Dry wedding

In my opinion it's weird not to have alcohol (for at least the guests) at a big event. However, if you and your fh have your reasons then you have your reasons. Your last question sounds a bit absurd. Most people go to weddings for the fun of it. Not just for the alcohol

I think it's a good idea to give people a heads up. I would write it on your FAQ section on your wedding website. I definitely think people will come regardless

I don’t go to weddings for alcohol but I’m also really introverted so it really helps me relax in what to me is a scary social situation

View Quoted Comment Not really an absurd question when asked what's important to guest at a reception most if not majority of people say food, alcohol, and DJ.

View Quoted Comment Yeah I already knew that lol. People who only go to weddings for that ARE absurd. It's your wedding. Do what you want to do.

Hey!
We are also having a dry wedding. I feel like our guests can make it a few hours without drinking, if not then they have more to worry about than my non alcoholic wedding

I'm not telling anyone. I think they will be just fine. We are having a small friends and family wedding with fifty guests.
My close friends, know I don't drink. They won't be surprised.They will have plenty of food to eat and beverages to drink and they will all get home safe to boot.
I've never been one to worry about others opinions. My wedding , my way.

View Quoted Comment We are only having about 50 people as well and that's what I was thinking if you cant go a couple hours. I think you may have other issues lol. Thanks for the share

Totally ok to have a dry brunch wedding (although mimosas are yummy!).

Although you don't drink, many guests do and weddings can be socially awkward for guests (especially if there's dancing!). So if you want guests to stay, dance, and have a good time, it may be a good idea to at least offer beer & wine. Many couples here have said at weddings where there was no alcohol, guests didn't dance and some left after dinner. Just know that's a possibility.

I think Neeva's idea of putting this info in your FAQ's on your website is a good idea. And as Pirate & 60's Bride stated, evening weddings without alcohol will likely cause your guests to leave earlier than normal and there will likely be less dancing. So I would suggest a daytime wedding.

People do not only go to weddings for free booze, but anytime you are hosting an event, I think most people assume they will be provided with food and alcoholic beverages (unless its at a church).

My brother had a dry wedding in 2015, no one had a heads up and everyone was fine. For the toast, he had sparkling cider and everyone was fine. Most people go to weddings to see two people become one. I do agree on adding that no alcohol will be served somewhere on your website. FH's cousin had a somewhat dry wedding, she only served champagne during the toast, other then that no alcohol was served.

I would probably just mention it on your wedding website if you have one.

I wouldn't include it on the invites. If you have a website, you could include it on the FAQs. If you have a heavier-drinking crowd, I'm sure they would sneak in alcohol if they knew it was a dry wedding. We've only been to one dry wedding, but most the guests were LDS so they didn't drink anyway. There wasn't any dancing and people left pretty quickly after dinner & speeches, but it was still a fine wedding.

I would say guest don't go FOR the alcohol. they come to celebrate you! even if your families know you don't drink its good to give a heads up just in case

I think this is definitely a *you do you, and more power to you* kindof thing and I am so on board! It's so difficult because I feel like for those who would prefer to have a drink, an announcement of a dry wedding on the website or invitation would be a nice heads up to grab a drink beforehand or plan to hit the bar after, but I'm not sure if there is/isn't a tactful way to put it out there? Since most of your family is already aware that the two of you don't drink, it could be a bit of info easy to pass on by word of mouth if you give your close family a heads up to share the word

I'm also not having alcohol at my wedding. An allergy for me and a preference for my FH. We are not telling people about our choice because we feel that if they're only there for the alcohol then we don't need them there!

This discussion is helping me since I'm on the fence about a dry wedding and our wedding is a brunch wedding. It can be easily done for a brunch wedding since a lot of people don't drink early in the day and there will be some children as well. I don't drink and the best man doesn't drink. I got a catering estimate for a mimosa bar and that was too expensive and they were counting everyone in.

You should 100000% tell people it is a dry wedding. You’re setting yourself up for disappointment if you don’t. Your friends and family support your decision to not drink (clearly or else you wouldn’t be inviting them) But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t. It’s like saying you two are vegan and so everyone at your wedding needs to eat a vegan menu. I imagine that wouldn’t go down well despite the good intention... the point is they have probably already made concessions over the years to accommodate your choices as a means of supporting you, the least you could do is let them make up their own minds about having a drink. Chances are they will be more reserved at your wedding than other people’s considering the sensitivity.

View Quoted Comment If you choose a dry wedding you should own that decision. If you don’t, then you are deliberately misleading your closest friends and family. They probably won’t appreciate that . If you tell them they will support you. If you’re worried about some people not showing up due to not serving alcohol, should they really be there to begin with?

Hey!

I am also doing a dry wedding for numerous reasons. FH and I both drink a little socially, but not much, and quite honestly NEVER in front of my parents ( yes, I know, I am 25 years old and can do what I want ).

The only people who know it is a dry wedding is people who have asked me, and my bridal party. I thought about putting it on the FAQs, but then figured I would have people either pre game or bring alcohol with them, and honestly, I didn't want people drunk for the ceremony, or have to worry about someone offering alcohol to someone else at the reception ( we have several recovering alcoholics, and several members of our church attending).

If people are only coming to my wedding to get drunk, I honestly don't care if they are disappointed because that shouldn't be why they are coming.

We are both in recovery too and are not sharing it's a dry wedding. People know us and know we're in recovery, if they are unhappy that there isn't any alcohol, that's on them. We're there to get married, and hopefully that's why folks are there too, not just to drink!