Why We Charge a $5 Corkage Fee—and Why It’s a Win for Everyone

Running a venue like Ederer Hall is a labor of love—and a serious investment. Between utilities, staffing, insurance, maintenance, and the many behind-the-scenes costs that keep our space beautiful and functional, we’ve learned that sustainability requires more than just booking events. It means building thoughtful, diversified revenue streams that support our team and our mission.

One of those streams is our bar service. But when it came time to decide how we’d structure alcohol service, we had two options:

Option 1: Partner with a Caterer

We could have partnered with a catering company that offered us a kickback—about $5 per guest. In that model, clients would be required to purchase alcohol through the caterer, often with a bar minimum or a flat per-person charge averaging $30. While this setup is common, it limits flexibility and can significantly increase costs for our clients.

Option 2: Empower Clients + Charge a Corkage Fee

Instead, we chose a different path. We decided to allow clients to bring in their own alcohol—giving them full control over selection, budget, and sourcing—and simply charge a $5 corkage fee per guest. This fee helps us maintain our revenue stream while drastically reducing the overall cost of the bar for our clients. It also allows us to continue offering our professional bartending service, ensuring safety, compliance, and a polished guest experience.

Why It Matters

This model reflects our values: transparency, flexibility, and fairness. We want our clients to feel empowered to make choices that reflect their vision and budget—without sacrificing quality or compliance. The corkage fee helps us sustain our operations while keeping celebrations accessible and personalized.

We’re proud to offer a solution that works for everyone. Because at Ederer Hall, we believe in hosting with heart—and that means making thoughtful decisions that support both our business and our community.

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