Is a cash bar okay for wedding?

Oh dear....... Scale back on other things for your wedding, and provide a bar for your guests. Even if it's just beer and wine. No one says you have to have an open bar. Your guests are coming to your celebration. If you have OOT guests, some are paying for transportation, accommodations, a new outfit, as as well as YOUR gift. Please keep these things in mind when thinking about asking your guests to open their wallet once more. Also. don't even consider a honeyfund, dollar dance, cake in the face bets- NONE OF IT. If you do, don't ask here. They are all frowned upon. No one will validate you're reasoning because it's seen as tacky, rude, and showing lack of etiquette.

No one's budget is the same, but you can most definitely afford to scale back on other things to properly host your guests.

Bridget, an open bar is not a "trendy thing" I had never heard of someone even having a cash bar at a wedding before coming to WW.

Trendy to host your guests... that is beyond laughable...

For good measure

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/thinking-about-cash-bar-dont-do-it/c3b8aef176f60158.html

I have been to dozens of weddings as a kid and an adult, and not a single one has had a cash bar. It's not trendy, it's proper etiquette. I would never charge you for a drink if I invited you to my house for dinner...

Why is this question asked multiple times a day?!

ETA: "it's common in my area" is NOT an excuse. Break the tradition, host your guests and wow them with the best wedding they've attended.

No please no.

Just beer and wine is fine.

You will get 5% of the population on here who say "it's your day!" and they are wrong. Your reception is for your guests.

If you scroll down just a little bit you'll see a post titled "so you're thinking about a cash bar?" started by Janeen. Go read it. Then change your plans and host your bar.

Most of us are paying for our own wedding. I wish people would quit trying to use that as an excuse to be cheap.

A. A lot of us here have paid/are paying for the wedding ourselves.

B. Listen to your FMIL.

C. Cash bars are rude AF.

Ill just leave this here.

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/thinking-about-cash-bar-dont-do-it/c3b8aef176f60158.html

I say do what you want. I personally don't care if I have to pay for a drink nor would I take the cash out of the envelope to make up for it. That is being a cheapskate. Some venues have absurd prices for an open bar. Ours would be over 5k for 4 hours. Personally I am not going to push back my wedding to save up another 5k for drinks when I know for sure that 5k would not be consumed. Using the excuse that people travel buy new clothes hotel room etc I think is not a valid excuse to say you must. Should I pay for the entire weekend of food, alcohol and hotel room also for out of town guests? I would love to know who makes up these "etiquette" guidelines

Can you just have wine and beer? That's okay.

Another cash bar thread....

Well, Emily Post for one, Ryan. No-one here is making this up. And no, it's not a new trend. See if you could do open beer and wine instead of full open bar. It's not against etiquette. Guests should not have to pay for anything at a eddying.

Ryan - If you hosted a dinner party at your home, would you ask your friends/guests to pay you for the wine you served?

KEY WORD = HOST. You are HOSTING your wedding. You're not hosting their entire weekend, you are HOSTING your wedding reception. Therefore, they should not be paying for alcohol. Simple.

Ryan - no one advocates full open bar. Do consumption and only serve beer and wine. Your $5000 all of a sudden drops to $2500.

Cheapskate is asking your guests to spend more money the day of and not properly hosting them. Don't assume your guests will over indulge and make you go broke. If you know these types of people, they will equally be upset attending your wedding having to pay for drinks.

Beer and wine is a very affordable and acceptable option for your open bar, no one is suggesting having a premium open bar.

Your FMIL is right. You can do just wine and beer it doesn't have to be a full bar. Most of here are paying for our own weddings we can relate to you with that.

Another vote for providing beer and wine, or beer wine and a signature cocktail if you can! It doesn't have to be a totally full top shelf open bar, but your guests should not be opening their wallets at a hosted event!

@Ryan: what a gross mindset. You wouldn't need $5k for an open bar if you had the sense to trim your guest list so that you COULD afford alcohol with the budget you have. Let me guess, your guest list is at what, 150-200?

Host the number of guests you can afford to PROPERLY host and host WELL. If you're not willing to be a good host, then elope.

Op, your FMIL is right. You should listen to her on this. Cash bars are incredibly rude, and they WILL result in you being the gossip of family functions for years to come.

Definitely check with your venue! We got a great deal on our beer/wine/signature cocktail package because we're having a Sunday winter wedding, which it seems you are too!