Open bar... the norm?!

Houston texas. I’ve been in 7 weddings..

1st: margaritas, wine and beer (no cash bar).
2nd: wine and beer, no liquor.
3rd: dry wedding (small baptist wedding, only a few people brought flasks, if others did it was unorticeable)
4th: dry wedding (everyone snuck booze in).
5th wedding: open bar (best wedding I’ve been to).
6th wedding: open bar (2nd best wedding Ive been too).
7th wedding: water and tea provided. cash bar 80% left after the cake cutting.

I have two upcoming weddings this year, both are open bar.

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Interesting combination of margaritas, wine, and beer. Seems odd, but I would personally be happy as those are the only 3 things I really drink

Chicago suburbs - faaaaaar western. I don’t believe I have ever been to a wedding that did not have an open bar.

I'm in Ohio, my FH and I are serving two signature alcoholic drinks and the rest are non-alcoholic. We have only been to one wedding that was an open bar. Most of the time they are cash or limited on what they are serving.

I'm in Northern Illinois. We were going to do a dry reception but decided to do two hours of open bar to satisfy the drinkers. Some may chose to sneak it in after that. After the two hours the bar will switch to water, iced tea, soda, coffee, and a signature non-alcoholic drink. We are going to put up a sign with the reception schedule stating the times for the bar. If they don't like it and choose to leave, then we will party with the friends and family that choose to stay. The ones that will probably leave are part of the reason we are not doing an open bar all night.

I would like to add that although I am an Open Bar gal, I am not annoyed/pissed at a cash bar. I am pretty mellow about those things. With my family having a history of open bars I do not remember an event that required someone needed to be escorted out. I think there are a few bad apples that spoil it and that is sad. I am way more annoyed at parents not watching their little ones and letting them run around the dance floor!!!

I think it depends on where you are from, but it sounds like you would be fine having a few kegs and then doing a cash bar. In the cities, I think open bar is definitely expected, but personally, I dont think open bars are necessary.

Philadelphia area- haven’t been to a wedding that didn’t have an open bar. I’d be annoyed to go to a wedding and realize it wasn’t an open bar.

Disclaimer: I have not read all of the responses but...

Western PA

My experience has been the complete opposite of OP's. I have only been to one wedding where there was a cash bar. Needless to say, no one drank.

Open bars are pretty much standard where we live and where I lived previously in MD. When we were looking at venues, all the venues that didn't require us to purchase our own alcohol in bulk had an open bar included in the package price per person.

View Quoted Comment I'm sorry but I am in the south (georgia) and I do not live in the city and can say I have never been to a cash bar wedding and would be shocked if I did see you

I would also like to say it doesn't only matter where you live it also matters the type of group you are around. (Not saying one is better than another) I am from Georgia and can say I have NOT been to a cash bar wedding. I am not in Atlanta but I also am not out with the farms either. So you may get some who have the cowboy lifestyle (which again is not saying they are lower than others) who may only be used to cash weddings.

I'm from Oklahoma. Most weddings here just self serve beer and wine, maybe a signature drink depending on the area. A lot of the weddings here don't serve a meal either. Mostly just light snacks and finger foods.

View Quoted Comment I have been to two weddings in Georgia, one in Atlanta and one in Macon, both were cash bars, no cowboys involved.

That's exactly what I've been thinking lately! I'm trying to book my venue, and up until now all of the weddings I've been to have been cash bars. I'm shocked to find that most of my favorite venues don't offer that. I'm from south Texas and most of our guests are big drinkers...I don't want to be in huge debt just from throwing our wedding! We are saving for a home

Open bar. Or at least an open cocktail hour

View Quoted Comment I'm from Louisiana. I've been to 7 weddings. I can honestly say only 2 of those were fully open bar - one being in NOLA and one in BR. So when I said south, I probably should've clarified which state. (my bad)

New Mexico/Colorado here. Most of the weddings I’ve been to have been limited by time or amount, so only open for awhile and then turned cash. We went to one fully open bar in Texas and were soooo excited.

We found a super reasonable price for one here in Denver so we’re doing it!

I think it is a huge thing at least where we are, we’re doing an open bar for the most part until they hit our tab then it’ll be a cash bar, but it’ll be a pretty high bar tab to begin with but after that like the last hour I don’t see a problem with cash bar we’re not made or money haha it’s expensive!

Like anything else it all depends on where you are from. My husband and I have been married almost 28 years at our reception granted my parents paid it was an open bar until the money that was put on it ran out then a family friend I believe my mom's boss put some more money on it this went on for a bit with different people adding too it. Some had said they had expected us to do a dollar dance which we didn't others said they had expected to pay all day and night for drinks so they wanted to help by keeping it open for everyone . My husband was in the Air Force so was my dad so we had guest that were from all over the US as we got married in England while stationed there.

Now we are planning our son's wedding to his future bride and we are planning beer and wine. then soda, water , tea and what not. No sure of what is expected or the norm here, just planning what the couple wants as it's their day and I know we will all give cocktails when we get back to the hotel at the end of the night after cleaning out the venue.

Definitely a open bar, I'm in the DC area. Family is from NYC, no way I would even consider cash. My FI and I went to a wedding this summer and all of our friends still talk about the bar or lack there of. The bar was sometimes open and sometimes cash. But there was no rhyme or reason to it. It was nuts! It would just magically switch while you were in line for a drink. I will say, that I can see how hotel venues or other all inclusive type places give people pause when it comes to an open bar. On avg in the DC area it seems to be about $70pp for just bar, no food, that does add up. We have to bring everything in to our venue and we have top shelf booze from a liquor store at $2000 total for 160 guests. The difference is astounding.

Also, I would be very happy with beer and wine as a guest. I'm petty I guess, a cash bar will come out of your gift esp if I traveled.