Cash bar?

Just watching and enjoying

This thread is breathtaking.

For those that jumped down my throat about avoiding family fiascos, let me remind you that it isn't that easy to not invite my parents and future in laws. When we met with our venue coordinator today, she suggested that we use the country club's bar that is literally through a doorway from our reception room. The price for an open bar was unimportant in the conversation. It's more the fact that I don't want to be responsible for my family members driving anywhere from 40 minutes to 2 hours home from my wedding drinking. If they choose to do so, that is then their responsibility and it is completely out of my hands. Also, my coordinator was able to still provide us with a option for a toast that wasn't alcoholic. Sometimes, safety getting home is more important than drinking at an event, especially since my reception is only going to be 4 hours and a half hour ceremony.

Tokens for soda? I dunnnn heard it all. Lord have mercy on this pitiful thread.

No good story ever started with "well first I drank this coke..."

No sentence should ever start with "here's a token for my Diet Pepsi" ... I will bring a 2 liter to the wedding and drink out of with a big bendy straw all night.

Tacky does not equal rude. Just rude.

Right Kayla, so the reason you're making people pay for drinks is???

Your cash bar isn't going to make people behave responsibly.

Just stop hahaha. Extremely tacky and rude. @del yesss that's right! And yes I have multiple alcoholics in my family but we will have full open bar until 1am when our party is over. I am not responsible for what guests do, and I would never punish guests(or myself!) for 2-3 people who drink too much.

Have fun with bored guests who will leave right after dinner.

StPaulGal, that's a great suggestion! In fact, that's exactly what FH and I decided early on. We are serving red and white wine that we made together for our wedding 6 months to serve and gift. We are also serving three beers and have two signature cocktails that match our theme and catered dinner preparation.

Sometimes, I think these posts are BS and are meant to stir up some controversy.

Miranda has actually been talked into (you'd have to be talked into this by someone who says they're a wedding "expert") handing out tokens. Before we get to what those tokens are redeemable for, let's just picture it. For those of in us who are familiar with cities with subways, tokens take us across town so we can avoid traffic, underground. That's what a token is. Formally dressed people being handed tokens? At a wedding? Fire the wedding planner because this is so egregious that it is laughable.

Oh, wait...my eight year old grandson loves tokens! When he's at a place with video games on every wall, tokens are what he's looking for. Tokens. When did those fake coins make their way into the wonderful world of weddings, I wonder? What professional didn't widen their eyes are say, "Tokens for drinks? Hahahaha. Very funny. OMG, you're serious, aren't you?"

Tokens. I've seen them at children's birthday parties -- you know, the kindergarten set -- but never at weddings. But okay, now it's acceptable to hand them out to wedding guests -- those who are allegedly the most important people in you life. Picture it, "Here you go, Aunt Emma, take these two tokens. No, open your hand, or let Ben, your son, put them in his pocket right next to his two tokens. Aunt Emma, this is important, so listen -- you too, Ben. You can get two sodas, and we have more choices than you have tokens, so choose wisely. But understand, if you spend one token on soda, you're down to one token, and those tokens can be traded in for alcohol. You know, adult beverages? So either have one Sprite and one Pepsi, or one Root Beer and one Vodka, but after that, it's up to you...and we love this phrase because it sounds so sophisticated...to use 'your discretion' to buy, purchase, cash on the barrel, and essentially open your wallet so that you can enjoy a glass of something that you'd expect to find at a wedding that you thought would be more than a kid's birthday party. So, choose wisely. We're so generous that you can take those two tokens and have TWO adult beverages, but you must realize that if you go that route, you will get no soda. What's free (as the weirded out guests decide whether or not to put their gift envelope in your birdcage/mailbox/DIY three level gift card box -- prominently displayed) is water. Oh, you can get coffee and tea, courtesy of us, but go with the water since everyone knows that's coffee/tea is a dessert/end of night beverage."

Is there no shame? Dress, drive, gift, lodge, and here's your two damn tokens. In what world?

Those who are pretending that it isn't their desire to have guests and guests and guests, with gifts and gifts and gifts, but they can't sanction the alcoholics they've invited. BS. Your alcoholic guests will laugh at your cash bar. You're saving yourself money while simultaneously charging your guests for the party you want, but won't pay for. You know the alcoholics are coming with alcohol, and if you really cared, you wouldn't have invited them.

But yet, your post was originally asking if it was acceptable. I'm not gonna comment on that, but I will say don't ask questions you don't like the answers to.

10/10 I'd show up to the wedding like this.

@Kayla and @ OP do you. You don't need validation from me to tell you what to do or how to do it. Just know that posts like these are very controversial if you don't agree or if you have your own thoughts. Because this is WeddingWire and we ALL have to have the exact same opinions. Now, While a cash bar is the unpopular opinion, only you know your budget and your guests. I myself will not be having a cash bar because I will have a full service open bar but I'm not going to tell you that you should do the same nor will I place a judgement on you because you feel differently. I've been to weddings where they were completely dry but the dance floor remained packed all night with guests mingling throughout and having a great time. I've also been to weddings that had an open bar where I just wanted to leave because it wasn't that great of a party either. It really does depend on the type of crowd you're working with. If your guests really want to celebrate with you, they will and alcohol really won't change that. If safety is your number one concern then I say eliminate the bar all together because if people want to drink they will find a way to do it and a cash bar/drink tokens won't regulate that.

Everyone has a budget. You must be new here. A cash bar is never okay. Do you charge someone for beer at your party? Host. You don't need to do open bar, but beer and wine is enough.

I say just eliminate silverware; who needs it anyway? And cake? Sugar is bad for you. No one needs that either. Chairs?

Standing is healthier for you.

See, it's all done for the good of the guests!!

Jfc let this thread die.

@Rhoyal diamond- soso rude. You don't drink? Do some of your guests? There you go. Don't be a horrible host and do some sort of alcohol. Who cares you don't drink because other people do...lol

@maranda that's disgusting haha good luck with having a enjoyable wedding for your guests...terrible and rude idea. Making them pay for soda. Jesus Christ get it together you have 2 months to get yourself together lol

Yes. Don't do a cash bar!