Alcohol, tight budget open bar or cash bar?

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I'm so sorry, I can truly feel your frustration. Some people take their liquor very seriously on this site and I don't think it's logical to go into debt over alcohol or overspend on it. Honestly I would just say go with what you can comfortably afford, and if that's just 100% cash bar than that's it. It's amazing that you even will be able to give that option to people, I'm sure they'll appreciate it! We are stuck between either paying over 3K (absolutely ridiculous and like 1/3 of our budget!) for 1 hour of open bar or saving that to go towards other things with just a cashbar which is more affordable for us. Right now I'm leaning towards skipping that all together and offering a keg or two of beer and possibly a signature drink, anything else will be cash bar.

The most important thing about your wedding is the two of you getting married, not how much alcohol you can pay to have served to people. Hope you get some helpful ideas from here

We are doing cash bar. My FH and I both have large families.

If you are on a tight budget cash bar is the way to go

The good thing is there are options here for you to pick from.

We had a venue that only allowed Beer and Wine- No spirits. We had to buy the alcohol ourselves but because it was not offered unless we bought it! It was about 500 dollars for our open bar, that could be an option too. We had 4 beer flavors and 3 wine flavors so there was plenty to choose from.

I have been to other weddings where the bride and groom picked a special drink. Maybe a sangria for her and a mule or old fashion sometype of mixed drink for him and put them in the dispenser canisters and that can be your contribution. Once those two things are empty they have to pay for anything else they get or if they choose something else to drink.

You can have a cocktail hour- where doesn't matter what is ordered- beer, wine, or spirits... you guys pay for everything and anything ordered for just that one hour or however long works with your budget.

Your venue might be able to give you some price ideas for each as well.

Somethings that might relieve your stress....

People do not expect an open bar, and they do not mind paying for drinks at a special occasion. Also, not matter what option you pick it is your day and you and your soon to be husband have a budget, and that is something most people totally understand.

Non Alcoholic drinks I did have to buy as well. The venue provided water and my caterer came with one drink with my package and I had picked sweet tea. So I went to the food store when they were on sale and bought 3 of each 12 pack of coke, diet coke and sprite as well. This allowed for three flavors of soda,water, tea and alcohol. I felt my guests which were mostly family and friends has plenty to pick from.

A suggestion. If you decide to do drink tickets, mail them out with the invitations (if you haven't sent invitations already). Trying to pass them out as guests arrive will be chaos, unless you appoint someone at the entrance as people arrive. Even then, guests will try to weasel extra tickets out of whoever has them. (former event coordinator for a wine bar, speaking from experience with many drink ticketed events)

Carrie, I can tell you are frustrated. I have been a bride twice so I know the frustrations that come with planning and stressing about money. Is there any way the VFW can provide sodas for free? I do not mind a cash bar but to pay for a Diet Coke? Can you provide sodas for the bartender to serve? Please do not take other posters ideas for drink tickets. Pleeeeeze. My former father in law suggested that and my mother and I were horrified. This is not a carnival. If they still will charge for sodas, is there a way to put pitchers of lemonade on tables?

Making it a cash bar isn't a bad thing but I would supply thee soda/juices as that is expected for your guest!

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We are going to ask if we can pay for the sodas and other non alcoholic drinks for the night, and anything else our guests will have to purchase. We will be doing a cash bar for anything else.

My cousin Just had a BYOB reception ...
for ours we are only doing affordable red wine, affordable white and a friend is donating a keg of beer.

Do what fits best!!! We have been to 2 weddings and it was a cash bar and everyone was fine. My wedding we paid a certain about as a thank you and after that amount is done it will turn into a cash bar.

We only doing Beer, wine, sodas and champagne toast. Their liquor they have to pay on their own.

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This is a good idea in theory if people were responsible-which they in practice, are not.

View Quoted Comment 🤷🏼‍♀️I agree, but if you're that person then sucks to be you and bring cash. Alternatively, only print the number of drink tickets you can afford and pass them out on arrival. After everyone has arrived, if you have leftovers then either give them away or save the money

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Again, no drink tickets. Just go with a cash bar. Save yourself the stress, OP!

If your venue allows it, put down a tab of, say, $300 (or whatever you can afford)- then once that's gone, the guests can pay for their own drinks. that is what we're doing.

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Yes I think that is the best for us. Mimosa and tea/ coffee comes with dinner and then do a cash bar

Do not do a cash bar. It is the quickest way to offend people and make your party end early. Serve what you can afford and serve nonalcoholic drinks only after that.

The ticket system I think is the fairest way to pay a tab and let everyone have the same amount, so you don’t have 5-10 people eat up the tab by drinking a ton of beers quickly. That being said you can also limit to beer and wine only.