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Savvy April 2019

Dry Wedding Reception?

Mrsjrs, on June 14, 2019 at 1:53 AM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 13

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Hello all!

I’m already married, but my husband and I are hosting a big reception in 10 days since we had a destination wedding that we could only afford to bring our bridal party & immediate family members to.

For the destination wedding, we paid for bridal party flights, hotel rooms, and rehearsal/post-ceremony dinner & desserts. We helped out with paying for some bridesmaid dresses as well. We had an incredible wedding & we don’t regret any of it.

HOWEVER, because we spent so much on our bridal party’s/family’s travel for our wedding day, we don’t have a lot of money to spend on the reception. We are doing it super cost effectively (calling in favors, hiring family friends for DJ/catering/cake/etc, using Dollar Tree for decorations, etc) and we will still be barely within our budget.

All that being said, we have money to spend on champagne for toasts... but we don’t have money to spend on any other alcohol. I’m a little panicked because I’m worried that people will get bored at our reception (or even upset with us 😩) if we don’t have more alcohol. Keep in mind that because of our religious backgrounds, 95% of our attendees don’t drink regularly and won’t care... but I’m worried about the opinion of the 5%. Silly of me to worry, I know, but yet I still do... 😂

Can anyone help assuage my fears? Is it bad that I’m doing a mostly-dry-wedding? I really cannot afford extra alcohol....

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13 Comments

Latest activity by Laura, on June 14, 2019 at 3:18 PM

Legend June 2019
Melle · on June 14, 2019 at 2:02 AM
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Would it be weird if they brought their own? So I said that we would provide some alcohol but that people are more than welcome to bring their own drinks too
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Super July 2020
D · on June 14, 2019 at 2:50 AM
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Is it a daytime or nighttime reception? Dry daytime receptions generally are ok. Evening ones ...not so much.
But if truly 95% don't drink AT ALL then skip it. If there's a good chance more would have a drink if offered then maybe offer beer and wine. Or perhaps a bottle or two of wine for the drinking tables.
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Master August 2019
CourtneyBrittain · on June 14, 2019 at 3:46 AM
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We are doing a fully dry wedding, and I don’t think you should concern yourself with the 5% that does drink. All of our guests would drink if we had alcohol, but we didn’t have it in our budget to have any and we are fine with it. If people came to weddings just for the alcohol or expecting alcohol then they’re there for the wrong reasons.
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Master August 2019
CourtneyBrittain · on June 14, 2019 at 3:46 AM
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Forgot to mention that our ceremony is an evening one. People will live one night without alcohol.
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Beginner October 2021
Alexandra · on June 14, 2019 at 4:05 AM
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I don't think 5% is enough to go all out for honestly. I've had fun at weddings without alcohol.
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Master 0000
Judith · on June 14, 2019 at 4:33 AM
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It is perfectly fine to have any dinner party, party, or reception, with no liquor served. In your home, or in a restaurant. In a pub or bar, their is a reasonable expectation liquor will always be served. But nowhere else. If 90 percent of the people never or rarely drink, you can point to them as proof it is possible to live 5 hours in the company of others without any alcohol. Though there is always at least one boorish person who does not think so. But then, people still grumble that they cannot smoke in restaurants and public buildings and on airplanes. And in other people's hospital rooms. Some people feel entitled to be given everything their little heart desires, when someone else pays the bills. But most people with manners accept that some places have alcohol, some don't. You also do not need to serve caviar or lobster, though some people wish you would. Tell them to get over themselves.
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Super August 2019
Btbride · on June 14, 2019 at 7:27 AM
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I agree with this! Alcohol isn’t a requirement and if that many people don’t drink, it’s not worth wasting the money for 5% who do. They’ll be fine without it.
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VIP October 2020
Kelly · on June 14, 2019 at 7:34 AM
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I'm going dry and much more of my guests regularly drink.
Also you have champagne so it's not completely dry, and if most don't drink they probably won't even think about it.
Plus you paid for literally everything else, it's a destination wedding, if someone is bored or complains they're seriously ungrateful!
They'll survive one night without alcohol and can have a drink after if they really can't.
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Master June 2017
Mrs. Coakley · on June 14, 2019 at 7:43 AM
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Would you be able to do a consumption based bar? Like you only pay for what is consumed instead of a flat fee for open bar per head? That’s what we did. We have a lot of drinkers and we still saved money doing consumption instead of flat fee.
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Master June 2020
Anna · on June 14, 2019 at 8:00 AM
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Our wedding will be dry.
We don't drink. We felt it was better budget wise. I'm ok with that.

Venue, is prepared to look the other way, if folks bring a cooler of beer or wine in their car.

We are having a 2pm ceremony and felt like the guests will be ok without an alcoholic drink, until after they leave the reception.

Most of our friends and family drink on occasion, and they know we don't, so I think it will be fine.

We are boring, what can I say?
😆🤷
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Legend July 2019
MrsD · on June 14, 2019 at 11:14 AM
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I would skip champagne and buy some other type of beer or wine!
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Legend March 2017
Pirate & 60s Bride · on June 14, 2019 at 11:52 AM
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Will it be a day reception? Then you’re fine. Other items (rentals, vendors) may be cheaper for a day reception too over evening.
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VIP November 2019
Laura · on June 14, 2019 at 3:18 PM
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FH & I decided on a totally dry wedding. Neither one of us drink, so why would we pay for alcohol? There will be people there who would drink if it was offered but I don’t think anyone will be offended.
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