Cash bar

Never seen a cash bar at the weddings I've been to in adulthood. Either they had open bar, a bunch of kegs and bottles, or something non-alcoholic. I've seen my fair share of friends' weddings have hot chocolate with different toppings available, as well as mixable flavors.

Okay, so who's hosting the open house addiction counseling after all this "neeeeed alcohol" mindset catches up with people. I'm all for hosting well--imo guests should not need their wallets--but alcohol is most definitely optional.

@emily, no they don't HAVE to, but most of the time they will.

@ Belle. Seriously? Rehab? Because most adults think a glass of wine is appropriate at a celebration?

Centerpiece is right. Lemonade and coffee and cash bars make for a very short, unpleasant party. I, for one, would never choose a vigorous game of corn hole over a glass of wine.

@Belle

All but one of the weddings I've been to were open bar in some way - whether it was full open bar, signature drink with beer and wine, or beer and wine.

At the one that wasn't open bar, each guest was given 2 drink tickets.

In California, cash bars are a major faux pas. I personally don't care. I have been to many weddings in every region of the US. Parts of the east, but mostly mid-west, cash bars are the norm.

We are having a limited selection bar... beer, vodka, rum, tequila, and wine

@Celia, not because most adults feel a glass of wine is appropriate at celebrations, but because there were comments explicitly stating that alcohol is necessary. Line=crossed.

Belle, expecting an adult beverage at a celebration does not make you a candidate for rehab, okay?

It is necessary. Maybe not for you, and that's fine, but insinuating that that expectation is cause for rehab alarm is rude and incorrect.

I grew up in New England my entire life. I will say that majority of the weddings I have attended have been cash bars. That being said, I dislike them with a passion. BF and I do not carry cash on us. We have discussed our wedding extensively and we have come to the agreement that we will have an open bar. The last wedding we went to was for his best friend who had a cash bar simply because they did not want his sister to get trashed. The drinks were crazy expensive and his sister still got trashed. Just goes to show you that even if that is why, it doesn't work.

I've personally never been to a wedding with a cash bar, I'm from NW Indiana. We were thinking about doing a host bar only because we don't see a lot of our family members drinking and if they do maybe a glass or two of wine. My FMIL and mother talked us out of it and told us just to a cash bar.

@A&C why would you let your FMIL and mom talk you into a cash bar when you have never been to one that had one? Curious more than anything. I think your idea of a hosted bar is better than asking your guests to participate in something you have never had to do.

Cash bar is for cheap rude people. I'm my social/cultural circle it is completely unacceptable.

My younger brother is from MA (although his bride is from and wedding was in DE) and they had an open bar. Almost nothing NOT alcoholic to drink, but the booze was free and plentiful.

I live in Florida and I have NEVER been to a wedding that was a cash bar. All of the weddings I have been to were either all open, or a few ( I think only one really) were beer and wine only. Mine next weekend will be Open Bar, but that is probably the most expensive part of our wedding. To save a little money (like 1/2 an hour) we are closing the bar during intros and first dances.

We are also throwing an Adult Only affair, so I feel like that is kind of expected when parents want to get away for a night.

I have been to a crazy amount of weddings and i have never in my life seen a cash bar. (Philly/NJ area) I think it's extremely rude to invite guests and not properly host them.

I agree it's a cheap ass thing! You don't have your guests reach in their pocket for anything at your event! RUDE!!!

I don't think I've ever seen a cash bar (not that I can recall). Metro DC area here. I also attended another wedding in MA, and the booze was free-flowing.

Honestly, booze is NOT that expensive, esp if you're going with wine/beer. All of ours (I bought at Total Wine (like BevMo) and used coupons/sales/case discounts) came in at right around $700 for 6 cases of high-quality wine/sparkling wine, and about 130 beers. Our venue lets us bring our own, so that's to our advantage, I suppose. But in the scheme of things, I just don't think $700 is THAT much. Cut back on your accessories, get a cheaper veil, don't splurge on the shoes, get stationary apps instead of passed...whatever. Booze is important.

I grew up in WA, and I've never been to an open bar wedding. And my social circle isn't generally classless lol

I live in Maryland but I've been to weddings all over, form NY to California. I've only ever been to open bars. I've been to two where they closed the bar at dinner but had open bar before and after. Never been to a cash bar wedding.