Importance of alcohol?

I would say it really depends on your crowd. I've been to 4 dry weddings and they were with people that never drank (same crowd for 3 of them) so it didn't affect the time they left or the amount of dancing. At one of the weddings the DJ said he had never seen people stay on the dance floor for so long... so alcohol isn't necessary for all weddings.

That being said, I'll step on some toes but I'm definitely having some at mine, as limited as the choices may be.

I guess we're lame too. We opted for no alcohol. My family drinks occassionally, his family rarely if at all. It may be a party, but no party should be based around alcohol. Any amount of alcohol you decide to offer is perfectly acceptable. Anyone at your reception that complains isn't there for the right reason.

Limited time for drinks, cash bar, something!! We went to a dry wedding 2 years ago and we still refer to it on our list of don'ts... no one danced, everyone kind of moped...personally i felt like the DJ was a waste and they could've just had an ipod on shuffle... We aren't big drinkers but have opted for beer and wine at our reception to loosen everyone up!!

We are doing an open bar for cocktail hour. I don't really drink. I can't because I am breastfeeding. FH family drink, my family drinks. We can't not offer something. It is extremely important to us.

Personally I agree with both sides...I myself drink rarely and my FH opted not to drink because his two girls will be there...I believe that it depends on your crowd and beliefs and morals...I have lots of alcoholics and recovering alcoholics on my side of the family...and he does to...I. personally am not serving alcohol because my father is paying for my wedding and my father is strictly against any kind of drinking...I have no problem and those that know me know that my father pays for it he has some say in it...

You should offer some alcohol.

Cash bar is a big no, so offer what you can afford.

Great thread! I was opting for a dry bar -I don't drink and neither does FH and I really hope we can have a fun day without the alcohol!! After reading this I'm nervous

My sister had a dry wedding. Her reception was at the church, so they weren't ALLOWED to have alcohol. Plenty of people stayed till the end and danced the whole night. If you don't have alcohol, you will have guests who feel slighted, and you will have guests who don't care.

That being said, we're having beer and wine (we're not allowed liquor) at ours. I think beer & wine will be fine enough for people who need "liquid courage" but will keep "drunken rampages" in check.

I was in a wedding last October and it was a "dry" wedding. They had wine at the tables, that's it. People knew going in it was dry so they had bottles in the trunk of their car to mix in the pop available at the reception. The bride was sooooo pissed... I did try to warn her. But what was worse is they didn't have any music either.. it was a really lame tossed together last minute wedding...

Honestly, I expect alcohol to be served when I attend a wedding. With that said, it's YOUR wedding and your budget. Like the other girls said, even beer and wine would be fine, especially if the families are not big drinkers.

Honestly, I want to drink at a wedding. If there is no alcohol being served, I leave to go to a bar. Dry weddings are short weddings, so offer a limited bar, you don't have to go all out.

We aren't serving alcohol. We considered offering a Peach Bellini and Mimosas along with Lemonade and Water, but when we thought about it, you can't even really taste the alcohol in the Mimosa so what's the point? Many of the guests aren't drinkers either. So we were just like whatever, we will skip it. It is a Sunday morning, so I feel like people can hold off from drinking for at least a little bit

Its your wedding...you do what the hell you want...a dry wedding isn't lame...not everyone drinks...

My opinion is that you should definitely offer something - even if it is just wine and beer.... and that should be covered (not charged to the guests)... so do what you can afford. i realize there are different 'norms' in different areas - but for our circle, not having alcohol would be like not having food... our wedding i guess you could say was alcohol heavy.. haha... we had red and white sangria on arrival (before the ceremony)... passed wines and beer during the cocktail hour... and then a full top shelf open bar for the duration of the reception (5hrs)....

If it's in the budget, I would try to have a beer/wine bar. Most people like to have at least a drink or two at weddings.

Champagne, beer and wine is reasonable and you don't have to do more than that.

Our wedding was completely dry (we don't drink, and had several family members who needed to be on their very best behavior, so we decided it was prudent as well as economical to keep everyone sober), and everyone was up and dancing the whole time. I think the keys were that we had an excellent DJ who interspersed the group dances so that no one got glued to his chair, plus my husband and I never left the floor. If the bride and groom are up dancing, and the DJ helps get the less adventurous up every couple dances, alcohol is completely unnecessary.

I must have low expectations - because i've never been to a wedding where i thought it was a requirement they serve alcohol or risk being a lame wedding. ive been to a completely dry wedding, and the guests stayed until the end and it was a lot more entertaining than the previous wedding i had been to with alcohol. ive also been to cashbar weddings and didnt think any less of the wedding as i shelled out $6/drink. its your wedding, do what you can afford and want to do!

We are putting a certain amount of money towards the bar and when they reach it then it's a cash bar.. I don't see why people think a cash bar is a big no no or it's tacky.. The guest are already getting fed.. When you go out to a bar you buy your own drinks so why is it a big deal to buy your own drink at a wedding.. I guess people like to get drunk on someone else's dime lol.

Thank you all so much for your advice! I will DEFINITELY do some sort of alcohol. My FH friend (owns an alcohol distributing company) may be able to get us a discount. Thinking sex on the beach, and screwdrivers (fairly simple, and they're our top 2 favorites.) What drinks do.you girls enjoy the most for signature drinks?