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Hannah
Devoted December 2019

Dry wedding thoughts

Hannah, on September 2, 2019 at 6:42 PM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 40
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So I am from a small town in the Bible Belt. Every wedding I’ve ever been to has been dry. I honestly didn’t realize alcohol was such a “wedding” thing until I start planning mine and saw discussions here.

For several reasons, we are leaning towards having a dry wedding. Some of them being that my dad is a recovering alcoholic, I don’t want sloppy drunk people causing a scene, it’s an extra expense, and my fiancé and I aren’t big drinkers.

So originally when we decided no alcohol it didn’t seem like a big deal at all. We don’t drink very often and it seemed like a total waste of our money. I have seen a ton of negative (and quite frankly rude) comments towards other brides on here about dry weddings. Things like “I wouldn’t waste my time going to a dry wedding” and “no one will have fun that’s so boring”... so they’ve gotten in my head a little.


Before you say it, I know it’s ultimately up to us and screw what everyone else says. But I would like to hear from some brides that had dry weddings in particular. Did any of you regret not serving alcohol? Was it just as fun without it? What were your reasons for going dry? What did you do to keep people entertained? I want everyone to have fun but is alcohol really necessary to do that?

40 Comments

Latest activity by Rita-Jean, on September 10, 2019 at 10:57 PM
  • SraDeCarrillo
    Super August 2019
    SraDeCarrillo ·
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    My wedding this weekend was in a location that doesn’t allow alcohol so we had a dry wedding. Most guests left early. The few who stayed had snuck in alcohol with them. If I were to do it again I would keep my ceremony in the same place but have the reception in a place where alcohol was allowed.

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  • Laura
    VIP November 2019
    Laura ·
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    We’re having a dry wedding too and I’ve seen those same nasty comments. FH & I don’t drink so it didn’t make sense to us to have alcohol at our wedding. I think it will be just as much fun as it would be with booze. But then, we’re having a very quiet, chill little reception.
    Dry weddings are, I think, a know your audience thing. If your part of the country typically has dry weddings, then I wouldn’t give it a second thought.
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  • Hannah
    Devoted December 2019
    Hannah ·
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    Thanks for the honest feedback! May I ask who made up your guest list? Like mostly older family members? Mostly friends? Ours is such mixed company and that’s part of the reason I’m torn. We have a ton of work people coming who will not drink. We have older family members who will not drink. Now we do have some young friends that will be there, but I’m not sure how to weigh out if that will effect things.
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  • Courtney
    Master December 2019
    Courtney ·
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    I've been to a couple dry weddings and I honestly had just about as much fun as one that served alcohol. If you've got good music, good food, and have fun with your guests then you'll be fine.


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  • Hannah
    Devoted December 2019
    Hannah ·
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    That was my thoughts exactly. It just kind of feels like an unnecessary expense.🤷🏼‍♀️ Thanks for your thoughts!
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  • M
    VIP December 2019
    Michelle ·
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    I live in the Bible belt and it's not common to have dry weddings here it's just common in her circle and that's fine. But it's definitely a know your crowd type of thing.

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  • Hannah
    Devoted December 2019
    Hannah ·
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    Thank you! I’ve never been to a non dry wedding so bad nothing to compare it to. We will definitely have good music and good food so hopefully it’ll be fine!😊
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  • Kayla
    Dedicated October 2020
    Kayla ·
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    We have considered the same for the same reasons but ultimately decided to go with serving alcohol. You can always limit to just beer and wine to cut down on costs. But if you are sure you wanna go dry, make sure there is entertainment or maybe fun moctails!
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  • Rhianna
    Devoted April 2020
    Rhianna ·
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    Can you offer a cash bar? That way it's available for those that would like it and if they have to pay for it, people may not be as inclined to get as drunk as if it was an open bar. If you decide against alcohol, you absolutely have your reasons and your friends and family should respect that.
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  • Hannah
    Devoted December 2019
    Hannah ·
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    Yeah I wasn’t really implying that the Bible Belt is all dry. I just meant in my particular small town it isn’t that common. But audience definitely plays a roll it seems. Thanks!
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  • Hannah
    Devoted December 2019
    Hannah ·
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    We aren’t totally sure we want to go dry. It’s definitely what we are leaning towards but I’m still on the fence about. Fiancé honestly could care less to have it and doesn’t think we need it. I see his side entirely but I also just want everyone to have a good time. We are having a Christmas wedding and want to incorporate that somewhere and want it to be cozy and inviting and there’s going to be fun a great dj and food but I’m just still struggling with alcohol. It’s only really to do with cost so much as we don’t feel it’s worthy of spending money on i guess? It’s not really about whether or not we can spend it, it’s kind of whether or not we want to I guess. Beer and wine would be cheaper though so maybe I’ll look into that! Is that what you’re doing? Can I ask what it’s costing you?
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  • Hannah
    Devoted December 2019
    Hannah ·
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    I haven’t actually considered a cash bar mainly because I have seen so many hateful, nasty comments about cash bars and how tacky it is. I have seen where some did the voucher thing and gave people a couple free drinks and then went to cash bar. I’m not totally against that idea. I don’t think our family and friends would be mad or disrespectful, I’m just scared people will get bored and leave early. Honestly though, even though we are young (25), a lot of our guests are older. My coworkers (about 30 people including spouses) for instance, are all at least 45 and above and none of them are drinkers. And they don’t make up the entire guest list, but that’s another thing I’m trying to weigh is would enough people even drink to make it worth it.
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  • SraDeCarrillo
    Super August 2019
    SraDeCarrillo ·
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    We had a big mix. Lots of kids and their parents. Friends our age and a few older people.

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  • VIP November 2021
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    No! Don’t listen to people - it’s your day. I think a dry wedding is perfect!!! And still fun! You could still do a champagne toast if you wanted (with nonalcoholic obv)
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  • Hannah
    Devoted December 2019
    Hannah ·
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    Thank you!😊
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  • VIP November 2021
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    You’re welcome !
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  • Izzykern
    Super April 2021
    Izzykern ·
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    Of course it only matters what you and your fiancé want, but I have been to many dry weddings in the past few years. I will say that many guests left early, did not use the dance floor, and the few that did actually brought alcohol with them. My friends and I did feel kind of awkward during social hour and the speeches at dry weddings. If I’m being honest, it is all about what your priorities are. For me and my family, we want to have an epic dance party so alcohol kind of helps people loosen up and have fun (it’s a small wedding though). But again, alcohol is unnecessary if you and your fiancé don’t drink and don’t value it.
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  • Kayla
    Dedicated October 2020
    Kayla ·
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    So our bar will be based off consumption, because I’m with you... not everyone will drink! I’m guessing about 20-22$ a person but I won’t know until the end. My venue also has to provide alcohol... so the price might be lower for you if you are allowed to byob!
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  • Mrsbdg
    Champion August 2017
    Mrsbdg ·
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    I’ve been to quite a few dry weddings because the town I’m originally from has a lot of strict religious folks and my mom’s side has a lot of super-duper strict religious people.

    In my experience:
    People leave immediately after cake cutting (or shortly thereafter)
    People don’t dance
    People end up wildly intoxicated (yay pre-gaming or bring flasks)

    The positives are that it’s cheaper and will appeal to the crowd who doesn’t drink. Yes, you can try doing games but I have found there a few people who actually find those games entertaining.

    If you want to host some alcohol can I recommend a modified open bar. We did this and it went over very well and kept our alcohol budget in check originally it was going to be a red wine, a white wine, two different beers, and a mixed drink (we ended up opting for a robust bar menu because we had room in the budget) but it’s an economical option if you want it.
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  • Hannah
    Devoted December 2019
    Hannah ·
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    I definitely don’t want anyone to feel awkward! We won’t be doing speeches, and we are doing a nice hot chocolate bar and popcorn bar for social hour, and probably a photo set up but I don’t want people to be bored twiddling their thumbs and that’s my worry. I don’t know that i want an epic dance party per se, but I do want people to dance and have fun and I totally get what you’re saying about people loosening up.
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