Open Bar vs Cash Bar - need help choosing

Open bar

I think open bar is always better to provide for your guests. So if it can comfortably fit in the budget, do it. But as a guest myself, I never expect or assume there will be an open bar at a wedding I attend because I know that it can get very expensive, and it really doesn't matter to me either way as a guest. My FH and I debated this for a while with our planning because we wanted it to be an open bar the whole night at our wedding but it costs an absolute fortune at our venue. After attending a number of weddings the past year we paid attention and noticed that most people stopped drinking much at all or were being cut off by the last hour or two anyways, so we decided to have a 4 hour open bar, wine service with dinner, and the final hour of the reception will be a cash bar. I think that providing 5 hours of alcohol is plenty, and I know with my guest list many people will have stopped drinking liquor by then anyways. So, open bar turning into a cash bar is always an option too.

Open bar

Cash bar is NOT expected. Open bar is. Cash bar is a sour surprise

@andrea if you can't afford to host alcohol at your wedding without breaking the bank... your priorities are fucked up.

I'm with the guests. I've never expected an open bar at the weddings I've attended so it was always a nice surprise if they had one. I think it's more about how well you know the bride and groom. If you know they're two young people paying for it themselves and they work retail, you already know it's going to be cash bar. Last wedding I went to had a partial open bar and although it was a bit of a tease, at least they had some alcohol. However, you'll find most posters on WW say a full open bar is a must.

Open bar and don't make your guests open their wallet at a party that is meant to be your thank you to them for coming to witness your marriage!

I've been to weddings where they've had free drinks during cocktail hour and then it changed to a cash bar. I like to call these "bait and switch bars." It's confusing. You don't know whether you're going to be charged for something once you hear fro other guests that not all the drinks are free. No one wants to order a drink expected it to be free and then suddenly be handed a bill for it, or have to go up to the bartender and ask if anything is still free before deciding what drink they want.

People told me the same thing. I'm pretty sure every wedding I've been to in my adult life has been a cash bar, at least for part of the night. Didn't matter to us- we're still doing an open bar. Alcohol was my #1 priority for our wedding (after actually getting married, of course).

View Quoted Comment I have people like this I am worried about and they are not people I choose to be friends with. FH has family and friends too you know??

Most of the replied I see on Ww talk about how tacky and rude a cash bar is. But hear me out and please let me know if my situation is any different. I am leaning towards having a cash bar but doing either drink ticket/tokens or open bar during cocktail hour. I think cocktail hour would be nice but our cocktail hour will be outside while the bar is inside so idk if that would work. Our venue only charges $3-5 per drink and we will be providing soda, water, lemonade, and tea. First, I cannot afford an open bar, our parents aren't paying for everything and most of our wedding bill will fall on me. Second, there is no uber, Lyft, or taxis where our venue is and most of our guests will be driving about an hour home and I really do not want anyone drinking and driving.. Third, I would hate to have guests over drink and cause a scene. Fourth, our guests should be there because they love us and want to celebrate with us, not for free booze. Am I wrong?

Tianna,

I opted for a cash bar for multiple reasons. I have been to wedding where there was an open bar and some guest pretty much ruined the wedding because they were so intoxicated and reckless. Like you said, most people are surprised by an open bar, I don't believe the story line of "Its expected". I am already good food, an awesome experience and memories for a lifetime and I think that is more than enough. My wedding planner suggested that we can open a tab with a certain amount and after that amount is maxed then it rolls into a cash bar. In the end we just opted for a cash bar only. We are providing champagne for all the toasts.