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Just Said Yes November 2021

Open bar, Cash bar or No bar?

Shelby, on April 4, 2020 at 11:26 PM Posted in Wedding Reception 1 13

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I’m trying to figure out the best way to serve drinks/alcohol or maybe not even at all. We’re expecting to have anywhere between 125-175 people. However; my fiancé side of the doesn’t drink. My side of the family doesn’t really drink a whole lot. My fiancé and I were okay with doing without a bar, my future in-law said “whatever you want we will be okay with”. My mother on the other hand keeps insisting that we “need” a bar. I’ve seen a lot of post saying that the thing guest remember the most about a wedding is the food and entertainment (music, dj etc). Which is why I’m stuck in between having some type of bar or none at all.
My sister got married last year, so yes my mother has been through this but also I love my brother in law but his family was one of those special families. Without going into great details, my brother in laws parents are divorced and it wasn’t a good situation and they don’t get along. On top of that, they drink a lot, I mean A LOT. I think my mom is still in the mind set that since they went through a good deal of alcohol than that means we will need to as well.
Does anyone have any good input or suggestions?

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13 Comments

Latest activity by Kelly , on April 5, 2020 at 10:43 AM

Legend June 2019
Melle · on April 4, 2020 at 11:27 PM
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I wouldn’t do an open bar. I would just go with a wine and beer bar so that it’s more limited in options and cheaper.
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Legend November 2019
Caytlyn · on April 4, 2020 at 11:35 PM
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I would do open beer and wine. That way, those who do want to enjoy a drink or two have the option and don’t have to open their wallets at your wedding. I would have a dry wedding over a cash bar.
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Super August 2023
Lunajay · on April 4, 2020 at 11:36 PM
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Yup I agree with Melle. No point of doing hard liquor if your families don't drink it like that. Just get a few bottles of red, a few of white or maybe a signature drink and some beer.
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Legend March 2017
Pirate & 60s Bride · on April 5, 2020 at 12:38 AM
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Another vote for limited open bar (beer & wine only).
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Super August 2021
Dierdra · on April 5, 2020 at 12:43 AM
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You could do a wine and beer - or a open\cash bar. One wedding I went to put up a certain amount of cash (like a cash bar) when it maxed the bartender told a designated family member - in their case the dad - who paid the leftover tab for the bride/groom so it was technically an "open bar" but soda, wine, beer and a few mixed drinks. Their family wasn't big into drinking so the tabwas only a little over their cash amount.
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VIP May 2020
Jai · on April 5, 2020 at 1:20 AM
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If not many people drink then I wouldn't do an open bar. Personally I would do a limited bar and if any beer/wine ran out then a cash bar.
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VIP September 2020
Willow · on April 5, 2020 at 2:14 AM
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Do the brother in law's parents need to be invited? Are they close to you? Their familial relationship would be too attenuated to warrant an invite from me, especially if they cause trouble.

I think most people would prefer cash bar to no bar
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Master August 2019
Rebecca · on April 5, 2020 at 3:28 AM
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If not a lot of people drink, then the open wine/beer bar should be totally fine. This would allow those who want a toast or something to have their alcohol, without costing you too much.
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VIP September 2021
Michelle · on April 5, 2020 at 3:37 AM
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Maybe beer and wine for the first hour of dinner then cash bar afterwards.
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Dedicated December 2021
Sandy · on April 5, 2020 at 3:47 AM
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I would recommend a limited open bar or give a max of what you’ll cover then convert to cash bar.
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Devoted October 2021
Fany · on April 5, 2020 at 7:57 AM
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I wouldn't do alcoholat all. Saves so much money.
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VIP November 2021
Allie · on April 5, 2020 at 9:48 AM
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I’d go for either beer and wine only or I would ask if you can do an open bar for a limited amount of hours. One of the venues we looked at said that we could limit the bar if we didn’t want to pay for it to be open the entire time because we had some similar concerns, a lot of our guests don’t drink. Our venue that we decided to go with includes the open bar and it’s super reasonably priced so we are having it, but originally when we were looking elsewhere we decided to only have like 3 hours open and the rest cash bar.
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Champion October 2018
Kelly · on April 5, 2020 at 10:43 AM
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Beer and wine only or see if your venue offers a consumption bar since it seems like a lot of people won’t be drinking.
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