Cash Bar vs. Open Bar

Top shelf open bar, but we're able to bring our own alcohol in which makes it way cheaper, and just have to pay a couple hundred for the bartendar. I haven't been to a lot of weddings, but the ones I've been to have been open bar. I'm in CA.

We get two hours of open bar, I might add a specialty drink and free beer all night... My guest are going to celebrate our wedding not get trashed, i hate sloppy drinkers!

Pearl, I hate that too. We have 3 on our guest list. I'm emailing their photos to the bartender so they will be watering down their drinks all night. I'm not joking.

One of my friends did that at her wedding. Her sister has a serious overindulging problem. I pointed her out on the sly to the manager and all night the sister was like, "Why does this goddang rum taste just like diet coke? Goddang it!" We felt bad stifling laughter at her but honestly? She was the most pleasant I have ever seen her in 7 years. lol.

Kris-I'm doing that too. FH rarely drinks but when he does, he gets silly with his bro. The bartender will be under strict orders to water down their drinks as well as FH's aunts and cousins.

We are having a wine and beer only. 20 bottles of wine and a 1/2 keg. Once that is gone that is it.

Generous open bar all night long.

Kris S., you took the words right out of my mouth! In my opinion open bar is an absolute must and charging a guest a cash bar is rude (sorry, just being honest)....especially OOT guest who are paying for flights, hotels, gifts, etc. But, an open bar with beer and wine only is also 100% ok. I also agree with the girls that it does matter where you are from. I'm from both NC and WV where cash bars, limited bars or even dry weddings are often heard of. I have been to over 40 weddings in NY and have never ever ever seen anything but an open bar. So, IMO, it is regional. To us, open bar was THE most important thing. ;-) We have a crazy crew of friends and family.

Your wedding is... well, it's what you want it to be, whether you want to party all night long or just have a nice dinner... but ultimately its a chance for your family and friends to participate in an amazing moment in your life, not just an excuse to get drunk. If you can afford an open bar and that's what you want for your wedding, that's awesome, but if you can't or it's not, it shouldn't be an issue or a dealbreaker for your guests... you know, the people who are there to support you and show their love?

Kris- kudos for knowing your guests. Our best man. Love him. Do not love his drinking habits. He's is on the water down list!

We are just having beer available for our guests and free soda, most people in my area are huuuuge beer drinkers ( Wisconsin of course). I HATE the idea of an open bar! I REFUSE to pay for someone to get drunk and make a fool of their self at my wedding! Alcohol is soooo expensive and I'm not willing to go into debt over supporting someones bad habits. You already are feeding them a buffet meal, cake, beer, soda, tea, blah blah blah....they can buy their own damn 5 dollar cocktail! -tad bit of a rant their- but i think there is a real pressure out their to have an open bar, You do what you can afford! and if the guests are really going to gripe about not having open bar...thats pretty shitty....lol

@ Amie W that's an awesome way to put it!!

Kat and Amie I'm with you.

I have been to numerous weddings and would have rather had to PAY for my drinks than driven hours to get to some of the locations to be honest.

My FH doesn't drink, I rarely drink and we have many guests who are 7th day adventist who don't believe in the consumption of alcohol. Open bar for cocktail hour and then only beer and wine will have to be acceptable.

We're from MA and whether it's regional or not we're doing what is "our" norm. Like many have said if people are going to gripe about it then don't come.

I also heard from one of our guests who is a police officer that there are also some liabilities to consider, too. You’ll have to research your local and state laws, but if you have an open bar and one of your guests gets into a fight or an accident because of excessive alcohol consumption, as the host you may be held l

Eating cake is a bad habit too. Statistically there will be more obese people at your wedding than alcoholics. Will you be judging them and charging them per slice? lol.

Aimee our bartenders carry state licensure and liability insurance. They're trained to cut people off when needed and have our full support to do so. Even if it's one of us. If someone gets overserved and a problem ensues, it's their responsibility first. Our responsibility second. And we have an event liability policy too that covers us in case any random thing happens. If you're concerned about that then ask your venue what kind of policy they have and if you need additional coverage. You can purchase a pretty cheap policy online.

http://www.wedsafe.com/

Celery and water for all!

Yes I hate cake but I'll serve it at my wedding, for free too.

I just have a problem when people say "I don't want people to spend my money to get drunk".

If you can't afford it, just say you can't afford it. Don't blame the guests. If you just don't want to have it, just say you just dont' want to have. Kris is correct about the liability issues. That's why you employ a professional bartender.

PS- The drunkest I've ever been at a wedding was a dry one.

Lol Labake!

Full open bar. We found a gorgeous venue that has a very affordable alcohol package. We originally going to go with rail liquor, but since we had to meet a catering minimum, the venue was kind enough to allow us to put the difference between rail and premium liquor towards the minimum (normally they don't do that).

In all honesty, it might have been cheaper for us to do a hosted bar but we don't want to worry about it, and we also want our guests to have a great time. If that includes getting drunk, so be it. None of our friends or family gets so drunk that we need to worry about their alcohol intake, thank God!

Our guests get a glass of champagne and two drink tickets. Beyond that its a cash bar.

We are having a 2 hour open bar.

I think a reason some people do not like having one is because they don't like to be around drunk people. I personally can't stand dealing with people like that so it is part of why I am choosing my limited bar.

Unfor people's behaviors do play a part in some decision making throughout the wedding planning process. I'd rather not have to advise our staff who to keep an eye on all night, they're not my babysitters.