Non-alcoholic wedding advice

Make sure you have a really energetic and charismatic DJ. Some people will dance, but not for very long.

If I were you, I would still serve alcohol if your family drinks. You don't have to have a dry wedding just because some people don't drink.

Our venue doesn't allow alcohol but we didn't want it anyways. We are having music of course but we are also having a game table. There will be dice games (yahtzee and farkle) then decks of cards. Maybe a few other things but not sure right now. Think of what your families find "fun" besides drinking.

Maybe some wedding games, like the shoe game, or something of that nature? depending on if the wedding is outdoor, maybe you could have lawn games.

I don't think Theres anything wrong with a dry wedding for some people. I couldn't get away with it, with my family lol. I suggest you let your side know before the wedding& inform them that this is your wishes. I'm sure it'll be fine.

I would announce on your wedding website & verbally that you won't be serving alcohol, that way people won't be expecting it. I agree on adding game tables or something else for people to do. A lot of people don't dance, even if there is alcohol. So it'd be nice to give them something to do!

I would have games of some sort and just give your family a heads up that its a dry wedding. some people might bring their own.

I couldnt have a dry wedding if i wanted, but im a big drinker myself. My dad and mom would look at my crazy if i had a dry wedding since both their family and our friends love to drink. But thats just me.

You don't have to have alcohol to have fun, to be honest, in the wrong hands, it can create drama. One of the most fun farm weddings I've shot, there wasn't alcohol. They had BBQ catered, and a homemade photobooth wall for guests, cornhole toss game, music, dances, etc. and guest retention was pretty good..even though it was damn hot outside, LOL. Definitely games, and either a great DJ or band, will all be good.

We aren't having alcohol or dancing really but we've got a good program planned so there really shouldn't be a dull moment. I wouldn't worry about it or let it change what you want your reception to be like.

If you and your groom are dancing your guests will dance-- DH and I had a dry reception (except my dad and stepmom who brought in a bottle-- WTF?! So glad I didn't know at the time!), and everyone was dancing the whole time, I think cause we had a great DJ and DH and I never left the floor.

Obviously, you can do whatever you want, but I'd question why one side of the family gets to dictate what the other side will do. If they don't want to drink, they don't have to.

I think it honestly depends on the crowd, and the region. I have never seen a lawn game in use at one of my weddings except by kids. A great DJ will help, but doesn't visiting with each other count?

They aren't dictating what everyone does but my groom and I are respecting what has happened in the past, if you must know why we are choosing this.

Thanks for all the positive responses, I appreciate it!

I'm sorry, I phrased that wrong; I didn't mean that you had to make public the reason here (or anywhere else) but just to make peace with the decision yourself. Obviously you have. And it also sounds like they are very used to celebrating without alcohol. Maybe ask them what would make it memorable for them?

We also aren't having alcohol! We're not telling our extended guest list. The family who knows us the best will simply assume that we're not having alcohol. I don't think people will complain once they're at the wedding. I figure we just need to do what we want and hold our ground.

Photobooth? Its a hit at a few events I have been to.

Everyone loves photo booths. No exceptions.

I don't think there's anything wrong with dry weddings. My bff just got married yesterday and had a dry wedding. I thought it was beautiful, but be prepared for your guests to not stay much past dinner.

I've been to a wedding where they played a much more fun game of musical chairs. So you have all the chairs set up (minus 1) then pick a couple people to play. Then you have them go find things in the audience...like "find a Jeep key, or find a non-smart phone, find a flip flop, find someone over the age of 60". Then the last person back is out of the game. It involves the audience so everyone has fun during the game. The shoe game is a good idea too. You could have all the questions printed on the table so people can guess the answers before you play.

There's nothing wrong with having a dry wedding, despite what the internet will lead you to believe. I've had more fun at the dry weddings I've been to than the ones where there was drinking.

Also, whenever this comes up I'm kind of astounded at how someone always says "why should (insert x reason here) be forced on the drinkers?". Do people never think of it the other way around? Why should something that they don't believe in/dislike/find distasteful be pushed on the non-drinkers? Yeah, they don't have to drink, but they'll still wind up dealing with those who have been and trust me, no one is as funny as they think they are when drunk.