Is a cash bar tacky?

Here is a good article on cash bars

http://www.superweddings.com/etiquette.html

I dont think its tacky. my FH and I dont drink and so why should we pay for alcohol? its your wedding. do what you can afford. we can afford champaigne for everyone and not for open bar. go with your budget.

But for that amount i think its very good (45 to 49pp). you have a lot of people and so it will cost you. Like most suggested, limited open bar could be a great option.

After reading the post again, 6 hours seems extremely long for a reception or at least from where I am from. My experience is even with alcohol being served most folks start to leave at the 2 hour mark. I think I would look at my time line again to determine how long you will need the bar open or cash wise.

Well most venues I looked at had 10$ for the first hour and then 5-8 $ for every hour after that or something similar to that. So that IS high for my budget but depending on what venues you are looking at it may be the going rate for your area. I found the best money saver was finding a great venue that would allow me to bring in my own bar and bar tender. It's going to save me a ton. I also think going by consumption verses open bar all night saves money. You could also offer a spiked punch but that can get pricey as well, but can save some money. One of the venues I looked at also said I could have an open bar up to a set amount and then it would turn into a cash bar. However as a guest I would hate being the first to have to pay if you know what I mean. Maybe offer beer, wine and a siggy drink with other mixed drinks cash bar.

In the end as others have said do what you can afford. If it is cash though just tell people ahead of time so they know and are prepared to pay.

Obviously, its up to you in the end. Personally, I don't think think a cash bar is tacky IF you are offering unlimited beer or wine, as well as soft drinks, water, lemonade, etc. My FH and I are purchasing the unlimited beer and wine package (its $6 per guest) from our vendor and then offering a cash bar if people want hard alcohol. I would love to do an open bar, but there's no way we could ever afford it. Luckily, our vendor has pretty low prices on the cash bar, most drinks are $3 - $4 for premium alcohol. I would love to treat my guests to an open bar, but I don't want to start my marriage in debt to do it. On top of that, I have only been to one wedding with an open bar and that was because they got to purchase all of the alcohol themselves and one of their friends who was a bartender did the wedding for what the made in tips. So, I don't think its tacky.

I am not doing a bar, but there is a cash bar right out side the room so I am sending everyone over there to get drinks if they want them.

If you have to ask, yes. Unfortunately, it's tacky.

Can you cut the guest list, or only invite really old people who might be dead by July 2012?

HA Shannon, that's my plan! You're giving out trade secrets.

And cash bars, I am not a fan of. I can understand if it really is necessary and you're doing a lot of other things for low-cost, it all kind of fits the theme. But expensive cakes, food, attire, location.... a cash bar seems out of place. Haven't read all the posts, don't know your situation... But we personally decided to cut our guest list to make sure the people we do invite have the best time possible.

Robyn, gotta say...

It sucks to have people duck out of your party because they want a drink. Because they're gonna stay away from the wedding. Because they want a drink. Not mean. Just true.

I like the limited bar option better!

We are doing a cash bar, But the place that we are having it at is a vinyard them and had a pub in it. super adorable and so we purchased 2 kegs and we purchased one bottle of champagne per table and once its all out then its cash. i just dont want to promote everyone getting trashed at my wedding and my daddys family argues and causes scenes when drunk so this is just to prevent that.

The other reason Im doing a cash bar is because FH's mom wanted to make sure it was gonna be cash and not open because theres a few people on his side of the family that arent very nice when drunk so she doesnt want them to have complete access to liquor without having to pay for it

So at harbor View hotel in Edgartown Ma, I noticed beer and wine also with Starbucks coffee for 2 hours is $22 per person. This is a higher end wedding venue - water front . I would mention that you could have select beer and wine listed as covered but if guests want they can have signature drinks . I'm not allowing shots at my wedding ( even if it wasn't open bar).