Alternatives to alcohol?

No, GymRat, it helps fucking! LMAO!

@Dana, gold star for you then!

Wassil, yummy!!

Not having a wedding is an alternative. Unless you are having brunch - you need booze.

Also you don't want booze or dinner why are you hosting a reception?

Lauren, if you choose to have a non-alcohol wedding that's your choice! And I think the ideas you have are pretty neat! I personally would love a hot chocolate bar. I would also provide the usual soda, water, coffee, and tea. Other than that you have two really good ideas! As for the toast, you could do sparkling cider, or a "whatever you have in your cup" lol

We had an open bar wedding and people still snuck in jello shots. They were delicious. Don't be surprised when people leave your wedding early or if they bring their own alcohol to the wedding

What mna said. And also, another reminder that the ceremony is for you and the reception is for your guests.

Zelda LMAO!!

@Erin But what even is brunch without mimosas?

Lol @ GymRat and Zelda

I disagree, Gryffin. My wedding day does not stop at my reception. The celebration of my love for my new spouse and our union does not end after the ceremony, it carries and continues on into the reception. That is THE reason we are having a reception, after the ceremony.

Our guests are there to celebrate *with* us. I hope they all come and I hope they all have a wonderful time, but every choice I make is a reflection of he and I, and who we are as a couple. I am not picking everything "for them", or thinking, "I wonder what so and so would like?".

We are putting on a party to celebrate OUR union. We are hosting it, but we are also the guests of honor, too. I do hope they come, I do... but if they don't, that's ok too. Attendance is optional. And it won't diminish our day one bit if it just ended up being he and I, alone, or with our nearest and dearest.

It has been said before "no one will care as much about YOUR wedding as you". Well, a reception has the word "wedding" in front of it, therefore it is still *ours*, still for US, not for them- because without an "us" there would be no wedding reception, there would be no wedding.

ETA: I was just talking to FH about this and wanted to add his comments. We are not planning this wedding ceremony or wedding reception to the likes, preferences of our guests. We are planning it to ours... and they are invited to *join us* in our celebration. If they don't like what we have planned... they don't have to come.

Materantiqua- I agree but I think it is manageable without booze system 11 am rather than 7 pm.

My venue is located within a public park so no alcohol. I am having the caterer serve lemonade, water, and coffee. I hired a barista to make fresh fruit smoothies. My wedding is in July that is why I went with fresh fruit smoothies and not the traditional hot coffee service. Barista's also offer frappes and other coffee drinks if you wanted to go straight cold coffee drinks. Also an Italian Soda station sounds yummy and can be DIY if your on a budget. Rootbeer floats have been served at weddings that I have attended. I attended a wedding where an ice cream truck came by the venue and offered shakes. I have seen just punch fountains set up and bottle water in ice. I had one of my brother's friends set up a snow cone and cotton candy station LOL. It sounds tacky but was fun.

Well this is easy... There's no alternatives to alcohol. Alcohol is alcohol. I've never heard of someone getting drunk off milk or soda.

Do most people enjoy imbibing at a wedding? Yes indeed. Can brides and grooms choose to have dry weddings? Yes they may. I liked the suggestions to make it an afternoon event. The lack of alcohol will be less felt. Since your wedding is in the fall going with seasonal drinks like cider sounds nice. Maybe offer both warm and cold drink options. I had an afternoon wedding and ended up returning half of the alcohol that I purchased. People just did not drink that much. To end, I thought I would let Ms. Manners weigh in. I love me some Ms. Manners!

Dear Miss Manners: I would like to have a wedding reception with no alcohol, but I am concerned that it would be considered unforgivably rude. The situation:

• I (the bride) do not drink alcohol.

• The groom does not drink alcohol.

• The groom’s sister is an alcoholic.

• The groom’s brother is an alcoholic.

• My father is an alcoholic.

The groom is open to a dry reception, but I have been told by other people that this would be horribly rude. The wedding itself is to be a low-budget affair in our backyard.

I was prepared to be called cheap or boring, but I hadn’t really thought it was a rude decision. Others (family members) have told me that they won’t attend a dry reception.

Is it a rude choice? I’m so disappointed that grown adults would threaten to skip celebrating a special day with us if we don’t give in to their demands about what we serve.

Gentle Reader: If your relatives feel that they need to drink to attend your wedding, the alcohol problem in your family is even worse that you thought.

Of course, it is not obligatory to serve alcohol at a wedding, or any other social event. Miss Manners suggests that you tell your relatives that you are sorry to miss them. A message delivered to their favorite bar should be able to reach them.

If I was attending a dry wedding I would assume there was a good reason why booze wasn't being served and wouldn't be mad. I would be weirded out, but respect the couples decision. Then go out drinking afterwards. Ha!

Italian sodas would be fun to have.

Oh because Miss Manners is the resident fucking expert on all things. Credible source. Good choice.

ETA because I can.

No alcohol is bad choice. I understand your reasoning but those family members will possibly still find a way to drink. You can do an earlier wedding and have a brunch or breakfast if it's really early then maybe you can avoid the alcohol situation... Even then I'd still offer mimosas at least for brunch and they have alcohol.. Sorry it just not right for your guest to not be properly hosted.

A couple of people have asked about food and I'm not sure of our menu yet but seeing as the hope is to have a 1 or 2:00 ceremony, we'll probably have appetizers, cake and maybe a couple more dessert options. It's going to be a light meal, so I think having a hot beverage bar along with some different cold options like soda, sparkling water, lemonade and iced tea will work nicely with that. Thanks for everyone who gave suggestions, I definitely made note of them!

Mmmkay Future......