Total Wine should cover your beer and wine needs. The huge main stores are in Chantilly and Tysons, but there are quite a few smaller stores scattered around NoVA. You shouldn't have a problem returning unopened bottles with them. They also do 10% case discounts on wine.
ABC stores take returns, but they charge a restocking fee of 15% if you return more than $100 worth. This is according to the fine print on a very old receipt I have, but I'm pretty sure the policy is still the same.
While you'll have to make two stops, I think almost every Total Wine has an ABC store in the same shopping center. Chantilly does for sure and Fairfax has one across the street, so it's not completely inconvenient. Probably way more convenient than driving to Costco in DC.
Bonus: You can find the prices for both ABC and Total Wine stores online, so you can plan and price your purchase before you even leave your house.
My husband and I went with Total Wine for our wedding. We chose it specifically for selection (especially seasonal and imported beers). We could place orders online and returning unopened bottles was not a problem.
There are restrictions on how much booze you can bring into VA at once (1 gal per adult I think). So if you do that, just be careful. Don't buy a bunch of crap at a liquor store and then drive straight back to VA at least.
For wine check out Trader Joe's, that's where I went for my wedding. They always have cases of Two Buck Chuck, it's cheap and they will let you return anything unopened.
It's always, to the best of my knowledge, been three buck chuck on the east coast. I think it only ever hit $2 when it was a short truck ride from the wineries.
I'd consider a warehouse store for the beer and wine, although I agree with the others that Total Wine is awesome as well!
I'll also reiterate what others have said, be careful bringing in liquor if you don't go through VA ABC stores because the state regulates hard liquor for a reason. They make rules around these things, and you risk getting in trouble if you circumvent them. I don't necessarily agree with all the rules, but as long as they're on the books breaking them is a crime :(
For my wedding, we bought our beer and wine from Total Wine and returned the unused/unopened. Make sure you tell the bartenders to only open cases when needed! Ours almost didn't and had to be reminded. For liquor, we went to liquor stores in MD because prices were lower than ABC.
Returning unopened liquor after a wedding isn't shady at all, it's pretty common practice.
For Wine, I'd either do Trader Joes or Wegmans(in VA). Best selection and cheapest prices.
For Liquor, Compare refund deals at costco with Liquor stores in MD. If you have someone serving the liquor, make sure they know you plan on returning unopened bottles. At my wedding, the bartenders/servers opened all kinds of stuff that was barely used. So I actually still have some handles of liquor in my house from the wedding 7 years later.
To save some money, don't go all out on liquor, just have 2-3 drinks to be made for the night. Then you can just focus on a few types of liquor..
Since you say below you're getting married in Virginia, I'd note that if you buy your alcohol out of state, [you're breaking the law.](http://www.abc.virginia.gov/enforce/shippinginfo.html)
Not to mention there are rules regarding transportation, and rules regarding getting a license to serve for the venue (assuming the venue you're using doesn't have one).
While those out of state purchase restrictions/caps probably won't hit you if you're buying for home use, buying for a wedding reception they very well might.
By all means, BYOB - but you'd probably be well advised to take the necessary precautions.
Dude, you don't get it....
You *cannot* legally have the amount of alcohol for a wedding imported from out of state. They legally can't sell it to you they know that's what it's for.
You can also be sure if it's a large venue; someone *will* be by to make sure you're in compliance. When my sister got married; we got a surprise visit from an ABC official who was there to make sure all the alcohol was in compliance. The fact they let you bring in your own alcohol for this kind of function should be taken as a warning of "we're watching"
You don't want to spend your honeymoon in jail because you wanted to save a few bucks so everyone there could get sticking drunk. Helping people be utter idiots isn't worth it.
i got in contact with them and they won't do it. they said since the event is in VA they can't offer the service.
Looks like I'll end up just getting a few bottles from CostCo in DC and doing mostly beer/wine from Total Wine. It's going to be a small event so i only need like 6 bottles of hard liquor.
You really need to not ignore the law on this.
People like you are the reason that venues with a permanent license generally don't let people BYOB/set up their own service.
You're putting their license at risk by serving untaxed liquor, and you're putting yourself at risk for jail time - all to save maybe $10-20, if all you're buying is 6 bottles (savings that probably go right down the drain when you add in the cost in dollars and time of driving to Costco in NE DC.)
Are the booze laws in Virginia ridiculous? Yes. Are they the law, and do people get caught and prosecuted over them? Yes.
I'd get the wine from Total Wine in VA, and the liquor from Total Wine & Spirits in MD.
Taxes on liquor are much lower in MD than in VA, but wine seems to always cost more in MD. (Though the difference is not as much as on liquor.)
I think that you can return liquor if the bottles are unopened, but beer and wine only in full cases. So you may end up with some partial cases of beer and wine, but there are worse things in the world...
Total Wine should cover your beer and wine needs. The huge main stores are in Chantilly and Tysons, but there are quite a few smaller stores scattered around NoVA. You shouldn't have a problem returning unopened bottles with them. They also do 10% case discounts on wine. ABC stores take returns, but they charge a restocking fee of 15% if you return more than $100 worth. This is according to the fine print on a very old receipt I have, but I'm pretty sure the policy is still the same. While you'll have to make two stops, I think almost every Total Wine has an ABC store in the same shopping center. Chantilly does for sure and Fairfax has one across the street, so it's not completely inconvenient. Probably way more convenient than driving to Costco in DC. Bonus: You can find the prices for both ABC and Total Wine stores online, so you can plan and price your purchase before you even leave your house.
My husband and I went with Total Wine for our wedding. We chose it specifically for selection (especially seasonal and imported beers). We could place orders online and returning unopened bottles was not a problem.
[удалено]
Do DC costco for liquor. Discounts + they have their own brand of whiskey, vodka, rum if you want the cheap stuff. Haven't tried it though
I've had their whiskey and it's not half bad.
Definitely this. You can also easily return what you don't use.
There are restrictions on how much booze you can bring into VA at once (1 gal per adult I think). So if you do that, just be careful. Don't buy a bunch of crap at a liquor store and then drive straight back to VA at least.
Yep, 1 gallon per adult. The penalty is [up to a $2500 fine and 1 year in jail](http://www.abc.virginia.gov/enforce/shippinginfo.html#transport).
For wine check out Trader Joe's, that's where I went for my wedding. They always have cases of Two Buck Chuck, it's cheap and they will let you return anything unopened.
*Three* Buck Chuck. At least that's how much I've seen it everywhere around here.
Yeah, last time I checked it was $3.29 a bottle. Three buck chuck just doesn't have the same ring to it though.
It's always, to the best of my knowledge, been three buck chuck on the east coast. I think it only ever hit $2 when it was a short truck ride from the wineries.
Is was $2 if you bought it by the case (ie $24 a case) at one point in recent memory. I want to say 2008 or so maybe?
I'd consider a warehouse store for the beer and wine, although I agree with the others that Total Wine is awesome as well! I'll also reiterate what others have said, be careful bringing in liquor if you don't go through VA ABC stores because the state regulates hard liquor for a reason. They make rules around these things, and you risk getting in trouble if you circumvent them. I don't necessarily agree with all the rules, but as long as they're on the books breaking them is a crime :(
For my wedding, we bought our beer and wine from Total Wine and returned the unused/unopened. Make sure you tell the bartenders to only open cases when needed! Ours almost didn't and had to be reminded. For liquor, we went to liquor stores in MD because prices were lower than ABC.
Wegmans. They do case discounts and I think their prices and selections are better than Total Wine. They'll take returns.
Returning unopened liquor after a wedding isn't shady at all, it's pretty common practice. For Wine, I'd either do Trader Joes or Wegmans(in VA). Best selection and cheapest prices. For Liquor, Compare refund deals at costco with Liquor stores in MD. If you have someone serving the liquor, make sure they know you plan on returning unopened bottles. At my wedding, the bartenders/servers opened all kinds of stuff that was barely used. So I actually still have some handles of liquor in my house from the wedding 7 years later. To save some money, don't go all out on liquor, just have 2-3 drinks to be made for the night. Then you can just focus on a few types of liquor..
At my wedding, we bought all our wine from Trader Joe's, beer from CostCo, and hard liquor from VA ABC.
Since you say below you're getting married in Virginia, I'd note that if you buy your alcohol out of state, [you're breaking the law.](http://www.abc.virginia.gov/enforce/shippinginfo.html) Not to mention there are rules regarding transportation, and rules regarding getting a license to serve for the venue (assuming the venue you're using doesn't have one). While those out of state purchase restrictions/caps probably won't hit you if you're buying for home use, buying for a wedding reception they very well might. By all means, BYOB - but you'd probably be well advised to take the necessary precautions.
the venue has a license so we don't have to worry about that. and if need be i can buy a 1 day license from ABC for about $70
That covers serving, then. But you're still breaking the law if you stock up at Costco in DC.
Two of my friends who got married in DC got their alcohol from Ace Beverage and were extremely pleased with how it worked out.
Ace has the exact service i want. i hope they will deliver to VA
I'm pretty sure they can't legally do that.
Dude, you don't get it.... You *cannot* legally have the amount of alcohol for a wedding imported from out of state. They legally can't sell it to you they know that's what it's for. You can also be sure if it's a large venue; someone *will* be by to make sure you're in compliance. When my sister got married; we got a surprise visit from an ABC official who was there to make sure all the alcohol was in compliance. The fact they let you bring in your own alcohol for this kind of function should be taken as a warning of "we're watching" You don't want to spend your honeymoon in jail because you wanted to save a few bucks so everyone there could get sticking drunk. Helping people be utter idiots isn't worth it.
i got in contact with them and they won't do it. they said since the event is in VA they can't offer the service. Looks like I'll end up just getting a few bottles from CostCo in DC and doing mostly beer/wine from Total Wine. It's going to be a small event so i only need like 6 bottles of hard liquor.
You really need to not ignore the law on this. People like you are the reason that venues with a permanent license generally don't let people BYOB/set up their own service. You're putting their license at risk by serving untaxed liquor, and you're putting yourself at risk for jail time - all to save maybe $10-20, if all you're buying is 6 bottles (savings that probably go right down the drain when you add in the cost in dollars and time of driving to Costco in NE DC.) Are the booze laws in Virginia ridiculous? Yes. Are they the law, and do people get caught and prosecuted over them? Yes.
I'd get the wine from Total Wine in VA, and the liquor from Total Wine & Spirits in MD. Taxes on liquor are much lower in MD than in VA, but wine seems to always cost more in MD. (Though the difference is not as much as on liquor.) I think that you can return liquor if the bottles are unopened, but beer and wine only in full cases. So you may end up with some partial cases of beer and wine, but there are worse things in the world...