Cash bar

There is nothing wrong with spending less on a wedding unless you do that by treating a huge group of people badly. Or cutting out alcohol. Or forks.

@Celia, I couldn't agree more.

I don't want to pay for my chair rental all night, so after 10 the guests have to pay $5 if they want a seat.

I don't want to pay for the dj all night, so I think if my guests want more music they should come up with that money.

See how awkward that is folks? Chairs and music are expected at wedding receptions just as much as alcohol.

What I'm reading here is that 5k weddings are possible if you get a lot of help, it's 2 hrs in a park and there's literally no food besides cake.

I didn't read all the comments and I'm coming in a little late on this so this might be repeated.

Is it off putting as a guest if they went to a wedding and there was a cash bar? Heck ya. If I were a guest at a wedding and there was a cash bar would I gripe it out? Nope! I'm not there for free booze I'm there to celebrate my friends/families marriage. That being said if you can properly host your guests it's definitely the best option and there are options if budget is limited. As others have suggested in the few comments that I did read - limiting your offerings to beer and wine is usually the number one choice for "open bar". FH and I having a "capped open bar" we are fronting the bar a set amount and once the bar reaches that amount it turns to a cash bar - with our catering package and the cash on top we estimated 7 drinks per guest free so we are confident it won't turn into a cash bar.

And definitely no to drink tickets.

Well maybe your guests dont want to give you a gift then. These type of weddings drive me crazy.

@punkin beer.

I guess the breakdown didn't help. Lol I don't know where you guys come up with these assumptions. We have food, plenty of it. I was lucky enough to find a vendor that gave a very good discount to Sunday weddings.

But that's ok everyone can go ahead and believe what they want.

@Alexandra

"It IS possible to host 95 people on a $5000 budget."

Well, it's not possible to PROPERLY host 95 on a $5000 budget. $400 for alcohol for 95 people? That averages out to $4.21 per person. Like...HOW?

Also, your comments are being very hypocritical. Because you don't like when people are "rude" to you or OP because they have different opinions, but yet you have no problem being rude to other people who have different opinions. (Those different opinions being how to properly host a wedding.) See, I don't have a problem with snark. Because I can handle it.

Also, just out of curiosity, are you not having a photographer? I didn't see that in your list. Is there tax or gratuity on top of your $26/pp? I assume your venue is all inclusive, right? So you're getting tables, chairs, linens, silver/glassware, plates, food/non-alcoholic beverages and service staff for $26/pp? If so, that's incredible. But surely tax and grat can't be included in that as well, or am I wrong? Also, so your venue allows you to bring in your own alcohol? But then wouldn't you have to pay (and tip) a bartender? (Or two bartenders? Where I come from it's one bartender per 75 guests). Since you decided to break it all down, I am very curious now. I hope you will break it down again for me. And feel free to speak as slowly as you want. I got all day.

Also-for the love of everything holy, change your avatar.

I'm there for the free booze.

@beitivant

A lot of the people attending don't drink so me and the FH are confident that $400 will be fine for the alcohol.

I'm not making people pay for alcohol but I'm only having as much as I can afford, once it's gone it's gone. Sorry.

I don't think I'm being hypocritical at all in my comments. You're right I have been rude but if you'll notice I was only rude to those who were rude to me. For example the talking reaaal slow thing was said to me first so I just threw it back out there.

We've decide not to have a photographer.

Tax and gratuity is included.

The venue hadn't said anything to me about an extra charge for bartender nor is it in the contract I signed by that Is a good question and I'll be sure to ask about it next time I talk to them.

And im trying to change my avatar now.

We're putting so much money down...should be plenty for each person to have a few free drinks. We're doing this so people don't get totally wasted!!

Oh Lbee, no. They are adults. Are you going to monitor how much they eat too? I mean, I don't want my guests gaining weight. (Sarcasm implied)

@Alexandra--thanks for explaining. That really is an incredible pricing deal. Congrats on finding it. I worked at a place that was brand new and to get people in for the first wedding season, we advertised all inclusive weddings for as low as $19/pp. (that price didn't include alcohol and was one entree, two sides, no salad/soup, no dessert). And it didn't include tax and gratuity. But it was a great way to advertise. So I just wanted to be sure you weren't getting duped. Glad you aren't.

And I have no problem with you being a little snarky, especially if you feel you were snarked at first. I just really hate when people seem to get their panties in a twist and point out other people being rude. People feel very strongly about this subject. And if you stick around, you'll see how often these hot topics come up.

Like OP for instance, saying in her post that she heard it was rude, then somehow still being taken aback when everyone (but you and like two other people) confirmed she was being rude. It's like "what the hell did you expect?"

@beutivant

Thank you, I was really surprised when I found it too. It's actually in a church hall that has been remodeled and was recommended to me by a couple of customers.

I get what you mean. The funny part is is that I wasn't even coming to the OP defense I was honestly just trying to give OP other options and felt like I got a lot of heat for that.

Thankfully a friend of ours who has a brewery is donating his beer. We're paying for all the booze ourselves and it's going to be like, just 4 kinds and mixers. Costing less than $500 for 35 guests and all of our guests love to drink. I doubt anyone is going to be dancing on tables or puking outside, but people like to unwind. This is a celebration. there's no way I would have a wedding without offering alcohol. That's like not offering food.

ETA: I’m hosting 35 for 3.5-4k and on budget and not one single person is paying for it aside from me. And it's going to be an open bar. The only help I'm getting is from said brewery owning friend above. That's just luck lol

It really bugs me when people make the "totally wasted" comment.

I've only ever been to 1 wedding where someone was "totally wasted."

Guess what...he was wasted before the reception even started. He was drunk when he arrived, and drank from a flask the entire ceremony.

Most guests are not looking to get completely sloshed at a wedding, but it is expected that they'll be able to drink and have a good time without having to open their wallets.

Besides all that...your friends and family are adults who should be able to regulate themselves as far as their intake goes...and that's also why you have a professional bartender: they are able to regulate.

Plus, cash bars are bloody expensive. $16 for a Baileys on the rocks? No thanks. I'll drive to the liquor store and buy a bottle for $16 and car bar.

I'm with PC. I wanted my guests to get drunk on my dime and they did. And so did DH and I.

hollllaaaa

My 2 cents:

FH and I said that our main goal was for people to have a good time and enjoy the food, drinks and entertainment. That being said, it was VERY important for us to treat our guests and host them as best we can. We just had to do the research (some venues let you bring all the alcohol, some let you bring part of the alcohol, some charge corkage fees and some don't). We went with the option that fit with our budget without sacrificing what we believe is an important element for our wedding: an OPEN bar. In fact, thanks to doing our research before deciding on the venue, we could even upgrade on some premium brands for our alcohol.

I don't think a cash bar should be an option when nowadays there are sooooo many options in various price points to offer a proper open bar.

Oh. And agreeing with GymRat. Whoever said the reception is about bride and groom...yeah, here's one more vote that nope, you're wrong, wrong, WRONG.

Ceremony- about bride and groom. Reception-for the guests thanking them for coming to your wedding (and traveling, and taking off work, and getting hotels, buying new clothes and giving you a gift...).

I couldn't agree with Beutivant more! You have guests come so you can enjoy the wedding TOGETHER. Is it your day to get married? Yes. Is it just your party? No. If you don't want alcohol people won't stay long and all the months of planning and preparing will end quicker than you will want it to i can guarantee that. Most people need some liquid courage to get out on the dance floor, if they either have to pay for that or isn't an option they will sit at their tables for an hour or two and then go home. Then you just paid all that money for a DJ to play background music and possibly wasted money to have a venue until late and your guests have all left.

ETA: To go off what BoozyBaker said you can't tell me that if all of your friends leave early you won't be talking bad about them later on. Even though you were hosting a dinner not a party. If you only have food people will only eat and leave. IT's about remembering every part of your wedding so if you only provide dinner chances are it stops after people finish eating.