Do I NEED alcohol my wedding?

Mormons and Muslims have legitimate religious reasons not to serve alcohol, which is not the same thing. It's absolutely good hosting to serve alcohol at an adult party. Every single college party, dinner party, cocktail party etc. I've ever been to in the last two decades have had alcohol. A big event like a wedding should not be booze-free because the couple can't afford it unless it's a true 2-hour cake and punch reception between meals. Save more or cut the guest list or don't buy a wedding dress

You do not NEED alcohol. I hate how your wedding day turns into all about the guests and everything is about thanking them. Yes you want to provide a pleasant atmosphere but they are lucky to witness your special day. If someone cannot enjoy themselves in a social setting without having alcohol then perhaps they need AA. Save your money and put it towards something you really could benefit from or want.

Stars don't lie.

I think the lucky ones to have people drop their own plans to come and witness your day is you - the couple.

Your wedding is not as important to anyone as it is to you, and yet, people care and will show up.

Part of hosting properly is to provide a good meal, and drinks *religion reasons to keep alcohol away from your event are different*

If you want to save money, offer wine and beer or consider cutting your guest list.

People that like to drink socially are not people who need AA.

As someone who did live with a person who need AA I find it very offensive for people to generalize and throw in those words.

my two cents.

You should have alcohol.

You don't need to provide alcohol at your wedding. I've been to plenty of dry weddings and have just as good of a time. No one will think any less of you if you don't provide it. If they do feel some sort of way about it, they probably aren't true friends. The wedding day is all about you and your future spouse.

My entire family doesn't drink, but I'm providing alcohol because I enjoy it. You should do whatever you feel comfortable with.

Adults do not need alcohol to have a good time. Apart from most on this website, people aren't too picky when it comes to weddings. They're just happy to celebrate with you.

I really don't like when ppl say cut your guest list if you can't afford alcohol! Geesh people, it's really not that serious. I've been to plenty of cash bar weddings and either purchased a drink or got my own and had a great time! OP, don't go broke trying to please everyone at your reception or on WW. As long as you're having food I say you're good.

FutureMrs.Bailey, are you comfortable with the idea that your guests are paying money because you overinvited beyond your budget? So you're good with the guests subsidizing the cost of your party?

I'm not the biggest drinker but when I'm at a wedding I want a drink. It's a celebration not a funeral.

Beer, wine and margaritas sounds perfect. Even if your guests aren't "party animals" they will be very appreciative of a nice drink!

What time is your reception? People will typically drink less at lunch than at dinner (also meals would be cheaper if you are concerned about the budget)

I just got married on Sat and we had a dry wedding to include a venue that prohibits alcohol. Should you go this route be very VERY clear to guests to not bring their own otherwise they will and like me you could lose your deposit and have other issues arise.

Can anyone who is insisting that providing alcohol is an absolute necessity, provide a legitimate citation from a recognized authority on etiquette?

"Dear Miss Manners: I would like to have a wedding reception with no alcohol, but I am concerned that it would be considered unforgivably rude...

The groom is open to a dry reception, but I have been told by other people that this would be horribly rude. The wedding itself is to be a low-budget affair in our backyard.

I was prepared to be called cheap or boring, but I hadn’t really thought it was a rude decision. Others (family members) have told me that they won’t attend a dry reception.

Is it a rude choice? I’m so disappointed that adults would threaten to skip celebrating a special day with us if we don’t give in to their demands about what we serve.

Gentle Reader: If your relatives feel that they need to drink to attend your wedding, the alcohol problem in your family is even worse that you thought.

Of course it is not obligatory to serve alcohol at a wedding, or any other social event. Miss Manners suggests that you tell your relatives that you are sorry to miss them. A message delivered to their favorite bar should be able to reach them."

Beer and wine would be nice...or pick out a signature drink that you and FH like.

@muriel - Miss Manners may disagree but it's all about properly hosting your guests. Adults drink....not always in excess but many like to have a glass of wine with dinner. During a celebration, many like to toast with champagne. Usually, guests are not going to the wedding to get hammered but let adults be adults. I would personally not go to a wedding that did not include some kind of a bar. Do I want to get s&$*faced? No. Would I like a glass of wine with my steak after I got all dressed up for a night out? Yes. It's not a matter of me having an alcohol problem; it's a matter of being treated like an adult at an adult event with adults getting married. A lot of people take time off work for weddings, hire babysitters, travel from far away, etc. If you can't afford a bar, cut your guest list. If "none of my family members or friends drink except for one or two," offer a bar and pay by consumption since apparently no one drinks, you won't have to pay much. If "too many people get rowdy when they drink," don't punish the rest of the adults. If you have strict religious beliefs or you're at a no alcohol venue, please talk to a niche of people in that group.

Dry wedding equals short reception. Just ask the bride who posted a long thread today and believes that half of her wedding guests exited her park reception early because of her groomsman's behavior and her "up and coming" wedding planner/DOC who failed her (i.e., totally inexperienced and super cheap) -- not her burger, chips, and pizza self-catered, dry wedding.

Sara's dead wrong -- unless you're looking for a recipe for guests who can't believe there's nothing to drink at a party that cost them quite a bit to attend. Stop with the religion and philosophical nonsense. Nine times out of ten, Sara, it has to do with wanting to invite more guests than you can afford to host.

OP, you're on the right track. I think it's great that you asked a question with an open mind rather than a position. Beer, wine, and Margaritas? You're good to go. You'll have a long, excellent party that will outlast the lemonade, tea, coffee, soda receptions. Statistically, that's a fact.

@Sarah- so that's a "no" from you then.

It is one thing to have a personal opinion, but to state that it is a breach of etiquette not to have alcohol, like so many responses in this and other threads on the same subject, is just plain wrong.

You should at least do beer and wine. A dry wedding, nope, I would not recommend it.

Drinking alcohol doesn't automatically mean people are drinking to get drunk. You should offer your guests the leisure of being able to have a drink. I had a glass of champagne with my dinner tonight and it was great. At least have beer and wine without charging a fee -at least.

Full disclosure I've just skimmed these comments and not read every one thoroughly.

I live in the middle of nowhere Tennessee, and most weddings here are cake and punch or dry for the most part ( sometimes people have a secret keg they're hiding from our conservative grandparents). I will be providing alcohol at my wedding because that's what my FH and I want. Our venue is in a dry county so they cannot sell alcohol, but we can bring it to the venue and have their bartender serve it free to our guests.

We are not beer drinkers, but we will provide beer in addition to wine and cocktails because we have several guests who do.

I don't think alcohol is necessary, but it is a nice touch, and your guests will appreciate it.

Nope. We're having a dry wedding, most of the weddings I've been to have been dry except for one. It's not poor hosting to have a dry wedding. People don't need alcohol to have a good time.

Would you consider moving your wedding to a Sunday brunch and just doing a champaign or mimosa toast? Much less expensive then providing a bar and with the late morning time frame people really won't be expecting a full bar. ETA just realized my suggestion probably wasn't needed lol. Glad your reconsidering OP good luck!