Cash bar seems like best option for us- but seems to be percieved as tacky

A lot of things people say are tacky on here actually arent. Do you! Its very unlikely any of the people here are to attend your wedding, so dont worry about their opinions.

View Quoted Comment Thank you!! I like the idea of having it open for an hour or two of the reception!

Hey! Don’t get caught up in the fact that people on WW think it’a “tacky and rude”. Stick within your budget! Remember, YOU guys are the one paying for it, not anyone else. I think hosting a drink for one hour during your cocktail hour is sufficient enough.


Honestly? I was a bridesmaid in my friends wedding and she hosted an open bar, and all people could talk about was how excited they were for the open bar. When she did her first dance? People were at the bar. When she cut the cake? People were at the bar. Point is, it’s YOUR wedding. It’s a celebration of your union with your partner. It’s not an excuse for people to come get drunk or get free drinks. I don’t think you have to explain yourself either to your guests. Most people attending will be people who love and care about you. They should ultimately be there for you and your partner, not for drinks. If people say something about it then they’re missing the entire point of the event.
I’m personally just doing an open bar for beer, water, and soda, a hosted drink during cocktail hour, and then everything else is cash. I’m capping it at $2500 and after $2500 it’s all cash for everything.

Can you do a consumption bar where you just pay per drink? Since your drinks are not very expensive it would probably cover a decent amount. Just put in the amount of money you can afford and then once that tab is filled up it’ll become a cash bad

Cash bar** not bad lol

If cash bar is good for you and the safety of others then that is the way I would go! It doesn't who judges you, this is your wedding!

My FH and I were also struggling with this so we decided to buy a certain a amount of liquor and beer and once that runs out then it turns into a cash bar! It seemed like a solution because we also couldn’t afford to for an open bar

I’ve been to weddings with both. Open is nice but I never expect it. We are having a cash bar. Our wedding is a Sunday brunch, we will be providing 2 mimosas to each guest 1 is for the toast. We’re already paying like $50pp I don’t feel the need to supply them with alcohol. We are providing coffee, tea, water and fruit juice. You have to do what is right for you and your budget

One thing wedding planning has taught me is that you can’t please everyone! Do what works for YOUR budget. People will have something to say no matter what, so who cares! 🤷🏾‍♀️

Do what you can afford. My cousin's wedding was a partial cash bar. All the guests got 2 drink tickets to use for whatever, then after that it was cash. It was perfect for me, because I usually only drink 1 alcohol drink at outings, so I gave my mom my other one. You should not have to go into debt just because people want free alcohol. If they only show up for the free booze, then they aren't there to celebrate your marriage, which I think that is tacky and rude!

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I disagree with this. we had a dry wedding (in the evening) and had a ton of dancing. no, it wasn't awkward. a lot of our friends don't drink much, but even the ones who drink more regularly had a great time at our wedding and no one complained about not getting to drink. people are there to see you get married, not to get drunk. at the end of the day no one cares as much as you think they care.

I would not find it super tacky to have a cash bar but I would without a doubt be surprised and I would have to run to the ATM. I would not attend a dry wedding for long, I would go to the ceremony & celebrate a little and call it an early night. I am someone who enjoys an occasional cocktail at weddings, I would be looking forward to it. I am an adult and you should not need to worry about me getting drunk and driving or causing a scene. We had a full open bar for 6 hours at my wedding with zero issues with my guests and in our circle there are a lot of big drinkers - they are adults they figured it out, someone else drove. There weren't many Ubers or Lifts in the general area of my venue & it was not an issue for my guests either. Most people do not cause a scene or drink and drive.

View Quoted Comment I think most of our family would be able to handle it. However FH and I are only 21 and therefore have a lot of younger friends and family. And a few of them don't limit themselves well. We will have alcohol either way just trying to figure out the best way.

I personally do think they are tacky but it is also your wedding. Just make sure that your guests know that after the cocktail hour there will only be a cash bar so they come prepared as most people don't go to a hosted event expecting to need to bring cash with them.

Cash bars can be controversial but it's your day and your budget! A medium option would be just wine and beer open bar. That way you're cutting the cost hard liquor. Or you could see if you could do a just signature cocktail that would be a cheaper alternative as well. If none of these are appealing to you or your budget, by all means go with what is best for you. That being said, if cash bar or a reduced bar is the best option, I'd definitely let guests know before hand; maybe Pinterest a cut saying to let them know on the invitation or an insert or something just because I think some open bars are some what expected, at least in my area.

We are doing open bar until a certain amount of money is met, then changing to cash bar. Wine and beer ONLY. My FH and his buddies and even some of my family get out of hand with liquor.


But at the end of the day you only know what you can afford. I would never not attend a wedding because there wasn’t an open bar. I don’t think it’s tacky to have people pay for their own alcohol. They are already getting free food and would probably spend a butt load out at a bar (again, from experience).
You do you. It’s always nice to be able to offer that to your guests. But if you can’t, then you can’t.

Girl, it’s your wedding so do what’s best for you. My fiancé and I don’t drink alcohol, since we are paying for own wedding we decided it was an expense we didn’t want to incur. Plus we are an older couple, so we are not even asking for gifts and we are serving a signature dinner menu. Most of his family doesn’t drink and most of mine do, so we decided if they wanted to drink then it would have to come out of their pockets. My sister was married last March and held her reception at a signature restaurant and on the opposite end, had an open bar. Most of the people were drinking like fish. I don’t even want to process how much the the final bill was.

I’m doing beer and wine only im putting about 1500 down if they want hard alcohol they have to buy it and if that runs out there on there own

I don’t think your situation is any different than others who want a cash bar. There are plenty of people who are paying for the wedding themselves,however, I do think that paying for one drink for someone is a good idea or at least letting your guests know that there is a cash bar so they will bring cash. Not telling them can have them disappointed especially if a lot of people in your circle drink.

I'm holding a dry wedding. Guests were informed via invite. They will get drink tickets at the after party. If you plan to do cash bar, I'd put it on your website, so people bring cash/money and are informed. My fiance doesnt drink. Been sober for years. I don't really care for it. Guests aren't paying for your wedding. You to you