Bar Service FAQs
Below you’ll find answers to the most common bar questions we receive from couples planning their wedding at Twin Gables Event Center. Whether you’re just exploring options or you’re already booked with us, this page is designed to make bar policies, options, and expectations easy to understand.
If you have more questions, please contact our team – we’re happy to help!
Exclusive Liquor License
Twin Gables Event Center holds a Michigan liquor license, allowing us to provide professional, compliant bar service and a wider range of bar options than venues without a license. This ensures a smooth, well-managed bar experience for you and your guests.
*Alcohol options and refund policies are subject to change.
Exclusive Liquor License
As one of the few local venues with a liquor license, Twin Gables offers greater flexibility and a wider range of options for your bar service. This exclusivity allows us to provide unique bar solutions that other venues simply cannot match.
*Alcohol choices and refund policies are subject to change.
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Twin Gables Event Center offers three bar service options: hosted bar, partial cash bar, and cash bar. Each option allows flexibility based on how you would like drinks handled for your guests, with all bar service provided in-house by our licensed bartending team.
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The base bar service fee includes licensed bartenders, bar setup and breakdown, standard bar equipment, ice, and professional bar service throughout your event. Alcohol selections and quantities are chosen separately based on your selected bar option.
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You can choose up to 10 Drinks to Personalize Your Bar Menu:
Wines & Canned Options-no limit within the 10 drink max
2 Keg Varieties-limit to two different types of keg beer (e.g., Bud Light & Miller Lite) *Note, you may order multiple kegs of each variety if you wish
4 Signature Cocktails (pop and water do not count toward the 10 drink max)
Example Order Combination:
2 Keg Varieties
3 Cocktails
2 Wines (Cabernet Sauvignon & Pinot Grigio)
2 Canned Options (Truly Variety Pack & White Claw Variety Pack)
Note: You don’t have to select all 10 options. Many couples find that 6–8 options offer the perfect balance. More isn’t always better.
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You pay for all drinks for your guests throughout the event.
Beverage Selection: Select up to 10 beverages from our complete menu, which includes both stocked and non-stocked items.
To view all drink options and prices, click on Hosted Bar Ordering Store.
How it Works:
With a hosted bar, you cover drinks for your guests during the selected service time.
💳 Service & Billing:
Drinks are served by our licensed bartenders, and consumption is tracked throughout the event.
If you run out of any selected item, you can choose to remove it from the menu or authorize additional coverage with our Wedding Day Coverage Form.
Twin Gables Event Center provides the bartenders, setup, and full bar service to ensure a smooth, well-managed guest experience.
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How it works:
You will prepay for beer, wine, and hard seltzers for the entired evening. Guests pay for cocktails at regular cash bar prices throughout the event.
Beverage Selection:
Choose up to 10 items off our Partial Cash Bar Ordering Store.
To view all drink options and prices, click on Partial Cash Bar Ordering Store.
💳 Service & Billing: Drinks are served by our licensed bartenders, and consumption is tracked throughout the event.
If you run out of any selected item, you can choose to remove it from the menu or authorize additional coverage with our Wedding Day Coverage Form.
Twin Gables Event Center provides the bartenders, setup, and full bar service to ensure a smooth, well-managed guest experience.
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How it works:
Guests pay for their drinks during the entire event.
Beverage Selection:
Choose up to 10 items from our Cash Bar Ordering Store.
To view all drink options, click on Cash Bar Ordering Store.
Twin Gables Event Center provides the bartenders, setup, and all bar service to ensure a smooth and well-managed guest experience.
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Ensure your event flows smoothly with our Bar Backup. Just order the drinks you expect to use, and if you need more, our on-site reserves are available for purchase. We provide plenty of canned beverages, and a variety of cocktails and wines to handle any unexpected demand. Enjoy your celebration, knowing that extra stock is ready when needed.
(Domestic & Craft Beers)
Bud Light
Budweiser
Miller Lite
Founders All Day IPA
Bell’s Two Hearted Ale
Seltzers:
White Claw Variety Pack
Truly Berry Variety Pack
We have an ample supply of canned options available for backup. Whether your guests prefer classic beers or trendy seltzers, we have plenty in stock to meet all needs.
House Wines: Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Moscato, Pinot Grigio, Champagne
Cocktails:
Margarita
Blue Margarita
Whiskey & Coke
Rum & Coke
Frozen Margarita
Frozen Blue Margarita
Vodka Soda
Our cocktail selection is designed to delight. These are available as backup options to ensure drinks keep flowing smoothly. Shots are not allowed.
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Our bar service options include 6 hours of bar service, plus 1 hour for setup and cleanup.
Our standard service times are:
Friday & Saturday: 4 PM to 10 PM
Sunday: 2 PM to 8 PM
If you would like a different start time, the earliest available times are listed below.
Weekdays: 3:05 PM
Weekends (Saturday & Sunday): 2:00 PM
Please note that we cannot begin bar service until 3:05 PM on weekdays due to the nearby school.
If you decide to start bar service earlier, please keep in mind that it will also end earlier unless you buy extra bar time. Six hours is standard for all bar options.
Important: Bar Closure
Closing Time:
The bar will close 1 hour before your event ends to ensure a smooth and safe conclusion.
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You can have alcohol at your rehearsal dinner. The bartender's fee is $150. Only beer, wine, hard seltzers, and other canned products can be served.
Add the items you would like to your bar order and specify what items on the Wedding Bar Ordering Form.
Why Our Liquor License Matters
Twin Gables Event Center is one of the few local venues that holds a Michigan liquor license. This allows us to legally provide alcohol, manage bar service in-house, and offer a wider range of bar options than venues without a license. Whether you’re looking for a full or partial cash bar to suit your budget, or a hosted bar, we have flexible options tailored just for you. For couples, this means a smoother bar experience, clearer policies, and professional oversight from start to finish.
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No. Twin Gables Event Center holds a Michigan liquor license, which means all alcohol served on-site must be provided through our bar service. Outside alcohol is not permitted on the property at any time, including alcohol brought as gifts. If outside alcohol is brought on-site, we are legally required to confiscate it under State of Michigan liquor laws.
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No.
Non-alcoholic beer, non-alcoholic wine, and alcohol-free spirits may not be brought onsite and must be purchased through the Twin Gables bar if desired. If a non-alcoholic option is not listed on our website, it may be requested in advance by emailing us.
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Yes. Couples may bring canned pop and bottled water for guests to enjoy throughout the day.
Please note that non-alcoholic beer, non-alcoholic wine, and alcohol-free spirits are not permitted and may not be brought on-site.
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These instructions are set in advance using our Wedding Day Coverage Form. This form outlines the instructions for bar service on your wedding day. It allows you to tell our bar team what to do if pre-purchased items run out or if additional coverage questions arise during service.
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No worries! Pricing will simply be a $350 staffing fee. All guests will still be served from the bar area, rather than guests seated at their tables. (If you would like table water service, that can be added at the rental store.) Table Water Service
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There’s no general minimum, but some craft beers, specialty bottled beverages, and wines may have minimums, usually not exceeding $200.
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If you would like pre-wedding alcohol service, it is $150 to cover bartending.
No Outside Alcohol:
All on-site alcohol (including bridal/groom suite drinks) must be purchased through Twin Gables Event Center.
How It Works:
Add the items you would like to your cart when placing your order, then fill out the separate Wedding Bar Ordering Form, and specify the items you’d like for pre-wedding use (e.g., champagne for mimosas or case of beer for the groomsmen.)
All pre-wedding drinks must be picked up at the bar—The bride’s room is just behind the bar for easy access, and the groom’s room is a short walk down the hall.
Alcohol service for pre wedding may begin at 10:00 a.m. for Friday and Saturday weddings, aligning with typical arrival times. Please note that on Sundays, due to Michigan law, alcohol service cannot start until 12:00 p.m., so there will be a brief gap between arrival and the first round of drinks.
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To ensure a seamless and well-organized service for your wedding bar, please adhere to the following order placement timeline:
Minimum: 2 months Before Wedding Date
Maximum: 4 months Before Wedding Date
Placing your order within this timeframe allows us to prepare and customize your bar setup according to your preferences.
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Once your order is placed, you will receive an invoice for you to review. Your invoice will clearly indicate the balance and the due date. Here's how the payment process works:
Payment Methods:
No Extra Cost: Check, Cash, or Bank Transfer
With Processing Fee: Credit/Debit Card (2.9% fee applies)
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Additional Hours of Bar Service: Purchase up to 2 extra hours for $250 per hour via the Bar Ordering Store add-on category. Extra Hours
Closing Time:
The bar will close 1 hour before your event ends to ensure a smooth and safe conclusion.Extra Venue Rental
Additional Hours:
If you wish to extend your event beyond the standard hours, an extra venue rental fee of $250 per additional hour applies.(e.g., extend the event by 2 hours; it would require 2 hours at $250 per hour for venue rental, plus an additional hour of bar service at $250 per hour.)
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Guest Count Over 200:
A $150 surcharge applies to all bar types (Hosted, Partial Cash, or Cash Bar) to cover the cost of additional staffing.
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To maintain an organized and efficient process for all transactions, please ensure the following:
Separate Checkout:
Bar Items: Must be checked out separately from free store items and rental items.
This separation helps us manage your order accurately and ensures that all components of your wedding bar are handled with the utmost care and accuracy.
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A bartender tip jar will be at the bar unless we are told you prefer not to have it. A $3 per person charge will be added if no tip jar is requested.
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Maximum Refund Limit
Refunds are limited to a maximum of $500 total per event.
Within this limit, refunds for non-stocked or special-order items may not exceed $200.The $500 limit applies across all bar items combined.
Kegs: Non-refundable (tapped or untapped).
Wine: Refunds apply to full, unopened bottles only.
Cocktails: Cocktails are billed per serving. Refunds apply to unused servings only, based on bar service records.
All cocktail refunds are subject to the maximum refund limit stated above.Canned Items: Refunds apply to unopened, full cases only. Partial cases are not eligible for refunds.
Refund Processing
Refunds will be issued to the original payment method used for the bar invoice or by check for cash or check payments.
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Maximum Refund Limit
Refunds are limited to a maximum of $500 total per event. This limit applies across all eligible bar items combined.Kegs: No refunds on keg beer (tapped or untapped).
Wine: Refunds apply to full, unopened bottles only.
Canned Items: Refunds apply only to unopened, full cases of hard seltzers or other canned beverages. Partial cases are not eligible for refunds.
Refund Processing
Refunds will be issued to the original payment method used for the bar invoice. Cash or check payments will be refunded by check.
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Kegs: Non-refundable (tapped or untapped)
Canned Items: Non-refundable unless unopened, full cases.
Opened or partially used items of any kind: Non-refundable.
Non-Stocked Items
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If you've paid your final bar balance with a credit card and have leftover items eligible for a refund, the refund will be applied to that card.
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If you've paid your final bar balance with cash or check and have leftover items eligible for a refund, we will issue a refund based on the original invoice. A check will be issued for the refund.
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Add the items you would like to your cart when placing your order, then fill out the separate:
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At Twin Gables Event Center, all alcohol purchases made for your event are for on-premises consumption only. This means you are purchasing the right to use and enjoy these beverages at the bar during your event, and they cannot be taken off the premises.
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Please email us if you have any questions or need further assistance with your order. We're here to help make your wedding bar setup as smooth and enjoyable as possible!
