How to calculate non-alcoholic drinks

400 people and no one drinks? I call BS on that.

Where will you be getting the electricity from for the fans? You will need more than a few generators. Definitely more than a few fans.

Honestly, being packed in a tent with 400 people, no alcohol, and it being summer, I wouldn't stay very long. Even if there was alcohol, I wouldn't stay very long.

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I'm sorry but the fact that OP even has to worry about guests getting dehydrated is sooo wrong. If it's hot enough that dehydration will be an issue (and in August I'm going to guess it will be) then she should have the reception inside.

View Quoted Comment You're right. We definitely do NOT "get" having a dry wedding.

Also, "promoting hydration"? That might be the most inventive **coughlamecough** excuse I've seen here yet for having a dry wedding.

#ytho

View Quoted Comment People are going to leave if they are expected to be there for 6 hours and not be fed a meal. I don’t care if your the queen of England I’m not celebrating anyone for 6 hours that doesn’t care enough about me to properly feed me, but I’m sure they are expecting me to bring a gift, right?

View Quoted Comment The ceremony is "all about" the couple.

The reception is "all about" the guest experience. I guess I wanted the first party we hosted as a married couple to be well-hosted. I don't like beer. I gag when I smell it. Still hosted well with a variety of beer for my guests because, well, hosting isn't "all about" the host.

MFB- You know why... $$$$

View Quoted Comment At least alcohol would help me forget how miserable I would feel in that sort of environment...

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She said at least twice that's she's serving a meal...

400 people under a tent in the middle of the day during summer sounds like such a pleasant idea! Nothing says true love like sweating next to total strangers for 6 hours!

View Quoted Comment Flip it: if I get a hotel room, plane ticket, a gift, get dressed up, took time off of work, and you can't even provide me a glass of wine - who needs ya anyways? Also, there is nothing wrong with being drunk as long as you are able to control yourself. Additionally, you can drink without getting drunk.

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Hahaha yup.

View Quoted Comment I mentioned to a friend of mine how a lot of commentors on WW like to confront people who decide to have dry weddings/cash or limited bars. We equally agree that it's ridiculous that these commentors think adults can't have fun without alcohol. They make that a universal fact and it's kinda sad.

Make sure not to run out of water. The warmer it is, the more water will be consumped over drinks with sugar. Alcohol or no, temperature and the pacing of the wedding are bigger factors IMO on whether people stay/go. Think about doing some fun mocktails. And have multiple drink stations with that many people. Please have recycling stations if you're having that many cans or bottles too.

View Quoted Comment Preach 🙌🏼

View Quoted Comment Oh I can 100% have fun without alcohol.

At a wedding or party or any event you are hosting, if there it is dry or worse, a cash bar, I'm leaving. My time off is limited and I'm celebrating with a glass of wine with my husband.

I agree with An. If I get done up and go to your wedding and you can't spring for a glass of wine, who needs ya!

Also the universal fact come from the rules of etiquette and hosting. I swear I think I'm the only person who read etiquette books when I was wedding planning.

View Quoted Comment But can you honestly have fun being packed in like sardines under a tent with 400 people in Chicago in August? I can't.

I'm more concerned about the environment these guests will be in than the lack of alcohol.

That being said, adults can have fun without alcohol. That's still not an excuse to poorly host.

Part of me honestly hopes this is a trolling thread...

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Both of my sisters had outdoor ceremonies and/or receptions in the summer in the SW suburbs of Chicago (Joliet to be exact). The first had it in August and just the ceremony. It was so flipping hot and disgusting that the makeup melted off her face.

The second sister had both outside in early July (7/7/07). The reception had both a tented area and untented area. This one was so awful that during pictures almost everyone's skin is as red as our dresses from the heat.

Neither one had nearly as many people. Maybe 150 tops but both were disgusting. I learned my lesson and refused to even take the risk of doing the same to my guests. It is uncomfortable and people do not stay very long.

I'm not sure why some people think a tent is sufficient to battle bad weather. It's great for some shade but it does not help with the high temperatures that you're likely to face in August (especially in Chicago).

View Quoted Comment I've been to two outdoor Joliet weddings in August and the heat made it so miserable for everyone. Luckily it was just the ceremony. Granted, we didn't have a tent. Agree that Chicagoland in August is brutal.