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I have actually never been to a wedding that served alcohol. Maybe it is a Mississippi thing, I don't know. I'm not serving alcohol because of our budget and because our reception will probably be during lunch.

Alcohol can be pretty expensive. I've been to quite a few weddings that don't serve alcohol. My FH doesn't drink and doesn't feel we should have to provide it. But lots of people in my family do drink (and since BYOB is against the rules of the venue) so I want to have a bar. Since we are also on a budget we're gonna have beer and wine only (maybe margaritas too if it doesn't blow the budget).

my sister didnt have alcohol bc of the venue they had their wedding at it was wayyy too expensive.
my reception was at a resturant tho and the alcohol was open to the guest if they wanted to buy it. full bar and service, not open bar, but pay as u drink... otherwise we wouldnt have had it, or done a cheap beer and wine combo

We are only goning to buy a limited amount of beer and liquor cause of our tight budget when it runs out whoever wants to buy more can. My sister also hired a bartender which she is paying for I dont want people pouring their own drinks and get drunk to quickly and the supplies runs out. Though having a non alcholoic wedding is a god idea also I was going to do this but since most of our family and friends drink and also mfh drinks social and I drink on special ocassions I decided to have it.

I've only been to one wedding that served alcohol - when I was three! Every other one has been "bring your own" or dry. We'll be having alcohol at ours, but it's a cash bar. We figured it was a good compromise - we didn't want to just provide an open bar and encourage going crazy, but at the same time the hotel we're getting married at has a restaurant with a bar, and a pub in it, so if they really want it they'll either bring it or get it there. The bar and bartender are included, so we're just going with cash bar. It might be tacky, but it solves our predicament. Even my FH and I are going to have cash and pay as we order!

Alcohol can be pretty expensive, and because you have a lunch time reception, most people won't want to drink booze, As for Bring your own flask, is that allowed at your venue?

I wish the venue had pay as you order. The venue supplies soda, tea, coffee, water and lemonade. They also provide the bartender and the condiments needed (cherry's, lime/lemon wedges, salt for the margaritas etc) but I have to provide any alcohol I want to serve and it has to be brought in ahead of time. And the bar is open. Like I said before it's on our dime so we are going to go with beer/wine bar but not a full bar with all the types of liquor.

We will be serving beer,wine and selected spirits even though many of our guests do not drink. Served by a bartender to keep some control and make it fun for everyone. Toasts will be done with whatever people are drinking. A lot of weddings(not ours)are serving drinks but charging a minimal fee to cover costs (ie $2 or $3 per).

Wow- I've never been to a wedding that DIDN'T have alcohol or some type of liquid courage to get the people dancing. Maybe its a California thing?? But I can understand the cost. We're getting 2 kegs (one which FI uncle is paying for), the $2 Chuck wine from Trader Joe's and some champagne for a toast. I think doing the "BYO Flask" thing would be good for those who need something to loosen them up. I guess I just come from a family of party animals. ;)

I have to agree with Kari, most weddings I've been to in my adult life have had alcohol. But my mom grew up in Rural Minnesota and she says she'd NEVER been to a wedding that had alcohol until after she moved to Arizona.

Must be a west coast thing!

LOL must be!

I am from Pa and I have never been to a wedding that did not provide alcohol. I am also concerned about it because we are on a super tight bugget because I am in school until May, we are trying to buy a house, and we are getting married in July. I think we are going to mainly go with beer and provide some alcohol but only a limited amount. I know its hard when you are trying to pay for a wedding on your own! GOOD LUCK

I agree Kari! I am right near you, and I have never been to a wedding where there was no alcohol. Although, most have been cash bars, they have at least served wine and champage. Maybe it's because we are near wine country....My wedding is IN wine country so we are serving wine and champagne only.

Must be my area, because even the people who you KNOW drink don't have alcohol at their wedding. It's kind of considered an extra formality - the really expensive weddings have it, but no one else.

It's definately a West Coast Thing!!! All the weddings I've ever been to have served alcohol... We can't afford it and we're also scared at how drunk people would get if we DID have alcohol... All of our families and friends are BIG drinkers... Don't want any family fights to start up on OUR day and all... His best friend is brewing 10 gallons of his own recipe beer for our wedding... Keeping all alcohol in the cars... If they want to drink they can go somewhere else and get it...

Me nor my FH drink too much (a beer here or there but thats about all), and both of our families and our friends are big drinkers, my FH think's that since they are driving to our wedding we should foot the bill on this and I don't think they will be getting drunk on my dime. What we finally agreed upon is doing a mixed bar by putting a dollar amount down with the venue and once that has zero'd out then they have to buy their own drinks. This way I know how much to budget for and there is no way they can over do it, like some mixed bars to the host pays for beer and wine, i'll pay up to $500 and thats it.

Analy, I LOVE Bodega Bay!! We go there at least a few times a year! That's our little beach escape from Sacramento. =) Yeah, Tara, I can see how you wouldn't want any drunken drama on your wedding day, and hopefully most people will have the decency to not get hammered and act a fool! LOL. I'm hoping for the best at ours!

My wedding is a "Cash Bar" wedding meaning wine, and beer are free but anything harder then that has to be paid for which we liked because it was soooo much cheaper that way not to mention paying for your own drinks we keep alot our guest from drinking and driving.

Kari I'm with you...every wedding I have been to has been open bar which is what I'm having but when you go with a hotel its ususally included. To drop the bar on;y took off $5 a head but I wouldn't have considered that anyway. I'll need a drink!