Drink tickets?

I would that if there is an allowance for the bar, the bartender would have to keep a tab to account for the drinks served. Otherwise, how would s/he know how much was spent? I would request that from your venue, in lieu of having to worry about printing these tickets, getting them to your guests, and then counting them up mid-reception to ensure you aren't getting screwed over??

(Just an FYI, this may become a large, heated discussion..mainly because the word tacky is in your title, and it has to do with drinking at a wedding) BUT

I don't think it's tacky, no. I've never been to a wedding where they have had this, but I don't think I would be "offended" by it either.

ETA: The good thing of doing it this way, as opposed to just having an allowance is that often times (and I have seen this done) when people know there is a cap on the bar, the same people will order like 7 drinks at once to make sure they don't have to pay for theirs.

It's not done where I'm from, but I don't think it's an outrageously rude or tacky idea. If your concern is the venue staff being honest, then is there another way you can work it out? Maybe a tally sheet or app for the bartender that would help keep track?

Your guests should understand that you're not a millionare. They're there for you, not for the booze!

Short answer: yes it's tacky.

Long answer: it's kind of rude to tell adults how much they're allowed to drink. The typical consensus on here is cash bar is rude no matter what. I dont care about that, so if you want to do that, I would rather suggest just doing only an hour of open bar & after that it's cash. Yes you can easily have some guests racking up the bill higher than those just sipping on one drink. But again, telling people how many beverages they can have, via a ticket, is rude. Your wedding is not a raffle, the alcohol is not a prize. Either deal with the costs for that one hour, or dont do a bar at all. Dry weddings are more acceptable than cash bars.

That is all just my personal opinion. Others may or may not agree.

I agree with everything Nafina said

My brother went to a wedding this weekend that had drink tickets. Some ppl on here might say it's tacky because some ppl think you should have an open bar. However, I do not think it is tacky. If you give each guest x number of tickets, you ensure that your cap doesn't run out before Suzy gets one drink because non has already pounded 8

I'm not against having a cash bar for part of the night. It's effing expensive, and sometimes it just isn't a possibility. I just don't think you should have to deal with the headache that these tickets are going to cause you, if you have to count them up midway through the reception to ensure that your $2000 (or whatever amount you pay) for the bar has actually been spent. The bartender should be able to show you the tab. Just be sure to be upfront with your guests that the open bar isn't going to last all night, so if they plant to drink all night, they need to be prepared cash-wise.

I don't think it's tacky but you need to figure out how you're going to execute that.

Will every guest get the same amount of tickets?

You will have some that don't drink at all, some that only want one drink and others who will hoard all the tickets and go around asking for extras.

I wouldn't leave them by the bartender, either.

If it's an issue with the bartender maybe over charging, he could easily add more to that jar, if that really is your fear.

2k in one hour is extreme but, maybe there was a lot of people at that wedding? How expensive were the drinks?

Just figure out how you're going to execute it because it could get messy with people asking others to give them extra tickets.

Is there any way you can stock your own bar? Take that 2k and go buy whatever alcohol you want, instead of using the bar at the venue?

Rachel, really? you think so... I don't know how else to word my question.

I've seen people do the drink tickets but they use the "admit one" red tickets. The only difference is that it's usually a more laid back party, maybe a sweet sixteen or a regular birthday. I want my wedding to be formal so I don't know how that would look.

And as a response to nafina's comment, you are not telling them how muh they can dunk, you are telling them how many drinks you will pay for. After that, cash. I don't see how it's so different from saying I will pay for your drinks for an hour and after that, cash. Personally I'm doing open beer and wine but guests can purchase liquor with cash

No, I don't think it's tacky. I would hope that your guests would understand you aren't rich and want everyone to be able to have a drink.

But do what you think is best!

Do they have a bar package or do they only charge per drink? I did a package and it was under $2000. Can you give more tickets to people you know will drink more and less to people you know won't. How many tickets would you give each person.?

Shannon, because not everyone drinks, those non drinkers will probably look at the tickets dumbfoundingly wondered what the point of it was. And I can imagine there's gonna be one, just one sneaky person who asks for the other peoples tickets. Therefore really just making it pointless. When you do open bar for an hour & cash after, it gives the open choice, with no limitations. So what if one person had none drinks & the guest next to them had 5, but if you warn them ahead of time it's only for an hour, those who want drinks now will get them. Even with the tickets (assuming there's one idiot who will take others tickets) people are going to drink how much they want, you cant monitor them like children.

Also, giving tickets is WAAAY to obvious that you're only willing to be charged a certain amount, I personally dont want my guests to know what my budget on alcohol is.

*I'm having a dry wedding, due to safety restrictions at my venue - cliffs*

Gia, I wouldn't do that. You're essentially "ranking" your guests. It's not fair to put more money into one guest than it is another

Personally. I would never make my guests pay for their own alcohol at my wedding. If budget didn't allow it, I would go with beer and wine only, or no alcohol at all. But then you'll get people trying to sneak it in, drink at their cars, etc etc. This is always a touchy subject on WW. I don't have any advice for you because I don't know you, your guests or your family, but personally, I view it as tacky and would never give out drink tickets.

Shannon, you beat me to the punch there. Nafina, I have no intention on telling people how much they can drink, they can drink all they want as long as they want, the bar will not close, my pocket will. I just want to make sure people get at least one or two drinks on US before we run out of money.

My question is with the tickets, I'm not passing out "admit one" carnival tickets.

I want to have accountability of the drinks beyond the running tab. I know the bartender can charge me for the $2000 worth of drinks I just want to know that there was a body attached to the other end of that drink. It's not about counting my guests drinks.

Well Erica, hey look you asked for opinions, I gave mine

You all make great points, I'm going to talk to my wedding director at the venue to see if she can ease my worry, for all I know my bartender can be super honest and do a great job, I think I'm just over thinking it. THANKS GIRLS

Nafina, I never said you're wrong or anything negative, like I said, you all make great points and thank you for your opinion I will consider it when I talk to my director.

I don't think its tacky at all