Cash Bar

I'm not going to go into a whole long post about this, but you need to offer *something* for free to your guests. We had a cash bar, but had 1L bottles of wine on the tables. The info was passed around word of mouth and all of our guests expected it.

I will say that if you cant afford it because your inviting 200 people that don't need to be there and you could afford it for 75 guests, you should consider cutting the list down.

Make sure it is definitely passed by word of mouth. Do not put it on the invite.

Don't put anything on or with the invite. On your wedding website (if you have one) put a note about the reception "reception with dinner and dancing following the ceremony. A cash bar bar will be available for cocktails" or something. Open bar all night where I live just doesn't happen. I asked my wedding planner at our venue what most couples do and she said they do a few all night open bars but the majority is a hosted cocktail hour or other time frame or until a dollar amount is met. I don't mind cash bars but I do expect a cocktail hour with a hosted bar or something similar. However, after being on WW and wanting our wedding to be the best our friends/family have been to FH and I are really trying to make beer and wine work all night. At the very least please offer beer and wine for a cocktail hour or something. Even a couple of bottles of wine on the tables.

*IF* you do decide to do this, at least put it on the wedding website. A lot of people these days don't carry cash and many of these "cash bars' are just that - i.e. they don't take card. So imagine that you have people at the wedding already annoyed they have to pay for booze and without any actual cash - not a situation you want to be in.

Just something to think about: putting it only on the wedding website won't be good enough. Honestly, if you have directions in the invitation, you're going to have people not even look at your website. I've never looked at a wedding website prior to going to a wedding.

I thank you *ALL* so much for the input.

Someone mentioned that I do have a year to go, which is why I'm trying to get the advice now, so that I know what to do. I haven't been to many weddings, and I don't know what's tacky/appropriate or whatever.

Will definitely be finding ways too incorporate this into our budget.

Thank you all again, it's appreciated!

Some word of advise: Don't do a cash bar! Find a venue that will allow you to bring in your own alcohol and bartenders and host a beer & wine only wedding. You can significantly cut costs this way.

The last wedding I went to, there was a mix up at the bar and it was a "cash bar" for the first 20 minutes of cocktail hour. Let me just say word got around pretty fast about how inconvenient it was to now have to go get cash and guests were not happy. Luckily, a close friend of the mother of the groom was able to sort everything out with the bartender and the bar was back to free for guests right away.

@FutureMrsE -- way to take everyone's (very accurate) advice like a champ! You're going to do well here

And now we can keep this thread up for the next brides who ask this question! Win, win, win.

I'd speak to your venue too to see what types of bar options they can give you. Hosting beer and wine will save you money when compared to hosting a full open bar, or you can see if it's an option to purchase you're own alcohol to bring in for them to use. Once you know what type of budget you'll need for the bar you'll know how much you need to save up. Also, I know our venue discounted guests under the age of 21 since they wouldn't need alcohol so that may be an option as well.

I also hold the unpopular opinion. I've been to dozens of weddings that ALL had cash bars. Some were open cocktail hour, which was nice, and then cash bar during dinner. I've never been offended that I had to buy my own beer (or more likely, martini). Maybe it's a regional thing?

Having said that, my cocktail hour will be open, champagne toasts, and then beer/wine during the reception as a consumption bar. At the end of the night, pay for what the guests drink. A venue may require a deposit to secure the bar, but mine waived that due to the open bar at cocktail hour. I'm also limiting the beer to domestics since the largest group of drinkers prefer bud light (know your audience).

My hope is as the night winds down, consumption will go down as well. For the guests who really want liquor, there's an actual bar in the hotel so they can just sneak over there. I'm not made of money.

I based my budget by first identifying non-drinkers and under 21. Rather than imagine what each person would consume, I eliminated a large chunk from the calculation all together.

I appreciate KitandKaboodle's advice, especially the message of having "the wedding you want and can afford".

You'll find a way to do what's best for your party.

Wow! My prediction failed. Literally I think you're the first person in the two years I've been here that has been told not to do a cash bar and was actually open to changing your mind. You're the best and you are most welcome here!! Glad we could help and @Jaklyn has some great advice on how to keep the cost down!

@FutureMrsE...WE do not have a year to go, WE have a little over 10 months. You need to make these decisions now because it will affect your budget. I am against a cash bar as are most of the other posters however you need to do what works for you.

HIH that was amazing.

Is it acceptable to have open bar for the first few hours and then turn it into cash bar? That's what I was thinking of doing but am not sure if that's deemed acceptable?

@Stacie - Could you do beer and wine only all night instead? Or beer, wine and a signature cocktail?

@Stacie, switching in the middle of your wedding is really confusing for your guests as well as your bartenders. Try @Lynnie's advice.

Thanks for the advice, ladies! Greatly Appreciated

I think cash bar is fine but like toehrs, I will try to inform the guests by word of mouth that it will be a cash bar so people have enough cash for it

Cash bars are so rude. Dont charge your guests for drinks at your party. Also, do NOT put it in your invite. Maybe like was suggested wedding website or word of mouth.