Bar announcement for reception

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I don't think stooping to that level is appropriate either though. So much for being the bigger person.

View Quoted Comment Wow.. you dont have anyone in your life that you'd pick attending their wedding over free alcohol? That's kinda sad. I'm having an open bar, but it looks like maybe a cash bar is the way to see who really cares about you. Also before someone says "you dont have a party and make people pay to drink at your house" that's true, but I have gone to and held byob parties frequently. Obviously weddings cant really be byob due to liability and such but cash bar is a similar concept. I suppose its different priorities for different people.

View Quoted Comment What qualifies as “properly” hosting is subjective. Not so black and white as you seem to believe.
I’m having a dry/BYOB wedding (horrors!), does that mean my friends and family should stay home in protest?

Holy cow you guys. Clearly most of you are new, these cash bar posts always get responses such as mine.
Etiquette is not a matter of opinion, that’s all there is to it. If I were making an etiquette mistake, I’d want someone to tell me. And based on the OP, it seemed like she was trying to provoke a response.
Regardless, hope you have fun at your wedding.

I just went to a cash car wedding. They put it on their invites but we brought cash anyways
I think including the prices is nice. You should do it

View Quoted Comment I was trying to discourage your kind of response. I said I was only interested in advice regarding my question, which yours wasn’t. Clearly I’ve seen posts with explosive arguments, hence me saying that your “etiquette” opinions will fall on deaf ears.

And thank you.

View Quoted Comment You're right. These posts are always hot topics, but that's when they're usually asking between different options. She asked a specific question, which was how could I inform my guests. She had already decided on what route of bar she was going. You could have left your response at "definitely let them know". Adding the second part about "so they could RSVP no", that was looking for a response. I'm not saying that you cant say that, but you shouldn't be surprised that you got replied to.

Great question! We're having a cash bar too, but they accept cards. We'll let folks know on the website and keep moving.

Are you doing a details card? If so is it better to add a note there? (I'm just thinking guests will keep this and the RSVP card will get returned to you)

something like this?

details card example

I’m having a cash bar. Considering open bar during cocktail hour but haven’t decided. I got some great advice from a married friend of my FH today. He said he regrets having open bar because everyone was extremely drunk! Then the problems started to roll in with everyone being so intoxicted.

I wouldn't include prices on the website, that feels like too much and if I was reading that it would seem a little awkward. But I do like the idea of it being noted on the website that it will be a cash bar and a little sign at the bar with prices might help send the message for those who miss it on the website. I went to a wedding where they did a cash bar after 8pm but there was no communication of this except an announcement made during the reception. This was clearly a terrible way to go.

View Quoted Comment This is a good idea!

We are also doing a cash bar at our wedding (and also don’t care about anyone’s negative comments!) I think ours is beer $3 and wine $4, so we actually aren’t writing it anywhere. I don’t have a wedding website and I think stuff like that is tacky on an invite (maybe just my opinion). People will have their wallets and if they can’t afford it then there is plenty of free water, coffee and honey ginger lemonade to drink.

I just hosted a work event and ran into this same issue. Unfortunately they didn’t have a card machine so I think you’ll be fine. Cash bar typically denotes who is paying (host or guest) not specifically just payment type. I think hosting cocktail hour would be a nice touch. Our bar is $5/hr for each hour per person, pretty reasonable!

Cash bar means the host isn’t paying, not the method of payment. I think a note on the website would probably be best. I would not list prices on the website or on your bar.

I disagree that formal events don’t tell you in advance that there’s a cash bar. You should let people know beforehand.

I’d just list this on your website and move on! Putting prices on there seems like to much to me, especially because your prices are reasonable. Most people don’t go anywhere without a card anyway, so I think your safe in that regard!

Proper hosting is very clear. You can do whatever you want with your wedding, but don't pretend having a cash bar is proper hosting.

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I agree with this...it needs to be on your invitation or details card. I have only once been to a cash bar wedding, which annoyingly was actually just cash and not credit cards and I was incredibly annoyed I wasn't told ahead of time. I've learned many people don't really read all of your website or even any of it and for the most part, people expect to be provided alcohol at a wedding, so I would make it clear so people know what to expect- especially since they may just take money out of your card, if they are giving you cash, I have heard that is known to happen.

With formal events that don't provide alcohol normally you have paid for your entry and you know that drinks are not included.

It seems there is a mix opinion on here on what people expect for a wedding, which shows you should definitely make it very clear about the cash bar, which it seems like you want to do. I don't always bring my credit card out with me, depends on the after party situation- if I think I am going to go to an after party, that isn't at the hotel venue and is a bar not associated with the wedding where I will need my ID, I would then think to bring my credit card. As previously stated I don't think on the website is enough but definitely also include it there! I don't think you need to list prices though.

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I have only once gone to a wedding where you had to pay for drinks and I have never once been to a wedding where guests get black out drunk. Guess it depends on your circle but mine and myself can handle being offered free alcohol. Yes, some definitely get drunk but everyone behaves themselves.