If a cash bar is unacceptable, what do you suggest people do instead?

Invite less guests. *mic drop*

You cut your guest list to an affordable level.

There has to be a circumstance when you would excuse a cash bar. Like the couple lost their jobs unexpectedly or someone's dealing with a chronic illness.

Cut the guest list, and cut back on other things (eg fancy cars, large expensive centrepieces, favors) so that you can afford at least beer and wine.

Invite fewer guests.

Push the date back and save up.

I don't understand the insistency that some circumstances MUST make this okay....I mean, you don't want to hear why they're tacky, but....the fact is that you can't thank someone by making them pay for their own drinks...."thanks for coming to my wedding, that will be $5 please."

Honestly, if a couple lost their job or had a chronic illness, then the wedding shouldn't be a priority...Budget for what you can do.

Cake & Punch receptions are a thing, celebratory dinners are a thing, eloping is a thing.

Cash bars are never excusable to me. Dry weddings, sure. But making someone pay for what you want to have available at your wedding, never. Smaller guest list, push date back to save, forgo flowers or unnecessary things. But don't make your guests pay.

I wish our venue had more options; our choices are cash bar, or open bar unlimited (not just beer & wine, etc.) We added a champagne fountain, and have the option for a signature drink, which I think is a nice idea.

Get rid of they "premium liquors" and go with well liquors.

Wine and beer only...

Why is a dry wedding okay then? How do you let people know that?

Invite less guests.

Wait to save money before the wedding.

Postpone a honeymoon and use that money to properly host your guests.

Have a brunch reception that only requires minimal alcohol, and use the money you'd save on things like a DJ and pay for it.

There, just thought of those off the top of my head.

So it sounds to me that you just want an excuse for a cash bar. The answer is that there isn't a way. The options are beer and wine and a sig drink or a couple or consumption. That's it.

A short cake and punch reception in the afternoon (such as 2-4) without alcohol is acceptable.

But what do you do when you have already invited said 100 people but can only afford for 30? You cant quite just tell people oh you are now uninvited....... Thing is you plan accordingly to what you can afford. Push the date back, cut guest list, cut other unnecessary expenses.

If you have a religious belief against the consumption of alcohol. Also if important family members/the two people getting married are recovering alcoholics. It would make sense that they would have a dry wedding.

You can do a consumption bar where you set a budget, and then pay the tab for your guests at the end of the night.

Dry weddings aren't ok either. IMO they're worse. Cut the guest list or plan your wedding in the off season when you will get a better per head deal.

@Eileen - most people here will tell you a dry wedding (for a full reception) is not okay. I think it's acceptable if you're truly doing it for religious/cultural reasons. That being said, if you know your guests will want to drink, having a dry wedding because you can't afford the bar is probably an issue.

You should let them know on the invitation so they can decide whether or not they want to attend with all the info available to them.

Ok that's what I thought...