Lets talk semi-cash bar

You could provide beer and wine and do cash bar for liquor. I think your guests would be more than fine with just beer and wine, but you could give them the option to pay for liquor if you want to.

What is a Toonie Bar?

@KT-V, sorry! #Canadianproblems . A toonie is our $2 coin, and a loonie is the $1 coin. A toonie bar is quite popular, it just means charging $2 per drink.

My plan is to provide wine during dinner, and then a toonie bar for anything else ($2). I'll have more wine, beer,coolers and two signature drinks that can be purchased. That way I'm not have to provide a huge variety of liquor and we will pretty much break even.

The goal of the $2 bar isn't really because of cost, I'm doing it to try and somewhat control drinking a bit.

In my city it is really common to have what we call a "toonie" bar. So the bride and groom pay of one bottle of red and white wine per table and each guest gets two drink tickets. If they want more than two drinks plus wine, they need to pay two dollars per drink. The two dollars covers the cost of the bar. Because it's such a small amount, most people who want to get drunk that night don't mind paying at all since it's about the same as if they were to drink at home, and those who just want a couple drinks with their meal are covered with the wine on tables and two drink tickets.

Also- have any non-alcoholic drinks free. I think that part is really important.

I don't like the idea of beer and wine free, liquor at cost. This might keep people from getting really drunk but it definitely is not cheaper! It costs way more for people to drink a glass of wine then it does a single rum and coke!

Love twoonie bars! Hate just beer and wine, I'm willing to pay for liquor.

My venue gave me the option to have a host bar for the Bridal party and parents. Never even thought of that until they said it was quite popular.

Beer and wine only seems like the easiest option. As far as cash for liquor, I'd go with what is done in your area. We are in the DC area and cash bar of any sort is a major no-no. We did beer and wine only and didn't have any complaints.

What is a Toonie bar? I am from Illinois and most of the wedding I have attended were cash bar. Our venue allows us to bring our own liquor and I am thinking of limiting it to beer, one light liquor, one dark liquor and pop/water/juice. I don't want to spend a ton of money on liquor and most importantly, I don't want to deal with rude drunk people.

I'd be happy with free beer and wine if I were a guest if I wanted some big fancy cocktail I could buy it myself

My choice would be open wine and beer if you could swing it. Then people who need liquor can just buy it!

I think as long as you are providing some sort of free alcohol all night, you are good to go. Most people are going to drink what's free, plain and simple.

I would be happy at a wine and beer reception. I think you will have to do what is best for your budget and your wedding. I think offering a tab works too. Your guests will understand if they truly are your friends and family. I think there is a lot of negativity surrounding cash bars, but I feel like they are still done quite a bit.

I would do the soda beer and wine package!

My mothers uncle owned a extremely popular wedding venue for like 5o years. The first thing he said was to never get an open bar. People who normally wouldn't drink, drink. People put their drink down, start talking, don't know which one is their drink, and order another. People get out of control with the unlimited alcohol to them. I'm having a champagne hour of unlimited champagne and two bottles of wine on each table. Both of our families are big wine drinks, so this option fits our wedding very well. If we wanted an open bar, it would've cost us close to $4,000 for it. That's just simply not in our budget on top of all the other alcohol we're having.