Cash Bar

Not a fan of cash bars. How about just wine & beer for alchohol?

I have actually only been to 1 wedding that didn't At least have beer and wine provided. We're doing an open bar(not top shelf) for everyone all night. Most of our friends would rather drink than eat so it was an important part of our planning. Since they are our guests I considered what they would want rather than what is easier for me. I just want everyone to have a good time since they took so much time out of their lives to come help us celebrate our marriage.

If I say anything please let it be: No Dry Receptions!

I dont think they are rude. i can totally understand not being able to afford them. we are having an open bar bc i absolutely insisted. we are getting married on new year's eve so i feel like THAT would be tacky without an open bar! lol. but i think offering beer, wine, and soda is totally appropriate. or even just having an open bar for an hour or so and then a cash bar. if your venue will allow, another thought is to bring your own bottles of champagne or wine or something and have a couple on every table, just complimentary. it wont break the bank and it's a little something.

This is a big issue with us as well. What we are doing is that we pay for the wine, that will go with the meal, anything else will be a cash bar. We are trying to see if we can get the cocktail bar deal with the reception, because if we can do that, then we will have all the alcohol for 2 hours for about $2,000, but that's the most we would pay. The last solution you can do, which is something else we are considering is to pay for a certain amount of the bill, like $1000, and from that point on, it becomes a cash bar. Everyone will still get in a drink or two and you won't go broke.

Why is this tacky?? i could see it being tacky if you had your guests paying for their food. but alcohol is NOT a given.

not rude at all to have a chase bar. if you can afford an open bar for cocktail hour go for it! if you can afford it all night, go for it! but if you have a chase bar i dont think its tacky at all.

I don't think it is tacky! I would see what your options are at your venue. My FH cousin suggested to us that he had been to a wedding where they just had a different bottle of alcohol on each table. Then you could go and mingle with the other tables to get the type of alcohol you wanted in your drink. We are doing an open bar, but it is limited to what we want to buy.

I personally don't agree with a cash bar as a guest but on the other side, when money is tight, sometimes it is the way to go.

Its not rude or tacky at all! some people may not like it, but it depends on the crowd. my fh's family couldnt care less if they have to pay for it or not, as long as theres booze! lol. and were having a champagne toast that is on us, so thats something. lol

If you have to pay for the bar per head and only a small percentage of people drink; then I would have to agree with you it is not worth it. Some places will only allow you to do it that way. If your place is flexible in how you can do your bar then you can do a select open bar. Also people drinking and driving is not on you; that is why you would have bartenders to make sure people are not over served. One of the biggest cost to is when people order shots; you can always just say no shots you can work with your place and say you only want to spend $500 have someone be in charge and when the tab gets close have them let you know and you can make the call then. Also what time of day is your wedding, that can make a huge difference too. People tend to drink less during the day.

Cash bars are rude, imo. You wouldn't invite people to your home and ask them to pay for their food / drinks, would you?

I don't think its rude. I have been to a few weddings where it was a cash bar and people didn't seem to mind. We are going to try to save money by having beer, wine, & a signature drink instead of a completely open bar.

I think it's not tacky, but if I were so short on cash, I would buy cheaper invitations or flowers...just because it's so nice when you can provide at least some limited amount of beer or wine or both for your guests.

But if both families or friends drink moderately or not very much, I don't think anyone will complain, right?!!!

You are still providing a full meal, cake, and entertainment, possibly favors, right? That's a lot.

Or even have a cheap rehearsal dinner...You would be surprised how much that can be.

We are having an open bar with limited types of drinks. Which pretty much means aside from beer, there will be Vodka, Jack Daniels, Patrone and Peach Schnapps. Mixers will be available such as Coke, Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice etc. and of course Lemon juice to make the Lemon drops with. Non-alcoholic drinks such Coke, Diet Coke, Tea and Water will be available too.

The first time I heard of a cash bar was at a friend's wedding. I was surprised that I'd have to pay for my own drink and did think it was kind of sucky..not rude..just sucky. HOWEVER, now being a bride and seeing all it costs to throw such an event, I'm for the cash bar! LOL. Seriously, it costs a lot to throw a wedding!!! Even if you budget really well...I'm offering a hosted cocktail hour and then it turns into a cash bar...most of my guests don't drink anyway so I think it won't be an issue. Yes, you're a guest, but you shouldn't allow the bride/groom to go bankrupt just so you can have a few drinks...a friend of mine recently got married and hosted the bar and for just the first hour, her guests racked up 3K in drinks!!!!!

I have been to a wedding where you even had to pay for your own soda, now THAT was cheap!

We are having a semi-open bar, as we're going to have open beer, wine, & 'punch bowls' of different mixed drinks. Top shelf will be available at the guest's cost, other than immediate fam.

Everyone has a point about "guests" but Im not inviting my family and friend up the mountain to get drunk. Im inviting them to share my experience. Most of my family doesnt even drink and most of my friends are Mead and draft cider drinkers anyway. Which we will have cider instead of champagne for toasting. I dont think its rude or tacky at all. Im on a serious budget, most of my decorations have been found at thrift stores and on clearance with coupons, and Im making my own dress with fabric I bought wholesale. Im doing everything but the catering and cake DIY. And the only reason Im not doing those is because I get a discount on the cake through our venue and the venue only uses their own catering. I can barely afford to get married let alone afford to get my guests drunk before they drive down a 5 mile winding mountain road in the middle of the afternoon. IMHO, it should be on a per situation basis. Of course if you have tons of money or live like you do, it will be

... expected, but if you share a house with your mom, people wont complain if you dont have an open bar.

If only a small amount of your guests drink, then estimate how much alcohol they will drink (e-vite has a great tool for this) and pay for only that amount. Once it's gone, it's gone. It doesn't have to be expensive.

But please, please, please do not offer an open bar for the wedding party and make other guests pay. That is beyond rude and insulting. I'm also of the opinion that if you cannot afford to provide alcohol, then just don't provide it. You don't want to make your guests pay for anything at your wedding.

We are hosting beer and wine all night, and will have a cash bar available for guests who want something else. I think that's reasonable. Depending on pricing, we may also host a signature cocktail of sorts, but not sure. Probably just sticking with beer and wine.

And I'm definitely including that detail on the wedding website so that people can come prepared.