Just Beer and Wine or Cash Bar? Tacky?

This has been a hot topic on here recently. some think it's tacky, others don't. i think it partly depends on where you live and what kind of wedding you're having. if you choose to have a cash bar, at the VERY least, make sure everyone knows ahead of time. FH and I are thinking of having open beer and wine bar for cocktail hour and through dinner then have it turn to cash bar after dinner.

We are doing beer and wine bar for cocktail hour and then cash bar after dinner as well.

I'd rather pay for my own drink than to have only beer or wine options.

I don't think its tacky..not everyone can afford an open bar

We're paying for beer and wine only for our guests. If anyone wants something other than that, they will be able to purchase it themselves.

@ednabugg- we're having beer and wine open and cocktails for purchase throughout the entire reception.

We only have our bar package for 5 hours so we are doing beer and wine during the cocktail hour (mainly because it comes free with our dinner package) and then starting the open bar at dinner. However, we are spending ~$3500 on the bar for 180 guests.

You cant get cheaper beer and wine? Those prices seem a little high to me... maybe its just our regional prices are different...

We're supplying our own beer/wine/select booze. It's cheaper buying it on our own and finding someone to serve it than paying the caterer.

$350 for a keg??? That's like 7 kegs.

At the VERY least you need to provide beer and wine, but I think everyone should have an open bar.

You can buy very good bottles of wine at costco for around $10 a bottle. We are doing kegs, wine and a pre-mixed drink like a sangria for people who don't like either. Personally I would hate to show up at a wedding and find a Cash bar. I would be annoyed.

I think just beer and wine is good. I've never been to a wedding with a cash bar but my friend said they are boring because people don't drink as much. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone get drunk, party, and have a good time!

Yes, $350 for a keg. That is what my daughters venue charged too. And that what for the cheap beer. A local microbrew was $450.

We paid for wine and sparkling wine at our daughters wedding. We had a cash bar for liquor, as most of our guests are wine drinkers. I wanted to pay for a Microbrew keg, but my daughter told me that their friends do not drink a lot of beer. Looking back, I wish I would have done the keg. It was a very hot day and, even though it was in a hotel, it was warm.

Glenn, while I would love to see everyone be able to offer an open bar, it is not always financially responsible. In our case, my ex and I paid for the entire wedding and I paid for the honeymoon. My SIL's family are, well, a bunch of heavy drinkers who drink whiskey. They would have bankrupted the event as they drink A LOT! LOL! As it ended up, they literally drank as much free wine as they could and then moved on to the bar.

Now, mind you, the night before, at the Rehearsal Dinner ...cont

(cont) that they paid for, we had to pay for our own drinks (four of us...my ex, his wife, my sister and me). They also seated us at a table by ourselves, while the rest of the party was at one large table. *sigh*. There is truly no explanation for trailer trash. I feel for my SIL as this is what he lived with growing up.

It's not THAT financially difficult to pay for an open bar, I get that everyone can't, but don't complain that people find your wedding boring. We are doing it for less than $2k (including bartender) by choosing a venue that is allows us to bring in our own alcohol and we will have an extensive bar.

Type Amount needed (L)

Bacardi Rum 7

Jack Daniels Bourbon 3

Johnnie Walker Red Scotch 3

Tanquery Gin 2

Jagermeister 3

Three Olives Vodka 11

Jameson Whiskey 7

Jose Cuervo Tequila 2

Bailey's Irish Cream 2

Cabernet - Low Hanging Fruit 9

Charonney - Low Hanging Fruit 9

White Zinfindel - Low Hanging Fruit 9

Coors Light (12 pk) 4

Guiness (12 pk) 4

Yuengling (12 pk) 4

Champagne 20

I am with Glenn on this one, but then again, my thoughts are very well known on this topic. As a hostess, one must cater to your crowd. If your crowd does not drink for whatever reason, than quite obviously, you wouldn't serve alcohol. If your crowd drinks, than do what is best for your guests based on the cultural norms of BOTH the bride and the groom. Minimally, do wine and beer.

Kathy...No offense, but...we have read this story ad nausem. Frankly, I don't care if your SIL's family drank snake piss, and served you Dog Chow for the RD, as the hostess, you should have provided an open bar. Every time you talk about them, you put them down. With that attitude, I would have seated you by yourself as well. By failing to open your bar, you came up totally classless regardless of what type of wine you served or whether or not you reside in a trailer. Yes, even sommeliers can be classless.

I'm paying for alcohol at our DW. However, where I live I have never been to a open wedding. It is always cash bar except during cocktail hour (occasionally free) or if you get "tickets" for drinks because you are in the wedding or the wedding party hands out extra tickets. It really isn't a big deal and most people around here drink a lot so you would go broke with an open bar.

We don't have the option for a bar or any alcohol. We are doing 2 signature drinks and that's it! If they bring their own bottle they bring their own bottle. My people know how we throw parties so I'm sure they all will come prepare. We will!

BTW, I am HOPING that my guests drink a lot. I am hosting them on a party and I want them to have a great time. That being said, anything we have left over I'm taking home with me and using to re-stock my liquor cabinet!

I think beer and wine are just fine but if you do opt for a cash bar, let your guests know ahead of time. Personally, I have never been to a wedding with a cash bar as of yet ... well at least one that I was legal age to drink ... LOL

Glenn, you are at a venue that allows you to bring your own. Not all are.

We chose not to pay for liquor, not because we could not afford it, but, we chose not to fund the grooms family who are a bunch of drunks. Had we funded an entire open bar, our bar tab would easily have hit $5k. We did have a few drink tickets, for the bridal party and some family members. That alone did hit $900.

@Carole, rude much? Wow, I did not expect you to be so nasty. You have always been a nice lady. Guess I was wrong about you.

We are only doing beer and wine and champ... Ive been to wedding with a cash bar it wasnt that big of a deal they hosted the beer and wine and champ though. I honestly think it depends on your venue and situation. If its something you just cant afford then dont do it. Like for me and FH we are paying for our own wedding and we have two kids we cant be breaking the bank so our guest can get drunk