Limited Bar with tickets

I've never attended a wedding like this, but I'd be afraid some people would lose the tickets then be unhappy they can't get a drink. 2 drinks is also such a small amount when the average is 5 drinks a person. I've also only been to weddings with open bars or at least one type of alcohol is free but other kinds are cash bar. If your guests aren't really drinkers it's fine, but if they are I think many people will be unhappy To avoid the outrageous cost for alcohol, my fiance and I just found a place we can bring our own beer and wine. Our drinks should only cost about $1000 total.

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$1000 is not bad! How many people were there?

View Quoted Comment Our guest list is currently at 78 (including us) - wedding isn't until October 3, 2020. We're getting the beer and wine from totalwineandmore.com, which is basically a Costco for alcohol. Our venue doesn't allow liquor and we wouldn't want to have it anyway, so that'll be saving a lot. I'm just going to ask a bunch of people what they usually drink so I know how much to get of each and unopened bottles can be returned. We have some people who don't drink at all or very little and others who can throw down, so our consumption should end up as average.

I'd prefer an open bar up to a certain limit. Some people won't need 2 drinks and some people will want more. So then it's less like a ticketed event and more just a consumption bar up to X dollars then a cash bar.

I've been to several weddings with tickets. It's very common these days. I've literally never once heard a guest complain. Soft drinks should remain free, but it's totally fine to limit how much alcohol you pay for. I'm doing tickets also because my city is very expensive for weddings. I'll be providing free soft, free champagne toast, and two free tickets per adult. My reception is 2.5 hours long. Just be sure to make your guests aware of the cash bar after tickets ahead of time, and pay for a few extra in the event someone loses theirs.

I don’t think any guest will complain to you - it’s your day, your priorities, your budget. I personally wouldn’t love a wedding like this but we are big drinkers. To each their own. Just make sure your MC makes it clear how the system works.

I vastly prefer a ticketed approach as opposed to bar open till money runs out. Some people will run over and get a few drinks and hoard them.