Alternatives to alcohol?

All I'm saying is if you don't care if your guests show up you should probably elope.

The reception is to THANK your guests for spending a day, buying a new dress/suit (usually), buying you a gift for the bridal shower AND wedding (99% of the time), and being witness to your sacred ceremony.

You absolutely should be thinking of your guests for the reception. If you're not, you better not have a ceremony.

ETA Yes this is directed towards FMW, not OP. She is gonna do what she wants and obviously 90% of people commenting asking she not do this doesn't matter.

Weed would be a great alternative.

Simple: is not serving alcohol rude? Nope. Is it still poor hosting? You betchya.

As for Ms. Manners' ending quip, which is, honestly, incredibly rude...

Neither DF nor I drink. We're happy to host alcohol for our guests, because the reception is our THANK YOU TO THEM. It's not about us.

Oh, and Ms. Manners discredited herself. So sad.

@Erin

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Welp, not everyone agrees with her but yes, she is a respected name when it comes to etiquette, as is the Emily Post Institute. http://emilypost.com/advice/non-alcoholic-reception/

Dry weddings are obviously unpopular with a lot of people. But I do not agree with the general WW consensus that it's poor hosting or technically rude. Each bride and groom as to determine what is best for them while taking in their particular guests into consideration. In certain circles serving alcohol would be frowned upon, in others people will try to sneak in alcohol if they get wind of it being a dry wedding. I will always encourage other brides to try to fit in at least a limited bar if their guests enjoy alcohol in general because it makes the wedding more of a celebration. However, there are all different types of brides on WW and not everyone chooses to serve alcohol at their wedding for various reasons. I think presenting other perspectives and allowing differing opinions should be the new norm on our forum.

Double Post

Putting the dry wedding aside since it's been beaten to death. Do the ceremony at 2 or 3. 1 is way to early if you only plan to do appetizers since most people wouldn't have time to eat lunch before getting there.

Well, I'll take the opinions of the family and friends that are flying out, renting cars, staying in hotels/with obnoxious family, and giving up their friday night/possible weekend to watch me make googly eyes with my FH in a pretty dress. They deserve to be treated like rockstars for at least the 6 hours they are giving up and Miss Manners can shove it if she thinks I should punish them because a few known alcoholics are invited. They're grown ups. They're either going to find a way to drink that doesn't include a trained bartender with authority to cut them off (and security to back it up) or they're going to learn to manage with alcohol being a presence in their everyday world and deal. Coming from Al-Anon and other support groups, I think I'm being fair in my viewpoint.

I dont mean to hijack, but I'm in a predicament as well.

FH wants a dry wedding, no compromise. We have religious objections to it, no one in our circle drinks, though im willing to compromise to host our guests. His side would be outraged if there was alcohol. My side of the family are booze lovers, and would probably leave after dinner (but would also be traveling 500 miles to attend wedding, if they came). Feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place, so I'm taking notes

Lazy scroll

OP, as long as you don't expect dancing or people to stay more than, oh, an hour, your dry wedding will be fine.

I don't think they are rude, but I DO think they are poor hosting and boring as fuck.

I would certainly hope for a "thank you for coming to my wedding" in the form of a glass of wine. Hot cocoa and a piece of cake wouldn't really cut it.

Don't waste your time with mocktails.

ETA: @Chip: Afterparty? You and your family can go to a bar or a restaurant within the hotel or whatever.

Chip, a friend of mine had almost the same issue. They compromised by doing a short dinner reception for everyone (no alcohol) then doing a hosted cocktail party afterwards with appetizers and a hosted bar and music. It's not ideal but it's better than completely dry evening wedding

Apple juice and grape juice is good. #you'rewelcome #mocktails

La Croix sparkling water is delish! Spiced cider sounds great too!

And good for you!! Do what makes your comfortable and helps you enjoy your day! People can go out for drinks afterwards if they want!

That's what I was thinking, of planning/hosting an after party at a bar/club, but just for my side. FH seemed more okay with that, be he has his own plans for him and myself after

Miss Manners.....an old hag born before Jesus was in diapers who lives alone in a house full of cats. That's who you want to take advice from?

Girl you do you. not everyone wants alcohol at their wedding. why are some people on here so rude? I mean sheesh.

Chip, that seems like a nice idea! and it sounds like that will work well for you and your FH and family!

I know my fiances side of the family will most likely be having an after party at his parents, and my side of the family (the ones who do drink) will probably head out and have some sort of after thing as well, so that's why I'm not too worried about the reception. If people want to go out and have some drinks after the reception that's fine and my fiance and I might hang out for a little while but not past our comfort point.