How to word a limited bar on the invitation?

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I don't think its rude to have a limited amount of drinks for guests. A wedding is not somewhere you go and get drunk and party. Yes there is partying involved, but you don't need alcohol to have a good time and celebrate the wedding. Its your day and your money that is going into it, so you guys get the ultimate decision about the wedding. I think 2 or 3 drinks is plenty as there are non alcoholic options for drinks other than water, maybe soda or lemonade for people to drink. Stay strong and go with what you and FH feel are best.

View Quoted Comment Definitely agree with this. At least have a set time where the bar will change from free to cash. However, I agree with PPs on this one... I almost feel it would be better for the entire reception to be a cash bar rather than this...

View Quoted Comment Don't do drink tickets, do let them know on the information card. Everyone's budget is different, and sometimes we have to bend the rules. Best of luck!!!

View Quoted Comment That is all true but that won't stop guests from thinking it is cheap and tacky. Based on the responses this post has gotten, that is likely to happen. I would rather re-appropriate funds from another part of my wedding to make sure no one goes home thinking I did a less-than-stellar job hosting. It is sad, but true that people will be whispering about this behind OP's back.

ETA: Setting a time limit will only make OPs fears come true because everyone will be trying to get their drinks in before the time is up. Just provide beer and wine. No one will make a fool of themselves. This has literally never happened at any wedding I have been to and they have all been open bar (with hard liquor too).

View Quoted Comment My friend did the drink ticket thing and it actually worked out really well. She gave 2 per person. And towards the end of the night there were tons of them still left on the tables. They didn't even use half of the tickets they had planned for. I didn't think it looked tacky at all.

View Quoted Comment But all this does is prove that it's not necessary?

I don’t agree with this idea, but if you’re not going to take out advice, I woulsnt try to make it cute. Be upfront.

“A limited amount of beer and wine will be available, please bring cash for further drinks”

i dont like it but at least it’s honest and people know what to expect

I agree with trying to do an established time frame instead of a flat rate. It's much easier to explain "Free drinks til 9" then it is "Whoever is the sucker who orders drink $1001 is paying for it themselves"

To try and lessen the blow, you could close the bar during dinner and have table service. This will make it cheaper. Then people have 1-2 drinks during cocktail hour and 1-2 during the reception.

View Quoted Comment I read these post about properly hosting alcohol and some of it is too extreme. Cut your make up etc to pay for liquor. No way. It's not that deep. Beer and wine is fine. And where is the rule book where you have to pay for the bar all night long?

Reading peoples comments gets me heated lol if I am a guest at a wedding chances are I’m close with this person and if they can’t afford an open bar I am understanding of their situation that not everyone can afford it and I don’t have rude thoughts about the hosts just trying to mak due with that they have and enjoy their wedding. I think it’s more rude to be salty about a cash bar than having a cash bar.

I think only paying for a certain amount is going to be confusing. I would be annoyed if my first few drinks were free and then I was suddenly told I had to pay. Thats just poor hosting.

View Quoted Comment Asking people to pull our their diets at an event where YOU are hosting THEM is rude and tacky and crappy hosting. There's no argument against that.

I was at a wedding with a $2k limit for 230 guests, you can guess how that went. Your wedding may not be as large but the same thing will happen.

Though neither option is great, go with the tickets to ensure that those who don’t rush the bar get something.

View Quoted Comment Beer and wine is fine but it should be unlimited. $1000 will not go far with most weddings. People who aren’t quick to the bar will miss out.

I dont think people should cut anything other than the guest list!

How many guests are you having? Depending on that, $1000 may be enough to just cover an open bar.

If you are going to cut off drinks, it's better to be completely open about it, to avoid catching your guests off guard. And I would also do a time, rather than an amount.

View Quoted Comment Sure! Then no one would come

Wow, ok, I'm starting to wonder what type of friends y'all have...lol
So most social gatherings I attend with my friends are byob. Also, when you're invited to a dinner party at friends, it's normal to bring them a bottle of wine or some form of alcohol. It is really common where I live for people to come rolling up with coolers filled with their own.
As far as people talking behind my back on my wedding day...let them. I can't imagine anyone that I'm inviting to my wedding to be so salty over only receiving 3 drinks on us, and if they are they aren't someone that I would prefer to continue a relationship with afterwards.
If someone wants to come to my wedding they will come, regardless of if they get free drinks or not.
I can't imagine living a life where the relationship between you and your family and friends is so fragile that not giving them unlimited alcohol at your wedding is a deal breaker.

Bless your hearts!

Depending on your guest list, I'm not sure if $1000 will even get you past the cocktail hour. It might benefit you to go straight for a cash bar if you're trying to save money, though, because it's pretty tacky not to host your guests through the entire evening.

I’m going to tell you now the first $1000 will go by really fast so keep that in nind