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

Lori - Give me someone in Alberta who has been to a fully-open bar wedding. Go!

@ Emma, you would definitely need a liquor permit/insurance and as Emmy said, most venues don't allow it due to liabilities.

LadyMonk, ok I can't do Canada.

But it drives me nuts when I see posters say that Midwest weddings or East Coast weddings (for example) don't do open bars--I have friends & family all over the country and trust me, they do open bars. And not just the super rich people either.

@Lori, just to clarify my stance. Even though it is common for me to attend a cash bar in my area/social circle. I have been to a several open bar events in my area/social circle as well. I am in no way saying that we "only" have cash bars up here, rather I have been to events that have them and I didn't personally find it tacky....and i wasn't offended that it was a cash bar.

Personal opinion is all. Which is what much of this post is about, objective comments.

My dad suggested buying everyone like 1 or 2 drinks and giving them tickets. Once they've used their tickets, it's out. BUT maybe talk to your venue or caterer. I just spoke with a venue and explained our tight budget and she was able to get us everything we want with a one hour open bar without breaking our budget!

I would try to see if beer fits in your budget since it is cheap. And wine can be cheap. I've had decent $5 bottles of wine. Or, if you really want liquor, look at the coupons in the paper. They usually have a rebate offer to get money back if you buy two vodkas or rums, etc. Just giving you options.

I am on the East Coast & know of people who've done open bars but in my area particularly, open bars are just not as common as cash bars are. In the 4 weddings I've been to in ****, all 4 of them have been cash bars..some at higher end venues & some at local restaurants. And it's not considered tacky where I'm at. It's just a little more common, I guess, compared to other areas.

OP, I think you should just do whatever works best for you.

Why not a limited bar with beer and sangria and cash bar for anyone who is not happy with those two options?

I personally would cut my guest list to accommodate the cost of the open bar.

Hard one, but i am on the open bar, or limited beer/wine bar personally. I am not a fan of cash bars or toonie bars or tokens or anything tht makes the guest come out of pocket.

This whole thread is so tacky.

I'm Canadian and have *never* even heard of a cash or toonie bar in my area.

Here's a tip: If you can't afford to properly host your guests...you shouldn't have invited 150 of them.

Lori is 100% correct. Cash bars are not "regional" - that is a big misconception.

If you do the toonie bar with alcohol you bought you need a different licence for the hall. If you do a toonie bar with the hall alochol you will be paying the difference in cost. Beer cost $4.75 they pay 2, 2.75 the bride and groom pay or who ever is paying for it. I know some horror stories from toonie bar too. A lot of people with do wine and beer bar. If there is something you like to drink have it has the signature drink with wine and beer.

A couple people mentioned I was a troll, why would you say that? I just wanted some opinions.

I talked to the catering director today and he suggested not putting the wine at the tables to avoid partially used bottles and some tables not even using the wine and others wanting more.

So what I'm thinking now is an open bar, but only having 1 keg of beer ($225) and then a certain amount of bottles of wine ($20 a bottle and maybe 20 bottles or so) at the bar and once it's out it turns into a cash bar. I should mention that the majority of the guests will not be drinking, so I believe this to be enough for 125-150 guests.

Also, my fiancee and I don't really want to pay for the alcohol ourselves. We're both in college, don't have enough of an opportunity to work much while in school, and we don't have enough saved (need what we do have in savings for when we get married and have to pay for rent and such).

Thanks for the input everybody btw! This is helping =)

I was the one who mentioned you were a troll because you posted a hot button question and then didn't respond to anything. If you're not a troll, I stand corrected.

Also, do you know for sure that the majority of your guests won't be drinking? Funny how free beer and wine make the non drinkers into drinkers

"Also, my fiancee and I don't really want to pay for the alcohol ourselves" - I'm sorry, that is an incredibly lame and immature statement. It is YOUR wedding. No one is responsible for paying for it but you. You want something (alcohol), but you don't want to pay for it. Then have a dry wedding. Or scale down your guest list. Or change the style of wedding so alcohol is less of a requirement. Or wait to get married until you have saved more money. Be an adult.

So you're not inviting any friends? Because if you're in college, those are probably the heaviest drinking age, one person can easily finish a bottle of wine (4 or 5 glasses) over a span of 4 hours and not even be tipsy.

You'll have to tell people to bring cash if you do your idea, and if word gets out there's only 20 bottles of wine, I promise you everyone will rush to get as much alcohol at the beginning, and you'll be out super fast.

I've been to weddings where each adult recieved 2 (1 per drink) tickets for beer or wine, if they wanted more than that they could pay cash.

I think that's perfectly fine. As long as non alcoholic drinks are free too with the wine at the tables, then I don't see a problem with it.

You don't need $20 bottles of wine. You can get a box for $20, or a magnum bottle for $12-15. I'm not talking high-level, but not the lowest-level either.