BYOB?!?!?!

Even if you BYOB I suggest you get insurance.

Oh and most casual affairs where I come from are always potluck/bring your own. Always ends up a Huge buffet of good food and booze! lol

I agree with the insurance and or a police officer.

I would not put BYOB on the invitation or in a card with the invitation. I'd go word of mouth or on the wedding website if you have one.

Have you spoken to your family about this? If I mentioned this to almost anyone in my immediate family, they would offer to provide some alcohol before having me put that on an invitation.

BYOB is fine with me for a (very) casual event.

@Starbuck I think you are taking this as a formal event.. When I say informal I mean we will all be in jeans and hoodies by the end of the night hanging out by a camp fire... and I will definitely be providing mixers!

I guess it depends on the type of people you know. It would probably throw me off personally. I don't think I would put it on the invitation. Though I do find it interesting when people talk about insurance (granted it's not a bad thing) but wonder if everytime they have guests over drinking if they get insurance? FWIW if you own a home or have renters insurance a lot of times you home owners will cover a lot of things too.

I'm not.

With the type of wedding I think BYOB is fine. Also, you're right, you DON'T want to be responsible for anyone who drinks and drives.

If you do it word of mouth and some people don't get that memo maybe early in the night someone can offer to run to the liquor store? "Hey going to get booze give me your money if you want something!" I don't know about you but we always run out of booze at gatherings so we run to the liquor store eventually anyways

Dont even sweat it. Do the punch, some NA, and mixers. Rock that BBQ! Sounds like fun.

You could even do a sangria instead of a punch! Usually made with Lambrusco, a fruit juice, some orange flavored liquor, and fresh fruit. Lambrusco and a well orange liquor will be very budget friendly!

At a restaurant I worked at we used 5 Alive for the juice mix.

What state are you in? Like I said, you most likely ARE responsible for anyone who drinks and drives. You need to look up your state's social host laws.

In most states, you can absolutely be sued for damages if someone gets drunk at your party, leaves and crashes into a house ...or into another person.

I second many PP'S-- BYOB sounds great for what you're doing. But please please make sure you double check with your homeowners/renter's insurance and state social host laws. As others have said, you don't want to be responsible for anyone's stupid choices.

If it's a smaller gathering, you can keep an eye on your guests to make sure they're being safe. But yes, even if you had a few friends over, in some states you can be held liable for their drunk driving. Some homeowners will cover that but not all, so make sure you check.

Ok from your profile, it looks like MA.

A quick google search brought up this article which implies you are responsible if you serve alcohol or allow it to be consumed. You can confirm, but I suggest reading this carefully. You fit the third bullet and if you read the examples, you will understand more.

http://www.attorneywdkickham.com/lawyer-attorney-1927652.html

Here's another link related specifically to minors, in the event minors will be on the premise:

http://files.hria.org/files/SA3521.pdf

I think it's kind of tacky, that said I would much prefer you tell me to bybo than make me buy it and a gift for you

I would avoid BYOB for a wedding. I would suggest either having it a be a dry reception or doing a few inexpensive options like a keg or signature cocktail.

We are doing same thing for a reception, but we are supplying some booze. I've made it known what we will have and if people choose to have something different they are free to bring their own. It may be tacky, but there's no way we can afford to supply a little bit of everything.

@Cougar - That is my exact reasoning for doing BYOB (I will be supplying a few options but anything specific people can bring themselves)

If it's a relaxed wedding, and you know if your crowd would be offended or not I say go for it!! Here in WI we are some big time drinkers, and party all damn night, and I know there would be no way for us to be able to afford all of it.

Or consider making a WOP (in some areas it's called jungle juice), that's what we will be doing. Will help with cost.

I am definitely doing a jungle juice! and a few other things (non alcoholic) as well as mixers

I don't see anything wrong with it. For BBQs and parties around here the invitation will say, "Lemonade and Coffee provided. Please bring whatever else you prefer to drink." I assume the guests know it is very informal and will not be put off by having to bring their own drinks.