How to notify guests of open bar for beer/wine only?

Just do beer and wine and don't and don't even offer liquor if you're not paying for it.

Thanks for the suggestions and ideas everyone - it's much appreciated!

We are only having beer/wine as options.

Our Program and Menu and Placecards all say what drinks are available: Beer/Wine/Pop/Juice/Coffee/Tea etc.

I'm planning open bar beer, wine, and 1-2 signature drinks.

Seeing this post made me question my own bar, because we are also only paying for beer and wine and I'm not sure how to convey this to our guest. So, I emailed our coordinator and this was her response:

"The beverages that you are provided are displayed on the bar. This way guests know what they can choose from without even asking."

I also asked if people who want to drink liquor can purchase a drink, and this is what she said:

" In cases like this, guests would very rarely ask if they could purchase a hard liquor drink. As we don’t have a cash register/not set up to take cash, we would just let them know that we are not able to do that. But we typically don’t see this happening."

I attended a wedding where there were three separate bar stations set up. Two that had the free wine, beer and soft drinks under the open bar. These stations had no cash register in sight, just a tip jar up with the sample beer bottles of what was available. There was a third station, that had a cash register set up, where there were only liquor options available.

We didn't need to ask the couple, it was pretty clear that beer and wine were free, and liquor was paid for by the guest.

A cute simple sign that says something like Beer and Wine is on the house...everything else will cost ya! hahha

We are doing a well bar. There are like 4 types of beer and a few wines and the bars well liquor. All the others the guests will have to pay for. I am not paying for $35 shots! Well beer, wine and liquor is more than enough.

Word of mouth works best! We will be having the exact same as you and whenever people ask we just tell them! Most people know and so when others ask them, they can spread it as well!

If you put a drink menu with prices on the bar it should be fine. Does your venue have an ATM on site?

Just use a sign like they adjusted above.

I would just do beer and wine and add a signature drink (free for guests) and skip all other liquor. Don't do a cash bar at all.

@GettingMarriedinMay, I would MUCH rather have the option to buy mixed drinks if they didn't have my kind of wine which lots of places don't. I don't drink often, but I do like to drink at something like a wedding if I am not driving.

Our restaurant unfortunately doesn't have the kinds of wine I like, so I will be drinking mixed drinks at our wedding. Therefore, unfortunately we had to upgrade to beer/wine/well drinks for everyone.

Just offer what you're going to offer. I was at a wedding like this recently and any time someone ordered a 'non-hosted' drink,l there was an awkward conversation with the bartender and the guests.

Don't do that. Offer wine and beer and call it quits. Cash bars, in any form, are tacky.

Your guests should not have to visit an ATM at your wedding.

I don't think you have to "notify" your guests! Just have a sign at each bar that lists the beer and wine options and leave it at that. My husband strongly prefers liquor, and in this situation he'd just quietly ask the bartender if he can pay for a liquor drink and take care of it himself! No need to say anything about liquor drinks being available for full cost or differentiating between free and cash drinks!

I find it rude that people these days come to weddings and want to know what "they" are going to get if they come! They are offended if the couple or the parents of the bride can't provide/afford a full open bar to them for the entire night and find it to be "RUDE"!!

A wedding is about celebrating the couple and the marriage. I expect nothing when I attend a wedding. Anything the couple or hosting parent provide I am thankful for.

My husband and I are paying for my daughters entire wedding as she is in college. The wedding is at a high end venue, we are providing the top level of food the venue offers and are providing beer, wine,champagne and a signature drink for the evening. We will offer a cash bar for mixed drinks for those who would want more than we are providing.

As most should know at a venue you are paying way more for any alcohol at that venue than it would cost you to buy at the store or at a local bar. That is how they make their money .For example a keg of beer is three to four times what it would cost you to buy from a store and there is a 22 percent hotel fee/service charge on top of tax. The same applies to wine/champagne and liquor. so a couple of kegs ends up costing a little over 900 dollars.

Spending 50,000 on a wedding and a guest thinking I am rude for not providing a full open bar all night. I don't need nor do I want that person coming to the wedding.

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You bumped this 2-year-old thread to rant about that? If you begrudge being a good host, don't invite guests. Your guests should not be grateful about anything and anything you offer them. If you invite guests, the onus is on you as the host of the event to put their comfort and enjoyment at the top of your list of priorities. The point of the reception is to thank them for attending the ceremony and taking the time and effort to witness and celebrating your daughter's marriage ceremony. Be a gracious hostess in thought, at the very least.

Word of mouth is best! I personally hate when people get mad they wont get free drinks. Honestly open bar is a waste. Do you know how often someone goes up to the bar, get a free drink takes a sip, puts it down and later gets more and more?
I also dont agree with the brides who say you need to offer your guests booze.
We are having a limited amount of wine and beer and once its gone, thats all we are paying for. Thats the alcohol package our venue offered us. They did not offer an open bar.
Once the beer and wine from our package is gone then it turns into a complete cash bar. The bartenders will notify the guests. Simple as that. I dont see how guests would be confused.
To each their own, do what works best for you and your budget

I did not bump a two year old post to rant. This popped up when I googled if there was something I should do that I haven't in this situation. I didn't look at dates and only commented to defend couples/parents who are giving all they have to provide their best to their guest. But should not be made to feel terrible or made to feel a like bad host if they can't do more.

Where I live, I have never been to a wedding where there is an open bar all night. Half the weddings only provide beer! Cash bars are at most weddings. I have never heard anyone complain.

We have open bar for 3 hours for house wine, liquor, and beer. After that its cash only. Should we give a heads up? typically they bring cash anyways for tips... but how do you tell them ahead of time?