Is it ok to have no alcohol at our reception?

I am a big social drinker. If I was invited to a local wedding and there was no alcohol provided (has never happened bc my friends aren't tacky and rude), I would go for the ceremony and stay for an hour after then leave. And that's only if I was very close friends with the bride. No matter how good of a friend, I certainly would not travel for a dry wedding.

I been to a reception in a church hall. It was really kinda boring. Guests didn't stick around long. I would highly recommend moving the reception to another location. Otherwise have cake and punch and call it good.

I love to drink socially and have never been to a dry wedding, but if I went to a wedding at a church and there was no alcohol I would have no problem with that.

Alcohol is very much part of proper hosting. If you are absolutely dead set on this venue, you should shorten your reception to 2-3 hours max. People will not dance and stay 5 hours without a little liquid courage.

ETA: I wouldn't necessarily NOT go, but I wouldn't stay for a 5 hour reception. I would stay for the meal and maybe cake cutting, then leave.

I am sorry, but if people cannot go a couple of hours without alcohol, or feel they cannot have a good time without it...then they have a problem.

I think of the many events I have been to and could not drink due to being the driver...I always had fun anyway. There is not any requirement to serve alcohol and I have been to many very nice weddings without it. Especially early day or lunch time weddings.

I would prefer no alcohol myself. Keeps people in line and costs down.

Properly hosting guests does NOT require alcohol. You can have sodas, punch, coffee, juice, teas. No need for alcohol to have a good time.

Flip the script on those of you who say "if people cannot go a couple hours without alcohol then they have a problem." What if you went to an event that only served alcohol and you do not drink? You would probably find an issue with that! I know that situation is unlikely but really think about it if the shoe were on the other foot here. DH and I had a full open bar, no one got sloppy drunk and no one caused a scene. I trusted that my guests were adults and could handle themselves as such. That is why the "if they can't go a few hours without alcohol" argument is bogus and actually quite insulting to your guests- who are your nearest and dearest by the way. You are essentially treating them like children who cannot be trusted. I am an adult who prefers to drink at a social occasion at a wedding. I am also an adult who can control my consumption so I don't make a fool out of myself.

Call it like it is, you are wanting to go the cheap route. Which is totally fine if you schedule your event at an appropriate time and keep it short. But if you want an evening reception and a party, you need to provide at least beer and wine for your guests. And if you are considering a venue that won't allow that, then you need to choose a different location.

I have not been to dry weddings. I do think a heads up would be nice for your guests so they know what to expect. Some examples PP have said sounded good.

I saw some people put they would not travel to one that was dry. If it's local, I will go regardless. If it required driving four hours or taking a flight across the country for a very close friend, of course I would go even if they did not have alcohol. If it were, for example, a childhood friend who invited me but we haven't talked in 6 years, it's hours away, I won't know anyone there, it would make me think twice but I would anyway because of the other circumstances. But truly, my attendance is based on availability and how close we are to the couple. FH has never drank and he can still have a great time when we go out or attend events. Our wedding will still have plenty of alcohol. IMO drinks do make receptions better and people stay longer. Everyone is different with their expectations.

I absolutely agree with @Morgan. If your venue is perfect, and you let people know that there will be no alcohol due to the fact that it is a church, then the people who really matter will be there, regardless. Most people don't expect to have alcohol if it the reception is at a church, so follow your heart and do what you feel is right for your circumstances and ceremony.

Also, to be honest I don't know many people who like champagne enough to miss it for the toast. Have sparkling cider for your toast, and you will still feel like you have been properly "toasted". Good luck whatever you decide.

Thanks MellisaP.

Here's another thing that's horrible of me that I'm doing.

We'll be having Lawn games! Omg and not serving dinner. Holy smokes what a bad host I am.

I would be sneaking some in...

I cannot believe the selfishness displayed on this thread. If I'm getting dressed up and bringing a gift or card with a generous cash gift you damn well better believe I am expecting an alcoholic beverage at dinner.

Also, vision should never come before properly hosting your guests. So too bad that the venue is perfect. If at least one of your guests drink then you need to find a different venue and properly host.

Also, implying that people have a "problem" because they expect an alcoholic beverage at a wedding is ridiculous and actually belittling to people that struggle with addiction.

Since the reception is at a church, a lot of people will assume there won't be alcohol, so you don't need to state it on the invitation. If most of your family members and friends are religious, it probably won't be a big deal to them. Otherwise, it may feel a bit strange/cheap.

I know this is a UO here, but as long as you plan appropriately (good food, short reception, limited/no dancing), you can have a nice wedding at this venue.

Depends on your family, but I say find a new venue. Went to a dry wedding and it wasn't fun. No one danced, no one left their tables.

It's your day!!Do what you want.

@OP It comes down to expectations. As long as you guys are fine with something more laid back (i.e. not a rager with most people probably taking off early), then this would work. There is nothing against etiquette (at least according to Emily Post) about having to serve alcohol to be a proper host. Just be sure to give people a heads up by word of mouth. I don't think it's necessary to put on the invitation. If they choose not to come based on no alcohol, that's on them and is quite frankly petty in my unpopular opinion.

As for the person who said "what about if there was only alcohol, could you who don't drink have fun for hours?". Answer is, yes I would have fun. Might I be annoyed there's not even water, yeah maybe but that's not why I'm there.

@morgan did I understand your post correctly, and you are not serving dinner? Are you serving your guests any food at all?! That is a bad host...

It's a 2pm ceremony, cake, cupcakes, cookies, fruit. Tea, coffee, lemonade.

It'll be a short reception. We weren't interested in something fancy and neither are our guests. It's a smaller wedding also, only 50 have rsvp'd and accepted. My FH comes from a religious background with very big families. (He's the oldest of 14) so nothing is extravagant in their lives and I'm content with that. I wanted to elope with just parents and grandparents present but he wanted bigger so we settled with this. We weren't looking to spend thousands of dollars and go into debt for a wedding.

@Leah, too funny!! I just meant if they CANNOT have alcohol, meaning no champagne, at least Sparkling cider is better than nothing. I personally like it, but I may be in the minority there.

Sparkling cider is for teenagers on New Year's Eve. Provide adults with adult beverages.

@FB

That's true! We won't be having a dj either so it works out.

Ours is about money and I don't think that's wrong. Money is a big thing!

Why get yourself in debt over a wedding? That's why we chose to have a small one. We can't imagine going into debt for something like this. I'm probably just weird to be honest haha I never dreamt about my wedding and when it because a reality I really wanted to elope and not make it a big thing.