Dry Wedding

OP, if you're still here, I like ninjaaa's idea of having the ceremony there and the reception elsewhere. Your fiance will still get to be married in this place that's special to him, but then you can better serve your guests in a different location.

It is a little confusing that you guys make alcohol but aren't serving it, but if you are really set on your location then I guess that's your choice. Like a lot of people said you have plenty of time to find another venue maybe not as special but one that fits everything you need in a wedding. Also because you don't have alcohol I hope your wedding isn't ending at midnight, I have heard many times on here that people leave early at a dry wedding. Maybe consider having a brunch? People don't usually expect alcohol that early in the morning. Good luck!

Heyyyy Wednesday.

What in the actual fuck did I just read?

Best you can do is make sure all invited know it is a dry wedding. in terms of beverages there also is the option of non alcoholic beer. not sure how those taste though.

was the wedding earlier or later? maybe look into what companies do for their holiday parties. if in the evening one option to keep people engaged and keep their minds off the dryness is something like casino night. maybe have the prizes be different alcohol you guys made?

OP here- thanks for all the advice everyone! The location is actually used primarily as a christian summer camp, and the care takers were uncomfortable asking the board of directors to make an exception for alcohol for a wedding. In addition nearly all of his family (~75% of our guests) do not drink alcohol. My family in comparison is very small and I don't really have any friends to speak of. We were planning on having an after party with alcohol for close friends and family that does drink. Mostly I was trying to figure out what non-alcoholic drinks to serve because I have never planned such a large gathering before without alcohol. We are still going to look at other locations, but we are not very well off and don't want to spend over half our budget on the location.

All I can add is use the ETA button!!

Thank you for reminding me that it is Wednesday!!!

My favorite thing that usually comes up in these posts is, "its ok because my guests don't drink."

I truly find that hard to believe. It's fine if it's out of budget, but stop putting the blame on your guests.

But they actually don't drink. His family is very conservative Christian and they don't drink. Mine is not, but my family is tight knit enough that they won't care. And we want an after party for the few people who do drink.

Hannah, you've read a great many opinions. Go with what you feel is right for you. Bottom line, your wedding. Either way it will be a lovely wedding.

Hannah you're the one who said there have been grumbles, not any of us.

Mostly just from his stepdad and I really couldn't care if he didn't like it. Mostly I was curious what people used in lieu of alcohol and I got some great ideas from some of you. Thank you!

I don't get the "Christians don't drink" thing. Wine is all over the bible.....

We are having a dry wedding too due to location at our Church. No Drinking and no dancing. We are planning an after party for those that want to go cut loose. We will prolly go to the casino since (I think) that is where FH and I are spending our wedding night. Since its a dry wedding we are doing it early so people do not expect drinks.

I think Sarah Marie made an excellent point -- if alcohol isn't in the budget, it isn't in the budget. The reason that people get riled over these types of threads isn't because they are on a life-long campaign to advocate for the inebriation of as many wedding guests as possible. The reason people react to these threads the way they do is because, inevitably, someone like bla2003 comes on and starts railing against potential guests who enjoy and expect some champagne/wine/liquor (in whatever combination) at a wedding. Nobody who enjoys a cocktail at a party likes to be told that they don't understand the sacred nature of a wedding because they'd appreciate a drink at the four hour reception that follows the sober ceremony. Beyond that, nobody wants to be erroneously labeled as a problem drinker because they'd like a flute or two of champagne or wine at that celebration. Seriously, we're not even talking about Kettle One or Absolut -- we're talking about soft liquors. I don't understand how anyone can race to such a derogatory conclusion unless they are being unbearably defensive about their own unwillingness (or inability) to offer adult beverages to their wedding guests. If you can't afford it, own it. If you just don't want to serve it, that's fine. Nobody is going to suggest you go into debt to pay for alcohol at your wedding, but don't suggest that your guests are the problem, because they're not. If you're aware of the fact that parties end earlier with soda, then you're fine. The problem is attacking the guests, and that's where the fire starts on these threads.

And Celia is right as far as wine and the Bible are concerned. I've read the Old Testament and New Testament multiple times. Wine makes an appearance over and over again. In fact, Jesus' first public miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding (and it was wine -- of the fermented variety).

If I had been invited to Ninjaa's wedding, I would know that she was a devout Mormon (because I would either know her personally or realize that she was having an LDS ceremony). I probably wouldn't expect coffee, let alone alcohol. That is a part of her faith, and I would never expect someone with those convictions to host alcohol at their wedding. In fact, if she did, I'd venture a guess that the bottles would remain unopened because the majority of her guests share her faith. I feel the same way about Christian weddings. Many sects of Christianity are devout, and they eschew alcohol in any form. I've been to two such weddings in my life. I would have been shocked if we were served anything beyond sparkling grape juice (and we weren't. However, both of those wedding ended after dinner when people began leaving). They were both lovely, meaningful weddings, but they weren't parties (but I'm pretty sure the couples weren't expecting to host long parties).

The point is -- own the decision. Don't blame your guests, regardless of your reasons for keeping alcohol out.

How do you walk with that stick shoved so far up your ass Bla?