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Just Said Yes October 2025

byob reception advice needed

Morgen, on July 14, 2019 at 10:09 PM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 13

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So our venue allows us to have our guests bring their own drinks. With 100 people i am worried about where all those drinks are going to sit. I don't want people to bring them and they either get hot or other people drink them. But i'm worried about having coolers all over the place. The parking lot is a bit far for them to just go back and forth to their vehicles to get drinks. I am already going to put a BYOB notice on the invitations so people know to bring their own.. but Im really worried about all the coolers everywhere. The hall we are in is separated into 3 open sections one section wont be used so maybe we could set coolers up there? but again Im worried about other people drinking others drinks..

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13 Comments

Latest activity by Katie, on July 15, 2019 at 11:04 AM

Legend June 2019
Melle · on July 14, 2019 at 10:18 PM
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Can they just leave it at the table they're assigned to? People brought their own for mine and they just had it at the tables I assigned them at.
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Just Said Yes October 2025
Morgen · on July 14, 2019 at 10:40 PM
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How did they keep their drinks cool? and did you have any problems having to dodge coolers around the tables?
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Legend March 2017
Pirate & 60s Bride · on July 14, 2019 at 11:13 PM
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But if you’re hosting the reception for your guests, aren’t you providing the alcohol? I would hire at least 1-2 licensed bartenders. You can ask them about what to rent to keep drinks cool and buy the alcohol. Oh! Or maybe rent those slushy margarita machines for some of the drinks (beer & wine still need to be figured out).
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Champion October 2018
Kelly · on July 14, 2019 at 11:49 PM
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This sounds like a liability nightmare. If I were you I would provide the alcohol and hire a couple licensed bartenders to avoid the headache.
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Expert November 2019
Keri · on July 14, 2019 at 11:55 PM
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Offer a small selection of beer and wine. You can get a couple of kegs and boxed wine for cheap. Hire a licensed bartender. The last thing you want is to be responsible for an accident. 100 people is a lot. This isn't a small backyard party.
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Legend November 2019
Caytlyn · on July 15, 2019 at 12:01 AM
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This sounds like a train wreck. Not only is it all wrong for etiquette reasons (you host, you buy,) but it’s also a huge liability. Provide the alcohol and bartenders or have a dry wedding.
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Devoted December 2019
· on July 15, 2019 at 12:51 AM
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I think the venue saying they’re “BYOB” doesn’t mean that your guests bring the alcohol, but that you as the host does. You can buy alcohol in bulk from Binnys and have bartenders serve drinks. Typically catering companies can do this, at least in my area. Or you can hire just a separate bar tending company.
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Legend June 2019
Melle · on July 15, 2019 at 12:55 AM
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The venue provided ice so basically it wasn't cold alcohol but we had ice for the drinks. No one brought coolers.
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Champion December 2017
earias · on July 15, 2019 at 2:53 AM
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Exactly this. Just because the venue allows you to "BYOB" doesn't mean you should pass this hosting responsibility off to your guests. This simply means that you are allowed to bring your own alcohol and serve it as opposed to having to purchase bar packages from the venue.
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Master October 2019
Jolie · on July 15, 2019 at 9:20 AM
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Agree with above! My friend had a bare bones barn wedding. She got bartenders through the catering company and purchased her own alcohol that was served to guests. There are ways to go to beer distributors and liquor stores that will allow you to return unopened cases of beer and wine to same some money!
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Master October 2019
Meghan · on July 15, 2019 at 9:36 AM
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BYOB? Is your reception a tailgate? I have never heard of a wedding where the guests are required to bring their own drinks. This is weird, & honestly, a little outrageous. You should either have a cash bar, which also isn’t ideal or proper etiquette, but better than BYOB, or you & your fiancé should provide the alcohol & bartending staff. But BYOB is rude!
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VIP October 2020
Kelly · on July 15, 2019 at 9:46 AM
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I think in general when wedding planning BYOB means the bride and groom brings their own alcohol. You will want to check with the venue on this.
Now if you want it to be a guests BYOB I say get some nice ice buckets for the centerpieces and everyone can stick their drinks in it. You'd assign people to tables so nobody would be at a table that isn't theirs.
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Super November 2019
Katie · on July 15, 2019 at 11:04 AM
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We are providing a set amount and then those who want can bring a cooler to leave in their trucks.
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