Cash or Open bar???

We had an open bar and had a tip jar for our bartender. He loved it.

Katie -- that is an ABSURD statement on open bar weddings. Sounds like you run with a very immature crowd who doesn't know how to control their drinking. That or the weddings you've been to are made up of underage high schoolers with their hands on alcohol for the first time in their lives...

So addition to paying for everyone's drinks I'm expected to pay for security to make sure grown ass adults don't ruin my day? Lol seems a bit more tacky than just a cash bar but yeah sure

Katie if you host a party at your Home for family and friends would you expect them to hand you $20 as they walk in the door? You don't seem very gracious...

Katie? Seriously?

@katie in my 34 years of exstence I hae never, ever ever been to a wedding where anything remotely close to that was happening..

In my opinion, open bar would be incredibly awesome, but I can't afford to do that. I have never been to an open bar wedding. I have been to weddings with all cash, and I have been to weddings with limited beer and wine. I have never been offended and I have never known anyone to be offended at it either.

@Katie I'm a wedding bartender at an event venue. I've NEVER seen this happen. I've had to cut off a couple of people (I usually just stop putting the "Jack" in their "Jack and coke" and they don't notice), but never has it been as you described. So, this is definitely not an accurate depiction.

I've read so many WW threads about this topic. At my wedding we will have free beer, wine and soda. In addition, there will be a "cash bar" if anyone wants mixed drinks. Personally, I do not drink beer and only drink mixed drinks, and every single wedding I have been too I have had to pay for my mixers, and I've had no problem with it. I think it is better to give people the option to pay for a beverage of their choice, then to not give them the option.

Actually you are required to pay for security....it's the law, at least where I'm at, if you're serving alcohol at your event. The fee is minimal (like $35 an hour or something) and guarantees that you will have none of the above shenanigans, which negates the argument of people getting too crazy.

@madelyne I agree I've been to both and never been offended if I had to pay for drinks. I would personally be more offended if I had to pay for my food.

@Madelyne, you have options with an open bar.

It doesn't have to be top-shelf liquor.

It could be well liquor or even beer + wine only.

A consumption bar is also an option, where you pay for what's consumed versus per person.

Open bars can be more affordable than one might think. It's all a matter of exploring one's options with the vendor supplying/serving the alcohol.

I've never seen security at a wedding. Nor vomiting.

I get it – cash bars can be expensive. You usually have to pay per person and maybe your crowd doesn’t drink much. Or maybe you’re worried about some people drinking too much and needing babysitters. It’s tricky. However, I think you should offer something. Here are a few that I have seen:

1. Champagne toast plus wine poured with dinner. This venue also had a cash bar in case anyone wanted more than what was offered.

2. Brunch wedding with unlimited champagne, mimosas and bloody marys

3. Beer and wine only

4. Signature cocktails only

5. Pick a venue that allows you to BYOB and then stock up during Costco sales (this is what we are doing)

Honestly, any effort to provide alcohol for your guests is better than nothing. You’re not responsible for making sure everyone gets shi*tfaced, but you are responsible for making sure they have a good time. For most people, that means alcohol.

We had an open bar and our venue required us to use security. It cost us $300. ETA - Serve beer and wine at a minimum. Trader Joes has wines for less than $3 a bottle and they are pretty good.

@Celia, in Texas they require an off-duty police officer to be on premises if alcohol is served...usually they're not at all visible, and end up sitting in the back with the rest of the vendors unless something gets out of hand (which I've never seen happen).

I've been to a couple of cash bar weddings and they always bombed. A lot of the guests felt put out by having to pull out their wallets because the couple didn't want to host us.

We are definitely having an open bar no questions asked. When we host parties with our friends and family we don't make them pay for drinks, why would we make them pay for one of the most special parties we'll ever host?

Open bar. Even if limited to beer, wine & a signature drink.

Open bars don't have to cost an arm and a leg. We're paying just under $18 PP for beer, wine and champagne for the night. That is not an unreasonable cost for properly hosting your guests by any means. EVERYONE I've talked to has told me that open bars aren't a thing and that every wedding they've been to has been cash bar to which I agreed that literally EVERY wedding I've been to has been cash bar or I received a "ticket" for a drink (woohoo... one glass of wine *eyeroll*). We decided to do an open bar because we know how we've felt having to pony up for our libations for the evening. It sucks, and we don't want our guests to feel that way.

Side note: What if your guests don't bring cash? This has happened to me, I had to leave the reception to find an ATM just so I could have a few drinks for the night. <------ So so so tacky.

Do some shopping around and find what works for your budget. Also I'd suggest not "going to BevMo" there needs to be a professional there serving your guests and monitoring when Uncle Chuck has had a little too much so he can be cut off.

Cash bar: To host an event is to pay for the event. Asking anyone to pay for their drinks is not hosting properly.

I know many people state budget when it comes to bar, but it is something that you know is needed, so plan for it.

Open bar: Guests are happy and are truly being treated as guests.