Cash Bar: Ok or Bad Hosting?

Not bad hosting at all. Look at it this way the fact that they will have to pay for their drink the less they will drink so no drunk mistakes will be made.

The answer to that is kinda tricky since it depends largely on on your region and your circle of friends. I do want to give you props for trying to stay in your budget though and also warn you that this tends to be a heated topic on the boards, so no matter what is posted for responses try to not let it get to you. Congrats on your engagement and welcome to WW.

Megan-

I think people will understand. Just make sure you have drinks that are free- punch, soda, tea etc.

Many of my brides and grooms provide some alcohol but not the hard stuff. Like a keg of beer or wine during dinner or champagne for the toasts. I think that is a great compromise. GL & congrats!

Thanks for the advice and the heads up!

Try using the search bar to the right of the screen the question has been asked a million times and every argument under the sun has been used (type in cash bar open bar or words to that effect there are lots)

-personally no there is no issue with cash bars but people have different opinions

Hi Megan! Welcome to WW!

This is one of those questions that always get people riled up here. There was this thread just last week asking a similar question: https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/cash-bar-yes-or-no-maybe-with-twist/c4669fd9b2a35cd1.html?page=1

When I replied to last week's OP I provided the following links:

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/cash-bar-or-dry-wedding-what-would-be-your-preference/40a4d3e8a209b09c.html?page=1

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/cash-bar/3cc6f89d2491123f.html

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/cash-bar/d4db6d56f5e1218e.html

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/cash-bar/b1dbfbfab1d06e24.html

As Mallory suggested you can always use the search function on the right to find more. The bottom line is there are some people on here who find it rude and against etiquette and others who are perfectly fine with it. You do what you can and what's accepted in your area. Happy planning!

For me it also depends on the time of the event. In the evening I would expect drinks. Also I would rather have no alcohol at all rather than a cash bar. I probably wouldn't have cash on me and then would be mad that I couldn't drink. However I would certainly get over it. I don't expect anything in particular when I go to weddings. Its best to do what your budget allows. Can you scale back and just do wine and beer as an alternative?

In my area it's standard so I don't feel it's bad hosting. Another option is to do beer and wine only and then cash for liquor. A wedding does not have to have alcohol and I really feel like people need to learn to have a good time without it.

That's what I was thinking, Amy.

Oh the dreaded "cash bar" post. Here we go again. Megan you might regret this later.

My thoughts, its your wedding do what you want. Stay in your budget and who cares what other people think.

You are better than me to even be offering alcohol. We will be having an alcohol free wedding to stay within our budget and we will be allowing kids there so no drunk parents or other drunks around the kids!!!

No alcohol at my wedding. I think people should be able to have fun without drinking.

This poor horse just can't catch a break.

It's a personal choice whether you want to have an open bar at your wedding.

I don't like cash bars as I rarely have cash on me, so if you are doing that, please put it on your website or something as a heads up. We are paying for beer and wine, so it cuts down on cost and people can buy hard liquor. I don't want people getting smashed, so we only wanted to offer beer and wine. Yes I know people can still get drunk, but it will limit it more. And we said no shots to our bartender.

But as other ladies have said, do a search for this topic as it has been discussed over and over.

We're going to set a limit and once the limit has been met, it will switch to a cash bar. It's unlikely we'll hit the limit.

I asked the venue coordinator what he recommended and he said this is the route most couples go (in our area). Fine by me.

We added an open bar to our all-inclusive package for one reason: ours is a destination wedding in VEGAS. Our guests will already be traveling and paying for a hotel to attend our wedding. We didn't want to top it off by making them buy alcohol at the reception. Also, it's Vegas. Vegas screams open bar lol

Our original package included one hour (cocktail hour) hosted bar and then switch to cash bar. I think if we would have had it local in LA, we would have simply added one extra hour to equal 2 and then switch to cash bar.

There are options. If you really want to try and provide free drinks, you can do as others have suggested and do limited bar (wine and beer) or have open bar for a couple hours and then switch to cash bar. Good luck!

I don't mind cash bars as long as a beer isn't $8. I know people say they don't carry cash but I always do just in case so it wouldn't bother me.

::IGH::::

Megan, not your fault you're new. This question has literally been asked like 7 times in the last few weeks and everyone gets riled up.

Like others suggested search "cash bar" and you will get more than you bargained for. LOL

We decided to do a "drink ticketing" thing. We will provide 2 tickets to each person (over 21 of course) and my fiance and I will pay for those drinks. Anything outside of those two drinks is cash to the attendee. The only exception to that rule is the wedding party - those lucky few are on us.