Cash bar signage?

I can't help with the wording here but I would notify guests in advance of this - I personally don't expect to pay for anything at a wedding and would not usually have money on me at such an event (because of usually having a small clutch) unless I'm forewarned that I need it for something.

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I agree with this. I never bring cash with me to a wedding and I'd be surprised if I ended up needing it. Also I don't know how comfortable I'd be opening a tab/paying for drinks all night at a wedding venue with a credit card. I would indicate this on a details card with your invite so that people are aware. I don't think a sign is necessary. I'd also ask your venue if they accept credit cards, because we went to a wedding once where the bar was cash and the venue didn't accept cards so we had to use their ATM.

I agree with Sarah and MrsW! Especially if you mean actual, physical cash. Even when I'm not at a wedding, I never have cash, ever. I don't even have the physical card with me - I only have my phone and only use apple pay because in our country 99.99% of venues offer this. If I was not told in advance it was a cash bar, I wouldn't even have the facility to get cash out of an ATM, and would be very frustrated, above and beyond being surprised and shocked that I was expected to pay for my own drinks at a wedding in the first place. Definitely think if this is your plan, state it clearly on the invites and no signage necessary.

Echoing the previous statements- I would not expect to have to pay for drinks at a wedding and would not bring cash. I would definitely forewarn guests ahead of time if they are expected to open their wallets at your event, and not let them find out via a sign (when it’s already too late).

I agree with others that maybe this could be passed on by word of mouth prior? I have been to many weddings with cash bar - so I always bring some cash unless I am certain it is an open bar.

Is this something that can be put on your invite? Lile a " please note - there will be a cash bar available. Non alcoholic beverages will be provided"

I am sure the wording has very far to go!!!

Thanks for your input all, but I really am asking about sign verbiage only! I often see signage at weddings indicating it's an open bar or a menu for the partially open bar, so logically it would make sense for there to be one for a cash bar also.

Also, contrary to popular belief, 9 out of 10 times of the time cash bar does not mean cash only. It just means that individuals are responsible for their own tabs via cash or card.

I'd recommend putting that info on an FAQ/ Q+A page on your website. That's usually where I go to find out details for weddings if I don't get the info directly from the bride or groom. You'll also have more room to write it out than on an invite and won't have to pay for an extra sign.

I think some of us are at a loss to guide you because we've never seen a wedding with a "one drink free" voucher. I've seen these given at lady's night dance clubs or company socials for different reasons. If alcohol is not a priority to you, then a perfectly acceptable option is to have a dry wedding. You can place this on your details card and website, e.g. "non-alcoholic beverages will be available". If overconsumption is what you're worried about, you can remove liquor drinks and have a beer/wine wedding only. If budget is a big factor, then again you can limit to beer/wine during the dinner only, eliminate cocktail hour, or have a dry wedding. Good luck.

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The voucher was an additional tidbit of info because I know how WW is notorious for everyone pushing open bars. (Lord forbid guests pay for their own responsibility of getting intoxicated! lol)

Many venues offer an open bar limit, such as having an open bar tab up to $2000, but once that amount is hit, it moves to a cash bar. This is essentially the same concept, but makes it more fair so everyone gets one free drink of choice, versus one person who can down three in an hour and therefore hits the limit sooner.

In general, any bar is much more ideal than a dry bar. I just want signage as a courtesy to display what is available.

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I think most of us consider drinks to be part of the hosting, and so passing off part of that responsibility to your guests isn't going over well.

I agree that vouchers or tickets is reminiscent of company parties or "one free drink" nights.

"Cash" bar actually means cash, as in money. What you're talking about is a "no-host" bar, because you're not hosting that part of your party.

I'm not sure many people are going to be able to help you with what you're looking for, but I would let guests know ahead of time that they will be paying for that part of your party.

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Thank you but that is not correct

I will continue my search for examples elsewhere!

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I think it comes down to the fact that guests expect weddings to be fully hosted and any deviation from that should be notified to them in advance.
I’m not a big drinker myself but I’d be pretty annoyed about being expected to pay for any portion of such an event and having that sprung on me at the event itself.

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Sorry you feel that way! Guests are under no obligation of being "forced" to pay for anything. One drink (of their choice!) will be provided to them complimentary, and after that, any additional alcoholic beverages may be purchased and consumed at their own discretion. ¯\_ _/¯

Again, regardless of the type of bar we are having, I am looking for verbiage to include on the bar menu. Based on these answers, opting for none seems preferred.

Have you checked etsy? I found all my signs there.

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You're right in that no one is "forced" to pay for anything, but this does not detract from the fact that it is something guests do not ordinarily expect to do at weddings and will appreciate prior notice of.

On the day there definitely should be bar signs or something (in addition to guests being forewarned) and I second Elizabeth's suggestion to look to some etsy listings for wording examples.

I've never been to a wedding with a no-host bar, but I have certainly been to plenty of fundraisers and other events where drinks were available for purchase. There is usually a menu/price list available at the bar. People should be warned in advance to bring money (since many people don't bring money to weddings), and when they approach the bar, they should know how much each drink costs before they place their order.

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Yes, this is considerate. People should know in advance, despite what Peach thinks.

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I think that's the general consensus. If I'm expected to fund part of the party, then I'd like a heads up.

For me, it's like going to someone's house for dinner and being presented with a bill for the wine.

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Exactly this. People need to know so that they can plan accordingly. In my social circle, where cash bars aren't a thing, I would assume that people would want to deduct a certain amount that they otherwise would have spent on the wedding gift in order to compensate (i.e. if someone were going to give a $100 gift, they would instead give a $50 gift in order to make up for having to pay for their own drinks). So, OP, I think your best bet is to be upfront with your guests on your wedding website about the cash bar, AND display a sign that lists the price of each drink.

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Excuse me, but I never mentioned this is not being communicated to the guests in a different form. To reiterate, yet again, I am looking for verbiage on a sign. Please, spare me of the judgement-driven conclusions and focus on the question at hand before responding rudely with assumptions.