Open bar is not an option, don't like the tackiness of a cash bar

I'm from Canada and am planning on having a toonie bar. My budget is about the same as yours. This way I make back some of the money we spent on alcohol. We are returning unopened liquor as well and also putting wine on the tables as for toasts. Nearly every wedding i've been to has had a toonie bar, and I think if you can do something similar it might make you feel better not having your guests pay full price. But ultimately do what fits in your budget and don't worry about anyone who says "it's tacky". I'm pretty sure our wedding will be breaking all the tacky rules, everything from "no kids" to "toonie bar" to "honeymoon registry". Its 2015!

I would prefer to have the option to purchase my own drinks if I wanted then to attend a dry wedding but where I'm from cash bars are common. Most on here will tell you dry wedding over any type of cash bar

We're offering a limited bar meaning beer and wine is free for people and then people can pay for liquor. Maybe that would be in your budget? We are also having a wine service during dinner. I think that having a few bottles on each table would be great though, I think I like having alcohol with my food the most anyway. I'm not a heavy drinker though and my guests aren't heavy drinkers. So keep in mind your guests, and what you can afford. No need to go into debt. It's better to have some alcohol than none at all!

Could you host a cocktail hour (with maybe just beer and wine) and then after dinner make it a cash bar? The prob with bottles on the table is that depending on your gueSt make-up, some tables may not have enough and others may have too much. And you don't want guests scavenging the tables for wine. Just some thoughts...

Canada here, I'm having wine on the tables and a toonie bar but each place setting will have two free drink tickets. So they are getting 3-4 drinks for free before having throw down a toonie.

We can't afford a full open bar so we're doing beer and wine and *maybe* a signature drink.

What is a toonie bar and how does that help you recoup money?

Just because they gave you a budget of 10,000 doesn't mean you and your FH can add more? Can you as a couple pay for the alcohol?

Limited bar is a really good option. Also, what @e= said, you can save money and provide this for your guests.

Many people nowadays offer beer and wine and have liquor available for cash. We opted not to have alcohol at our wedding for multiple reasons - we are leaving at 9:30 and having an afterparty at a bar downtown. That way we don't have to pay for it and when we want to sneak off to the hotel around midnight, our friends don't have to quit partying.

What is a toonie bar??

A "toonie bar" is when guests pay $2 for a drink so it is still a cash bar but guests pay less than a typical drink would be. Please don't think all Canadians do this. They don't. I find it especially disgusting when the couple is allowed to supply their OWN alcohol (not venue provided) and is therefore already getting a huge break on alcohol costs and is STILL charging guests $2 per drink to recoup that money?? Or even make a profit off their guests??? Talk about ungracious hosting. You should never be making a profit off your guests or charge to recoup costs you've already paid!

OP, I would suggest you do a limited bar of beer and wine only. This is easier on the wallet than a full bar but most people will enjoy it. If you have to kick in some of your own money for alcohol, is that so bad?? Most couples pay for their own weddings entirely.

Blake, check the laws in your area and your venue's rules. You may need a licensed bartender to serve any drinks (bottles of wine not allowed on tables -- especially if there will be minors).

WTF is a toonie bar? Is it like having signature drinks?

Nevermind I see the above comment!

Every wedding I have ever been to has been a cash bar. I think it's just common where I live. But, after reading so many threads on this, I am considering 2 signature drinks that we will cover if ordered & then a cash bar otherwise. There is no way we can afford an open bar paying for the entire wedding by ourselves.

Is there an option for a limited bar? We had a limited bar at our wedding, so beer, wine, and soda was free, but guests could choose to pay for other drinks if they wanted.

How did I not figure out what a toonie bar was on my own. I fail my Canadian roots! Lol. I blame it on Texas. I've been here too long . Lmao

At OP, do you have siblings that will help? I know with my friends wedding her two younger brothers bought all the alcohol and played bartender as their gift to the couple.

We will have a cash bar. There will be beer and wine served during cocktail hour. There will also likely be wine at dinner. Our wedding is in a hotel with a large bar area so even if we did not have a cash bar my guest would walk to the main bar areas anyway to purchase a drink so why not make it convenient for them and have it in our reception area as an option. Some call it tacky. Where I'm from cash bar is the norm and anything else is considered "doing too much"

I'm in Alberta and the majority of weddings are cash bars, however there is often an open bar for cocktails, and wine on the tables. Regardless of what Emily says, there are a lot of cash bars in Canada, she juts has super rich friends in Ontario

Honestly, I like the idea of limited bars, especially if you're in an area where cash bars are seen as tacky. I also have attended a wedding where there was wine and each guest was given 2 drink tickets free and they could pick anything at the bar.

And Nina, just because it's 2015 it's not an excuse to completely throw etiquette out the window, but I guess you don't care about being called tacky.

You could do a limited bar with only beer/wine, or do a couple signature drinks. Or if you want an full open bar, you could just save up the money for the bar and cover that tab yourself?