Alcohol during cocktail hour only? *EDITED*

Given the time of day I think that would be ok to serve alcohol for cocktail hour and then switch to a cake and punch or light lunch reception. But then again I'm 20 years old, don't drink, and cash bars are normal around where I live so maybe get some other opinions lol.

This would be really odd. I know that I would be so excited to have a mimosa bar but then to have it be taken away would be disappointing.

Is your FH in AA? I've heard of people inviting their sponsors to make the day a little easier.

Does he go to restaurants where they serve alcohol? Dinner parties? Part of recovery is learning to be around alcohol.

The situation really doesn't change anything except to make a completely dry wedding the rare exception to the rule.

Either have alcohol or don't, but don't start off with it and take it away from your guests. That's like serving the salad course of dinner, and then just showing guests the main entree before dumping it in the trash. It's honestly worse than just not having it at all.

Eta: just saw the daytime wedding part. That just underscores my prior advice. Daytime weddings don't typically last nearly as long as evening weddings. I think if you choose to serve it for one hour (cocktail hour) and your FH can handle that, he can probably handle 2-3 hours, but if not, then just have a dry wedding.

It will be very confusing for guests and also will just get them to get a couple each to hold them over and then drink them faster than they would if the bar was open.

Also could your clarify something-you said "he won't be surrounded by alcohol all night" but then say it's a daytime wedding. Which is it?

No, booze all night is right!

Eta : I see its daytime wedding... Either have it or go Dry because of his situation .. I don't advise doing a cut off time. That would tick me off as a guest personally.. Is he worried he will fall off the wagon if it is around him all night?

Given the time of day, slightly less strange. But I'd almost lean toward a dry wedding, (gasp) in this case. Or just do wine, beer and mimosas though the reception. Stopping after cocktail hour will be confusing and will cause guests to "stock up" on drinks.

Can you maybe serve during food too then cut it off? I get why he doesn't want it around because it's to easy to pick up a glass and it not be what he wants and he has to start over at day 1

Could you just do a champagne toast and leave the rest of the event dry?

I think that would be odd to close the bar at dinner.

I think since its at noon the mimosa bar would be ok, but keep it open for the whole event.

the truth of the mater is that as a recovering alcoholic it is actually important for your FH to be at events like this and learn to stay sober. Does he not go to restaurants? They serve alcohol. Would he not attend another wedding unless it were dry? These are the questions you need to bring to him.

Your FH needs to be comfortable. If he is, then there should be drinks 100% free and flowing through entire reception.

If he's not comfortable, make it a dry wedding. It's too confusing otherwise.

Yeah I think in this case it should be all or dry. Giving your guests alcohol and then taking it away is very odd to me.

I agree either have it all dry or have beer and wine the entire time.

If it's a daytime wedding, you could get away with not serving alcohol.

Like @Kathryn I'm interested how he acts in every day life. Did you want alcohol because you want to drink or you were trying to properly host your guest or both? Just curious.

If you do serve alcohol throughout the entire thing (because I would never suggest doing only cocktail hour), I second possibly inviting his sponsor if he's apart of AA.

If it's daytime, just don't serve alcohol. You should be OK.

You don't need to serve any alcohol if your wedding is at noon. It would be slightly odd and confusing if guests could drink only for an hour. Like pps have said, it's important that he learn to function normally in a setting with alcohol and people drinking.

His recovery is his own to manage. I don't think anyone else can dictate that he should just be comfortable around alcohol or just invite his sponsor, etc. If he is still at a fragile place in his recovery, just have a dry wedding. Recovering from alcoholism is that hard and that much of a struggle that I would totally understand him worrying about falling off the wagon on a very important and potentially very stressful day, and I don't think saying that he needs to learn to be around alcohol will help him in this very particular instance of your wedding day.

Maybe have your mimosa bar at your bridal shower? if it's going to be really hard for him I say keep it dry. your family and friends there will understand. when it comes to this let him decide, he knows his weakness and is trying to be better. help him be better.

due to the fact she mentioned he is a "newly recovering alcoholic" should depend on the answer. for the first year he shouldn't be around alcohol. In the house or any other easily accessible places. Being around family, friends and the whole party of the reception very well could trigger a relapse. For a noon wedding and the sake of his sobriety I would chose a dry wedding

I applaud you for searching for a compromise to host your guests and honor your FH's wishes. I can see how at first you would think that serving alcohol while you were in pictures would be the perfect solution, but in reality, I think it is confusing, odd and frankly just a tease. You mentioned your wedding was at noon. How long do you plan on the reception lasting? How many people are you inviting?