Cocktail hour, wine during dinner, champagne toast then cash bar - Is this enough or rude

@ KayWill15 - Thanks and I share your sentiments completely!

@e=mc2 - Thanks, we are paying for our own wedding and are already spending 3x beyond our budget. We are using most of our savings to pay for our wedding and my FH and I agree that we have much bigger priorities (buying our new home and moving). That being said, we are hosting what we can afford and choosing not to put ourselves in debt and start a happy marriage life with no worries. I guess we all have different priorities.

@emmy - Thanks, personally the only thing that bothered me was that our package did not include unlimited soda. I would not want my guest to have to pay for that but with alcohol, I feel it should not be expected. I do feel what we are offering is plenty but wanted to see people's perspective as a guest. I've been to different weddings with and without alcohol and never really had any issues with it. I guess it's different for everyone.

Well of course when you've been to different weddings with or without alcohol you haven't had an issue- you're allergic to alcohol so it wouldn't make a difference to you whether you have to pay for it or not.

I understand you're paying for the wedding and don't want to go into debt. That being said, I think there are cost-effective ways to provide alcohol to your guests that won't break the bank. As many have suggested, you could get rid of the 1 hr open bar and champagne toast and instead have a limited bar of beer and wine all night.

Thanks for the response ladies. I appreciate all of your feedback.

@Kassy & Lawmom - Good to know that some guests do not mind cash bars.

@Nicola - I love your response! I too agree that just because you can afford to do something doesn't mean you should do it. I think we have gone beyond our budget and are trying our best to compromise and be gracious hosts. I am a big foodie and made sure our guest would enjoy the food we are serving. We are serving 4 hot and 2 cold appetizers, 8 different salads, chicken marsala, baked salmon and top round beef at the carving station. I think there's more to a wedding than just alcohol. Cheers!

@Nakia - Love your response as well! I am doing exactly what you said and sticking with our current plan.

Yeah some guests won't mind. But a lot will.

My priority is properly hosting my guests. I applaud you for not going in to debt for a wedding, but what you're doing is rude. I hate the thought of changing from open to cash. Being charged for a drink you got for free a half hour ago could create some embarrassing situations. Like being caught without your wallet and having to leave a drink at the bar after the bartender already made it.

I am a big naysayer of cash bars but also a big fan of host what you can afford. This sounds fine and you are definitely providing a lot of options for people. That being said- how are you going to let people know about the switch to the cash bar?

I say cut the guest list and have an open bar, if you can

The fact that you have 1 hour open bar, wine at the tables and a champagne toast is more than enough. i wouldnt add the cash bar option, but that just me.

We are personally doing an open bar cause it's important to us, that being said- I think the fact that you're providing one hour open etc and them the test is acceptable especially of your guests are accustomed to it. I think cash bars are not my first pick big understand where you're coming from.

To avoid guests being surprised- maybe out it under guest info on the wedding website tactfully? Also maybe see the cost of having more wine and beer that night vs liquor? A nice compromise.

Ps you'll love az! We've been here 5 yrs and love it as well as getting married here

Honestly, I think it's great that you're offering wine with the meal...I've been to weddings where the bride and groom only paid for certain beverages ( one wine, one beer, one liquor) and the rest was cash bar, and honeslty I wasn't offended...I think it's weird to only bring your gift and shoes to a wedding...I always bring my purse no matter what (I've been to those weddings where they actually ID you), I think what you're doing is a GREAT IDEA and wish I could incorporate it into my own.

2 bottles of wine per would barely allow a 10 person table one glass. Cut your guest list and do full open or do beer/wine unlimited all night.