Cash Bar at Reception?

Especially if you can't drink, and people on your guest list don't drink, you don't need it, but still give them the option (hence the cash bar)

Yes it leaves a lasting impression. I've been to one wedding that did not have a full open bar. They paid for $1500 worth of drinks then switched to cash bar. That was probably 7 years ago and I still remember it and how irritated my family was (and they don't even drink, it was just the principle of it.)

Yes to the long lasting bad impression. I've been to two receptions with cash bars. We ended up leaving wicked early because it was so frustrating. It seemed the couple didn't care to host properly. It was very poor taste:-(

If you do decide to do a cash bar, just make sure to tell your guests so they know to bring cash

Ok maybe I'm lost but if your groom isn't of age are you even legally allowed to purchase alcohol for your wedding? Although my FH and I are of drinking age there is a clause in my venue contract that any party hosted at the venue by someone under the drinking age isn't even allowed to host alcohol. No idea about your state/venue/situation.

I am from a country where cash bar is acceptable, and the norm for most weddings. The couple is only expected to provide 2 bottles of wine and 1 bottle of champagne per table.

However, we decided to do a consumption bar (which is the only alternative option because we don't have a concept of open bar) for beer, wine and ciders. We did this because a) we had enough budget, b) my dad really wanted it, c) I wanted to be a good host and d) I'd been on WW for a while.

It was not as expensive as I thought it would be, and I think if you budget properly, it is manageable. If you had asked me before I got married, I would have said I don't mind a cash bar (because of where I am from). But after seeing how much our bar tab was, I feel like couples can budget better and provide alcohol to their guests. It's not unreasonable.

Yes. Guests shouldn't have to talk out their wallets at a wedding.

I find it more rude that anyone would walk around with an envelope full of cash all night and adjust their gift depending on their experience. Just because you feel that the hosting is not to your liking does not justify such poor manners and behavior. That's very poor taste. And I would side eye and judge the person who walks around with an envelope full of cash way harsher than I'd ever judge the couple who hosted the cash bar.

I, myself, don't mind a dry wedding or a cash bar. I'm having a fully hosted bar, but I don't look down on those who choose not to. It's really not that big of a deal to me.

"We are not the drinking type, so we are not worried about having alcohol at our reception" duh you are under 21. You are not of legal age to drink, so unless every single guest is also underage you need to have at the very least beer and wine.

ETA: @Anthony I like the way you think lol. Although, I don't go to many weddings, I will remember that one.

I'm having a cash bar, a lot of the wedding I've been too we're cash bars as well. I don't think it's rude that I'm not willing to pay for everyone to get drunk at my wedding. In my opinion, having an open bar is more of a reason for everyone to get stupid drunk at your wedding. There fore more unnecessary problems I would have to worry about.

@melissa you and I have very different definitions of the word rude. What you just said is rude as hell. If you feel this way about your guests why are you inviting them...oh ya gifts

At the venue that we are having our reception, the Sherriff's department will be notified the day of our event so that they can keep a close eye on, what I'm assuming to be, underage drinking and drinking/driving. They are allowed to freely come in and out of the building as they deem necessary. Obviously, people under the age of 21 will not be drinking, no matter the circumstances. As for the drinking and driving, I feel if we were to have a cash bar, our guests would be less likely to be picked up because they would be drinking less. I didn't ask anyone's opinion of FH or I's age; yes, we are young, but no, we are not immature. We don't need alcohol to have a good time, which is why we are questioning having a cash bar. I am not trying to be a rude host by any means, it was a question, in effort to HELP our guests out.

I've never been to a cash bar, to be honest. 100% have been open bar (at least beer and wine).

If I showed up and had to pay for my drinks, I would totally side eye. It doesn't matter your age, you still need to properly host the guests. I also would probably have to take some cash out of my gift envelope in order to buy a drink because I don't normally bring any cash to weddings.

I have always had less fun at a cash bar/dry wedding. I don't like it, FH and I usually leave early.

Didn't read the comments. Don't need to.

A cash bar sucks. Your guests are just that; your guests. Wine and beer if fine you want to control costs.

Top Ten Bogus Reasons People Use to Justify Dry Weddings and Cash Bars

11: (a bonus) My family is diabetic. Every one of them. We wave cake at them like vampire repellent because they have no idea how to control their own health.

10. None of my guests drink. Not one. I've polled all 120 of them and not one of them does

9. All of my guests drink too much; they will get sloppy, drunk and violent. It they are not throwing up into the crock pot weenies.

8. Kids will be in attendance. They might mistake Cosmos for Shirley Temples.

7. We're really really Christian, and our hyper Christianity requires us to not only not drink but to inflict our believe that this is HOLY by making our guests not drink. Because they should believe what we believe. Even though we can't explain it. Someone told us this and we think it's true.

6. We don't like the taste of alcohol. So no one else should either

5. We are not going to pay for other people to enjoy themselves

4. My grandparents don't drink and they won't come if anyone in the surrounding area does.

3. We have to hire bartenders, security, armed forces and the national guard to serve alcohol.

2. People can have fun without alcohol. If they really loved us, they'd come regardless

1. We're cheap.

Marion clearly lives in a parallel universe. With five other people.

On the "weddings are expensive" front....one of my recent reviews marked me at less than five stars because "weddings are so expensive"....as if it was my fault....the service that probably costs less than anything else.

Yes, it's rude. In every single case, no matter how you justify it.

FH and I were just discussing thus the other day and he was of the opinion that it was rude, but he couldn't put his finger on why. I told him this: would you invite someone to your home and ask them to buy their drinks from you? Likewise, you shouldn't ask someone to pay at a party that you are hosting for them. And you are hosting it for then, as the reception is to thank your guests for attending the ceremony.

Really, the reasons behind why you do things don't affect the etiquette. if you are hosting a party, you need to choose food and beverage. if you have serious concerns about the potential abuse of alcohol at your event, consider not having it. i personally believe these concerns are disproportioned, but i don't know you or your guests. if you are hosting an event, no guest should have to pay for anything, including alcohol. cash bars are poor form and you should not do this.

We're doing beer, wine and signature drinks.