No Alcohol @ Reception

Tell them exactly that, if they have alcohol, they could cost you your reception

I have the same problem. The contract states no alcohol on facility grounds, including parking lots. If drinking is more important, they can leave after the ceremony and drink at home. The last thing I need is to get kicked out of my own wedding and have cops called. I'm relying on word of mouth because I don't think it's "etiquette" to write that on the invitation and RSVP cards get returned to me so they might "forget".

I would put it on your website if you're that serious about it because someone will bring a flask

I personally don't often check wedding websites, so I'd stick a little note in there about the situation. Something like, "The venue is a dry venue, and any alcohol on the premises will be seen as a violation of our contract. Therefore we are providing multiple yummy non-alcoholhic beverages to enjoy all evening."

What are your reasons for a dry wedding, if its really that much of issue to your family i would reconsider and offer at least a couple options for them-- that would avoid you potentially getting kicked out.

ive never heard of anyone bringing their own alcohol to a wedding

There will be car bar. People like to drink when they are stuck at someone's party that may or may not be exciting. You can put it on the website but people are grown and can do what they want.

You can slip little paper inserts that say "Alcohol not permitted" or something like that. Again, I would just put it in an insert.

Telling people that it is ' dry venue, or that alcohol is not permitted is basically a straight up LIE.

I attended one dry wedding and it was the worst wedding I have ever attended. Hell yes, I pre-gamed. I even brought the mini bottle in to make my drinks.

Good thing I did, too! It was not in the invitation or noted anywhere that it would be appetizers only and that only water and lemonade would be provided as drinks. Had I shown up expecting a meal and some drinks only to find cheese and crackers with lemonade I would have been a lot more irate if I hadn't brought my own.

The only reason I knew to bring my own was because my sister was a bridesmaid and found out the night before the wedding that it would be dry.

Bonus: I drove 8 hours to this wedding, paid for two nights in a hotel and gave $50 in a card. What a waste!

FYI- That is not how you host guests.

Wait, so the venue's not dry? You're just telling people that?

Don't lie to guests. Make a choice for your wedding to not host liquor but don't try to tell adults what they can and cannot do.

Wait...when did she say that it's a lie?

I really don't like the idea of putting a bunch of inserts in with your wedding invitation (no alcohol, no children, wear this or that, directions). It reminds me of clutter. I think it's better to push guest towards your website and list it all there.

If your venue isn't dry. I can almost guarantee you there will be a car bar and possibly a few flasks floating around. Adults like to drunk when they party. If your venue is dry and drinking would be a violation of your contract, I would communicate that with guest. First on the website, and then maybe on the ceremony programs I would say something like, "Dinner and mocktails to follow." While at the reception I would have someone announce that, "we ask guest to refrain from alcohol as alcohol is not allowed on the premises."

She didnt. Someone else did. But she did say she chose not to have liquor which sounds like it's optional at the venue. Any venue will say please don't have people being drunks in the parking lot. That's just common sense.

You can try, but I can tell you it won't work. And most people are not going to look at your website. I don't want to open up the "why you should have drinks for your guests" can of worms, but adults usually want to drink, and if they can't do it inside, they'll do it outside. Is is in the contract that they can't drink outside or are you projecting this? I know that many of our public parks don't allow alcohol outside, but in the buildings themselves it's fine.

If I was a guest, I'd probably ignore the warning (sorry....) and pre game myself. If I were you, I'd probably do a very limited bar (since you didn't say they couldn't drink inside) with wine, beer, soft drinks. If you're worried about them doing it, it's probably a crowd that likes a drink or two, and you honestly should consider why you're not letting them.

probably not what you wanted to hear....

If the venue has a liquor license there can not be outside liquor on the premises. I'm sure that is why they would shut things down. I don't think it should be in the invitation at all but maybe on the website something (more tastefully written) about outside liquor is prohibited on the premises and the venue reserves the right to shut down the reception if it is found.

You don't have to have alcohol at a reception to host well, just other good drinks, proper food, seat for every butt - then you are fine.

You can tell people that the reception will be dry, but you won't be able to prevent them from throwing a cooler of beer in their car or a flask in their purse. I'm with Celia I would totally pre-game before the wedding AND (not gonna lie) either leave right after dinner or keep some alcohol in the car.

You can't control the actions of others. That is the risk you are going to have to take wth your chosen venue.

*edited for spelling

You can leave a little message about it on your website.

But in reality, people will probably still do it.

I kind of think that telling your guests "Do not Bring outside Alcohol" will probably make some people bring it who would not have done it otherwise. And i would kind of find it rude to see that written anywhere, its like you either don't trust them or you assume your guests don't respect your decision to not have alcohol.

either way even if you do write it down somewhere i totally agree with Celia and others who have said that people will pre-game/ bring nips.

If its in your contract that there is no outside alcohol allowed on the premise then just be careful how you word it to your guests but don't be surprised if people bring some.