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Darby
Just Said Yes August 2020

Open bar, mixed bar, no bar?

Darby, on January 15, 2020 at 11:12 PM

Posted in Wedding Reception 39

My fiancé and I are trying to decide if we should have a bar at all. In addition, if we are to have one, what type. We are expecting a 300-350 person wedding and the venue we’ve chosen charges by the drink. We have discussed only offering beer, wine, and maybe a signature drink, but we still think...
My fiancé and I are trying to decide if we should have a bar at all. In addition, if we are to have one, what type.


We are expecting a 300-350 person wedding and the venue we’ve chosen charges by the drink. We have discussed only offering beer, wine, and maybe a signature drink, but we still think we are looking at a steep price. We have thought about setting a limit then switching to a cash bar, we have considered having a cash bar only, and even not having a bar at all. A lot of our families and friends are big drinkers but we really don’t drink ourselves. We just don’t know what to do. Any advice would be great!
In short, what bar options have you looked at? How common is a cash bar? Is it rude if we don’t have a bar?
TIA!
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39 Comments

  • H
    Dedicated September 2021
    Holly ·
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    I can't imagine paying for alcohol for that many people! We decided cash bar and haven't looked back. I'm glad so many venues/restaurants have the option.

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  • Kristina
    Dedicated September 2022
    Kristina ·
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    That's a ton of people! I would honestly do a Cash Bar. If you want, maybe do a signature punch / sangria cause you make a big pitcher for fairly cheap and serve it on first come first serve basis then cash bar the rest.

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  • Sarah
    Expert October 2021
    Sarah ·
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    My fiancé and I are doing a cash bar. Otherwise we would have been unable to do a Champaign toast. The venue we went with only allows champagne toasts if we have the bar, we are not allowed to bring our own champagne in. So my fiancé and I will buy everyone over 21 who drinks a glass of champagne for the toast. That is the only thing.
    • Reply
  • Sarah
    Savvy September 2020
    Sarah ·
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    I attended a dry wedding once. It was in the afternoon, at the bride & groom’s church. People still danced. I don’t think a booze-free wedding is rude.
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  • L
    Beginner January 2020
    Lyndsie ·
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    We are doing $1,000 beer and wine and then cash bar after that runs out. But we are only having 85 guests.
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  • Maria
    Super October 2019
    Maria ·
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    I would offer at least beer and wine. We had free beer and wine for a large guest list and liquor was still available for purchase. A handful of people bought mixed drinks or shots but most were delighted to get an option of beer or multiple wine flavors. Stick with basic domestic beer that is cheaper and fewer wine options?

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  • Michaela
    Super May 2020
    Michaela ·
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    I think beer and wine only is a good way to go. Even if you need to set a limit and then switch to a cash bar later. I think that's the best happy medium solution. I've been to plenty of wedding that have done that, and I'm always grateful for the first 2 (or however many) free drinks I get. Most of the time I'm perfectly happy buying my own drinks after that, and some times I just chose to stop drinking.

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  • Brittany
    Savvy July 2020
    Brittany ·
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    We’ve agreed on beer & wine. My side of the family doesn’t really drink (they’re gonna think it’s scandalous) but my fiancé’s family drinks and they expect it.
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  • Nikki
    Devoted April 2021
    Nikki ·
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    I’ve been to a lot of weddings where the bride and groom have a set amount and after it’s hit it changes to a cash bar. I think treating to some drinks is better than cash bar only for sure, but make sure you let people know that it’s going to switch so they can bring cash
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  • Taylor
    Savvy September 2021
    Taylor ·
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    Side note: I feel like this is a common misconception, & it can obviously vary by venue/company, but a “cash bar” doesn’t mean you can ONLY pay in cash. I see a lot of comments about warning guests to bring cash - yes maybe do this if it’s true the they will only be able to pay with cash; but I’ve definitely been to weddings where I just leave my credit card at the bar and start a tab - no cash was needed.
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  • Brittany
    Savvy July 2020
    Brittany ·
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    Do whatever you can afford because that is a lot of people. We’re having 100 guests & we’re only offering wine & beer. I think that’s enough.
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  • Meghan
    Master October 2019
    Meghan ·
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    I would just do an open beer and wine bar. That will save you a lot of money not providing liquor. Guests should not be required to pay for anything.
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  • karen
    Master October 2017
    karen ·
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    Just do wine and beer. Agree, no one should have to pay, and I don't care if cash or credit card.

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  • Canadiangal
    Dedicated August 2020
    Canadiangal ·
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    I agree, and most people drive to weddings so they would at least have their debit card. And some phone cases have card holders in them. Me and my fiance decided to pay for 1 drink per guest because that is what we can afford.
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  • Kaysey
    Super February 2020
    Kaysey ·
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    I think beer and wine is fine. Honestly, it's part personal preference, part how your venue can do the bar and part your budget. Personally, my FH and I are doing a full open bar for our guests and that's something my FH really wanted to do and we budgeted for doing so. Our venue gave us the option of having them bartend and supply the alcohol (which was crazy expensive), or for us to supply the alcohol and hire our own bartender as long as they are licensed and insured; which we have done - and we saved a ton of money hiring our own bartender. We are stocking the bar ourselves and saved a ton of money b/c we went through total wine and as a plus we can return any unopened bottles after the wedding and get our money back for those bottles.


    With the number of guests you are having, I don' think it is rude to have part cash bar. I agree with the previous poster who said you should not go into debt over your bar at the wedding. Maybe do a limited open bar with beer and wine free and anything additional like liquor is cash? My FH and I are doing a full open bar b/c we are only expecting around 120-125, even though we invited 150. We are comfortably able to afford to do an open bar for that amount of people. If we were expecting a higher number like you are, we probably would've done free beer and wine and a cash bar for liquor.

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  • Sabrina
    Dedicated September 2020
    Sabrina ·
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    Tia,


    According to my fiance, cash bar is rude. I personally don't think so. I'm not inviting HUNDREDS of people to take away my whole life savings! Attending a wedding is not about drinking and heck no one remembers the food!
    You can do a cash bar and no one should/will judge you. You can also look into drink coupons. A lot of vendors we realized didn't allow for them.
    Good luck!
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  • Florida Marlins
    Expert October 2017
    Florida Marlins ·
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    I would offer up free beer, wine and soda and a cash bar for the rest. I am a fan of open bars myself but these days those seem to be popular options. 350 people? Girl you are brave!!

    Please don't start with open then switch out, that confuses people.

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  • Heather
    Beginner April 2021
    Heather ·
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    To be very blunt: a lot of us don’t like to go to weddings (even our own). But we want to support our friends and loved ones. We showed up, bought you a nice gift, maybe spent money on travel and/or a new outfit. We should get a nice meal and free drinks in return. Beer and wine is fine if that’s all your budget will allow. You chose to invite that many people, we (the wedding guests) didn’t. That’s the lens I’m using to make catering decisions for my wedding.
    • Reply
  • J
    Master October 2022
    Jana ·
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    Have as much open bar as you can justifiably afford and then serve nonalcoholic drinks after that. If people still need alcohol, they can meet at a bar after.
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