Alcohol at an afternoon wedding

Alcohol is appropriate any time of day! heehee. I would say maybe come up with a couple of signature drinks that fit with your theme. Or a couple of light cocktails that will make FH's family happy. There are literally thousands of cocktail recipes to choose from. =)

Mimosas or sangria would go really well I think.

I'm having a Sunday brunch at 11AM and serving mimosas and some other brunch cocktails. I agree with the sangria idea, as well. I went to a Sunday wedding where they had one pitcher of sangria at each table, and that was it. And with your wedding only being 3 hours total, I don't think you'll have much to worry about.

Mimosas and sangria, definitely!

Not sure if this goes with your menu but I went to a wedding once that had a bloody mary bar. That was pretty cool.

Mint juleps? Lynchburg lemonade?

Not sure if you're having a bartending staff that could do this, but the Juliet & Romeo is very light, and it's my favorite cocktail of all time, hands down:

http://www.kindredcocktails.com/cocktail/juliet-romeo

I agree with mimosas and sangria for sure. I don't think you should have hard alcohol as you are having limited food. Having people drink without at least heavy appetizers is not the best idea IMO.

I agree with the other ladies, in Mimosas and champage. I like Kris' idea of Lynchburg lemonades and mint juleps that goes well with a "high tea" type of reception. I know alcohol is touchy on here, but I think you should at least provide it even if its only a few options and not a full bar. It helps people loosen up a bit and will make sore an all around better reception.

Let me add my original wedding reception was dry one except for champagne. I regret that to this day. Some people like to relax with a drink or two, and it can help get the party started and keep it going. You don't need a full open bar at the time you are having yours, but your FH knows his family and it would be wise to take heed of his opinion.

I was in a similar situation. My family does not drink, but his does, a lot. We chose a lunchtime wedding to be able to avoid alcohol. I think you have to look at the families. Will his family truly be upset if they don't get to drink at 1 o'clock in the afternoon? I think you can preface it to them that it's a lunch- so you didn't feel that alcohol was appropriate.

I don't think that mimosas, and other 'tea' appropriate drinks are out of the question- but it sounds like your crowd would rather pop open a 12 pack. If they can't spend a Sunday afternoon not drinking, your problem is much bigger than a family conflict.

I have been to two dry weddings and it seemed that people don't really stick around to long when there is no alcohol. It seemed like everyone was waiting for the cake to be cut so they could go home.

Alcohol is optional ,if your family does not want to partake then that's their personal choice. Will they really be offended? Besides your getting married on a Sunday afternoon, I would think everyone would drink responsibly because Monday is a work day.....just my two cents :0)

In my opinion, no alco hol is fine. I know im in thje minority here. But what makes more important to please one family over another...better yet What do YOU want?

I agree, nothing wrong with no alcohol where it fits. But the groom has stated that he would like his family to be comfortable as well, which would mean some alcohol, if only a limited amount. So it should be what they both want.

Looks like you have enough time, though, to talk with your FH and his family, because as Meghan said, it is only one afternoon (a short one at that!) But at least now you have some alternate ideas.

It's not the family's wedding it's YOUR wedding. If you and FH don't want acohol and are not big drinkers I say save the money. If he is adimant about having alcohol then I say have a limited amount for those who would like some. There is absolutely nothing wrong with an afternoon cocktail.

Another option is have the wedding at a venue that doesn't allow alcohol and use that to your advantage just an idea.

Happy Planning

We keep going back and forth on whether or not we'll be having alcohol. Our fathers (well FH's grandfather) quit drinking and most of the rest of our families respect that and don't drink. However, that being said, I kind of want a drink on my wedding day! Haha, and I'd like to have something for my friends who do drink.

Anyway, I think we'll just save the drinking for that evening, because like you, we are having an afternoon wedding - though starting at noon and actually serving lunch, I don't think we'll be having any alcohol. Though I really like the idea of the Lynchburg Lemonade - that might go well with my prime rib

I don't see anything wrong with drinking at that time of the day. Plenty of people across the country crack open a beer and watch football at that time...

If you FH would like to provide alcohol then I think good compromise is to offer a few options. You don't need a full open bar but I am not sure why it's ok to appease your family and not take his family into consideration.

I think you and FH should decide what you would like and then ask the family to respect that. I think a Sunday afternoon does not need alcohol especially if it's a "high tea" feel but if you want something light take the suggestions of mimosas etc. but definitely go with what you personally want out of the reception. It's your day and hopefully both sides will respect it.

I agree with the rest of the ladies. Signature drinks that fit your theme.

We had a noon ceremony, 1pm cocktail hour, and 2-5pm reception on a Sunday. We served premium full open bar thoughout the cocktail hour and dinner (plus a signature drink- belliinis).

I recommend serving SOME alcohol- perhaps a champagne toast and signature cocktail during cocktail hour? You could then offer guests the choice of white or red wine with dinner. That way it's done modestly and the guests that do drink appreciate the option. Plus it's much more economical than an open bar. FIL insisted on the premium open bar. While our guests drank and enjoyed themselves, I wish I had stuck to my guns and just gone a la carte (pay per drink) as we probably didn't average the $20.50 pp we paid with the non and light drinkers averaged in.

Plus you won't be paying for all the non-drinkers this way.

Everyone knows I am in favor of a full open bar at a wedding. I have a drinking crowd. However, in your case, due to what you are serving and the time, I would offer sparkling cider for the non-drinkers, sparkling wine, and a signature drink, with some type of alcohol, that would appeal to everyone. This way both sides of the family will be happy.

Good luck!

We have a similar issue with our wedding. It is a Saturday afternoon wedding, with our event time being 12-4. Cocktail hour would start at the latest at 1.

We haven't decided to the extend that we will have alcohol at our wedding. We are definitely having some. My FH will like to provide something and despite it being in the afternoon, it is still a wedding and people like to drink at weddings. With our caterer, they provide the bar service but we provide the alcohol. At the very least, we will have beer, wine, and Sangria (I plan on having the bartender prepare a large batch with my favorite recipe, and the caterer is going to provide a fountain for it). We haven't decided if we will have alcohol for other mixed drinks. I keep thinking in my head "how much are people REALLY going to want to drink in the afternoon?" but you never know.