How do you stop guest from bringing in liquor?

If you have an open bar there is no need for guests to sneak in their own alcohol. I would only worry about that if you're having a cash bar or dry wedding.

I feel like that's probably a standard of most venues that don't explicitly say they offer BYOB, so I don't think it's worth mentioning. A lot of people probably realize they shouldn't, but if people want to, they will. You may be able to mention it somewhere on the wedding website. If you're having an open bar, you could say something along the lines of "since the alcohol is free, leave your flask at home" or something. We're have a cash bar so I wouldn't be surprised if we had people bring flasks.

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100% agree. You don't mention it anywhere. The kind of person who sneaks in their own alcohol is the kind of person who would ignore a request not to do it.

No open bar, can't afford it. We were thinking beer and wine, up to a certain amount, or cash bar. I'm not exactly sure what to do. FH & I don't drink a lot. I ask this because my cousin already mentioned the Aguardiente, I'm like: oh lord!

View Quoted Comment Maybe i should just make it a cash bar and let people drink whatever they want. I just don't know.

I had a cash bar (not really proper etiquette but oh well) and a lot of people brought in their own flasks. If my venue saw it, they didn't stop it or care.

I worry about this too. We are having a dry wedding but who is gonna stop someone from bringing their own? Mine own siblings have end mentioned bringing flasks... Not to mention, the venue has a pub downstairs that WILL be open during the wedding but if a guest goes down stairs to grab a drink and pays for it who am I to say anything or stop it?

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We couldn't afford an open bar, either. Everyone already knows it's a cash bar and as soon as I begin to apologize for it, I get an overwhelming "oh heavens no, we would never expect that!" or at least some variation of that, so we don't feel bad about it! It's a very hot topic here, which I understand, but it's ultimately your call. A consumption bar where you only pay for what is purchased or a modified open bar with just beer and wine is much better than a cash bar, so if you could do that, you totally should!

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Agree completely! However, briefly, this was raised as a concern for D & FSIL's wedding.... Some of his friends/guys in the wedding party were talking about bringing flasks (apparently they had only been to dry or cash bar weddings?). We explained to him that if that happens, it's in the contract that the venue will shut the wedding down AND since there will be an open bar, there is absolutely NO reason for anyone to bring alcohol to the wedding. Daughter asked him to shut that plan down 100%. We don't expect there to be any concerns. I honestly just think his friends were completely clueless about the expectations. Anyway, hopefully, it's clear that there will be no need to "BYOB"!

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This!

You do not need to mention it. If someone is going to bring a flask, you telling them a flask is not allowed wont stop them.

I put on our wedding website "Please be aware our venue strictly prohibits all outside alcohol, even in the parking lots. They will immediately remove anyone found in violation"

Normally I would've not said anything because I feel like it's common sense, BUT FHs family straight up said they were sneaking stuff in so I felt the need to mention it and I told my coordinator who to keep an eye on. I don't want to be liable.

(yes we have an open bar, they just have this schnapps secret family recipe they like to bring to weddings)

You don't need to mention it at all! We just went to a wedding and a lot of the boys went out to the cars to have beers and someone brought one in and the bartender said you can't have that in here and took it away. Nbd. You shouldn't have to enforce it, the venue will the day of.

I put a frequently asked questions page on my website where I addressed what alcohol would be provided. I have family on my dad's side that routinely bring flasks to weddings even with an open bar. I live in Utah where there are very strict liquor laws so if anyone does this at my wedding, we can be fined a significant amount. I included a link to the information about the fines in the section of my website that addresses the alcohol. I'm really hoping that this is enough to deter our guests from bringing their own. That being said, I am providing our guests with beer, wine, and choice liquor so they shouldn't feel the need to bring their own.

I can't believe people sneak alcohol when it's already free. I was thinking of maybe ordering one bottle of the Aguardiente (fire water) for the select few who want it. This bar kinda sucks, they don't offer Heineken or Corona. Is $60 a lot for a case of beer? Sounds $$$$. (We don't drink beer)

Under our FAQs I put something like "Will there be food & drink?" and I put "Yes! Appetizers will be served at cocktail hour, followed by dinner. The bar will be open all night!". So at least guests could see that if they wanted to. Even if someone brings liquor in, they probably won't drink it if the bar is open and they can get drinks for free.

I was thinking what happens if someone sneaks the same beer bottles as those sold, how can anyone know what's what? I'm terrible, anyway thanks everyone!

In my opinion, if the venue has that rule, which they have every right to do, then they are the ones that have to enforce it. And if someone from the venue confronts you about a guest, give the responsibility back to them.