Alcohol before ceremony?

I personally do not care to drink alcohol before the ceremony but that's your call. I'd be more concerned of the bottles, cans etc if it is a help-yourself kind of thing. You need people to take away these bottles so they don't enter the ceremony space. You don't want to see bottles in your photographs.

We went to a wedding with a "hospitality hour" bc the couple put the ceremony time 30 mins before the actual start time ( I feel like they had very little faith in their guests coming on time ). Having a drink in my hand was the only reason I wasn't annoyed with waiting so long.

I would be careful with alcohol before. The wedding I worked on Friday had a guest passed out during meal service. I am fairly certain the guest had things to drink before coming to our venue. I only served a glass of wine to them during cocktail hour. This doesn't happen often at all......you would also take in any underage kids getting drinks. I do like the wheel barrows. Could you do this for cocktail hour?

I have stated in prior comments and in my post that I would not be using wheelbarrows and that if I decided to so this, I would have the tubs with alcohol out of reach from the kids. I may just stick to water. Thank you everyone for your great points you have made. I may just do water and be done with it.

All I could think of is guests taking cans/beers to the ceremony and hearing them pop open during the vows

Thank you for posting this; our venue won't open the bar before the ceremony (which will top out at about 10 minutes). I now added "ask about whether SOMETHING to drink can be available pre-ceremony for guests" to my ever-growing questions for their coordinator.

(I think it's an awesome idea -- as a guest I'd love it! PPs points about under-agers helping themselves are valid though.)

Don't do it. Guess will already be drinking for 5+ hours after the ceremony. If you really want to serve something, do a mock tail

Our outside bar will be open before the ceremony.

I believe our bar opened up about 30 minutes before the ceremony so people could grab something if they wanted.

I don't recommend leaving a bunch of alcohol unattended. Not because your guests will get "crazy", but because you could be held liable for anyone caught drinking underage.

I'm having champagne escort cards. Guests can drink it during the ceremony or take it to claim their seat at their table. They will be passed out by catering staff.

Im having infused flavored water and lemonade and an appetizer available for guests before the ceremony if they want- I

If you do that, I would have a bartender serve unless you're only inviting guests who are 21 and over.

They aren't talking about 5 year olds getting alcohol. They're talking about 18-20 year olds. Who are more than tall enough to reach the tubs and underage and a liability for you.

Thank you for these great options, however having a bartender is not in my budget. My venue does not require it, and I simply have decided to spend my money elsewhere. My guests will be properly hosted, the reception will be very laid back. I will not have any kind of greeter/bartender. And there is not anything that can be shifted to make this decision any different. Yes there will be guests under the age of 21. I may just skip this idea all together. But there will still be alcohol provided even if it's not before the ceremony.

@futuremrsr thanks for clarifying. I thought of that after. I will discuss this further with some of my wedding party and get some further opinions on this. I've been to plenty of weddings that didn't have a bartender and they were tons of fun and the kids knew that the alcohol was not allowed for them. That doesn't necessarily mean it would go that way at mine, I understand that.

We are having a drink stand at the entrance to the beach where our ceremony is. It will be attended by the venue. Water and a signature drink - TBD.