No Alcohol at the Reception

Never been to a wedding or any family function with alcohol...we know how to have fun without it. Just depends on how well you know your guests

Remember, it's YOUR day, not theirs. If they have a problem with it, they can leave. People will stay because they love y'all, not the booze.

You can still have fun without alcohol. I think it's a smart decision for sure.

People prefer alcohol. Although I think it's sad people can't learn to have a good time without alcohol. It's sad that most people can't survive a couple of hours without it.

Provide on drink....not your job to get everyone drunk....as long as theres goid music and family and friends youll havea good time

Anyone can have a good time with alcohol. People can survive without it. That doesn't mean that a celebration like a wedding should be dry.

Dry weddings suck. I can understand certain issues (religion & ptsd are 2 of the few) but just because you don't drink, YOU'RE in recovery, or your family can't behave is not a reason to penalize your guests.

Okay! I think we hit the quota of four people who think dry weddings are okay!

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"Knowing how to have fun without alcohol" is a poor excuse and that's all it is

Sure you don't need alcohol to have fun, you don't need food or music either, or AC. Just go without all of it. *sarcasm*

It's not that people can't survive without it. It's just that dry celebrations suck.

I can have some fun without alcohol. But I have a lot more fun with it. And considering the reception is a thank you for the guests, you should probably host them properly. They took time out of their lives to find something to wear, take off work, travel, give you a gift and possibly get a hotel room. The least you can do is provide them with a glass of wine with their dinner.

I went to a dry wedding and it was fine, but there wasn't any dancing either. It was an afternoon wedding and once the cake was eaten we sent the couple off and all went home. If you're not having alcohol, don't bother with a dj. Chances are it'll be just a few people awkwardly dancing on the dance floor because not many people have that kind of natural courage.

Last night my FH and I went to a full open bar wedding and had SO much fun. We stayed until it was time to leave. (Most guests did as well) We went to a dry wedding last year and didn't stay very long. We aren't much for dancing without some liquid courage lol

My family and my FHs family have never gotten along...I'm also having issues with my side of the family (we aren't speaking) Also, my dad and FHs Dad don't hold their liquor well but does that mean I won't be serving alcohol? Absolutely not!

Let adults be adults...if crap hits the fan the family members who choose to act poorly towards you or others can be escorted out. There should also be a bartender and he or she will know when to cut guests off, that's their job.

None of your reasons above are valid for having a dry wedding and ultimately poor hosting.

If money happens to be as issue as well you could just serve beer and wine.

You have decided to have no alcohol so you should keep it that way. It is your wedding day. I think the fact that dear family and friends view alcohol as so important to such an intimate event says something about our society. If people want to leave early and go get a beer, I'd say have a nice day - we are having a wedding, not throwing a frat party for everyone.

'I don't know who all these families are that have a couple of drinks and go at each other with the butter knives because frankly, I've never seen that happen.'

No kidding. Not to mention all the posters with family members who are recovering alcoholics (because these family members would want the bride and groom to deprive their other guests of alcohol because they have an addiction)

I understand that you will be sad if people leave early due to the lack of alcohol. Unfortunately, there is absolutely nothing you can do about that besides serve alcohol in the hopes of keeping them there. You can't prevent people from getting bored and leaving. Some won't. But, very probably, some will.

Your choices are to have a dry wedding and accept that some people will leave early or to serve alcohol in the hopes of preventing this. There's no magic spell that conjures up a third option.

We are having just a signature cocktail with the appetizers and then non-alcoholic dinner and cake reception. This said, we are also having a shorter reception because we are getting married on a Monday and most of our guests will be driving a couple hours each direction to come and work the next day. Ceremony is at 3p (20-30 minutes) and then cocktails right after with reception immediately after that. We will be done by 7p. We rarely drink, most of our family and friends do not drink or drink minimally so we don't anticipate people leaving early. We really wanted to have more of a dinner party style reception and suits us and the group of family and friends invited.

People will leave early, for sure. They're not going to hang around to do....what? I really really hate the argument that people that "need " alcohol have a problem. No, they don't.