5
drinks per hour
= 450
drinks needed

You can break it down by the type of alcohol you will serve at your reception, as well. Here’s an example: 50 percent wine and 50 percent beer would equal 225 servings of wine and 225 servings of beer (this would equal the grand total of 450 total servings).

You can then break it down even further by figuring out the percentage of wine you’ll serve (red, white, rose) and the percentage of beer (12 packs, 30 packs, kegs).

By playing with the formula you can tweak the price to whatever you need it to be. And remember, nobody turns their nose up at free booze. No matter what you serve, guests will be happy!


See more Insider Secrets Revealed: How to Save Money on Your Arkansas Wedding