Open bar - Wedding Party Only?

Just get wristbands for them. I'm kidding tho

That would be rude and confusing to your guests. Treat them all equally, it's okay to just have open beer and wine. If you feel like your wedding party deserves better and you want an open bar with liquor, then you need to bite the bullet and open it to all of your guests.

I don't think this is such a great idea. It's either you have the open bar for everyone or not. I think it's a little rude & confusing for your guests.

Extremely rude.

What about your BP's significant others? Will they be included on your tab? Or will they have to pay for their own drinks? Because if that is the case, my H would be getting mine, and everyone else's, drinks all night. Open bar for everyone or no one. Sorry.

That's crappy. Open bar for everyone or just have the beer wine and soda for everyone. Can't isolate certain people.

I'd be giving out drinks if I could get anything and others couldn't.

Although every one else said it in a rough way, I agree that the open bar should be for everyone. If that's not in the budget then just do cash bar for all. If you want to do a special thank you for your party maybe get them flasks filled with their fav spirit and gift it to them? Just a small suggestion. Hope I helped!

I'd suggest having open bar for everyone for soda/beer/wine or a couple of signature drinks instead of the wine. UO; but I'd be fine with a cash bar for the liquor if you feel you have to have some there.

Whatever your budget for the bar...please just keep it the same for everyone. I don't think it's right for a few to have whatever they want & some guests have to pay. The 'appreciation' your WP may feel will be far less than the number of guests that will feel slighted.

Just when you thought you'd seen it all...

One of our friends did this at her wedding a few years ago. I was a guest, not part of BP. I did not find it to be rude and no one else seemed to have a problem with it. She didn't do anything special. The bartender just knew who the BP was.

Our friends and family often have hosted beer, wine and soft drinks with everything else being cash bar. I have no problem with a cash bar as a guest. But obviously everyone has their own opinions.

There's really no way to do this where it's not rude and confusing to the bartenders, honestly.

Either do fully open for everyone or open beer, wine, and soda for everyone.

If it's a matter of cost to do a full open bar with everyone, inquire about a consumption bar where you pay for what's consumed versus per person. Sometimes, this is the cheaper option.

A good option: open bar for all for happy hour. beer and wine for all during reception, cash bar for liquor

OP edit to post - majority of our guests are beer drinkers - this is Wisconsin, folks

Your point? So why bother having open bar for wedding party then if they like beer? By the way, just because you say "this is Wisconsin" doesn't mean anyone actually gets what you mean by that but nice try justifying your rude idea.

This

OP, I'm from WI too. I understand that most are beer drinkers & typically weddings that I've been to have had only soda/beer. Until more recent years...then it's been soda/beer wine or open bar of some sort.

I see local FB wedding groups post about cash bars. Personally, I'm not OK with a cash bar; but I am fine with a partial cash bar...where liquor is cash. UO on WW; but it's mine...

I also still stand by my last comment about not having an open bar for some & not all...

ETA I should state why I don't mind a partial cash bar. I believe you host guests with drinks, no doubt; but I tend to be somewhat picky about what I drink. As a guest to a close family/friends wedding, I don't expect them to go in the hole to provide a full open bar. I know I'm picky & I know how to carry a $20 bill on me to cover 2-3 drinks for the night. I have no problem with this...just my opinion.

Yeah, sorry OP. Treat everyone the same. Beer and wine for everyone or beer wine and liquor for everyone. Please don't do a cash bar in Wisconsin. I was joking about the in Wisconsin part to try to lighten things up.

No no no. Open bar for everyone. So rude to only have it for ur bridal party. If u desperately want ur bridal party to have liquor, provide them with a flask or something. Though I really don't see the big deal about not having liquor. Just do beer and wine and maybe a signature cocktail if u want liquor

Serve what you can afford. To everyone. Treat all your guests in the same manner.

Ignore the pp who suggested a cash bar. Your guests should never have to pull out their wallet at your wedding.

Never make your guests pay for drinks. I don't even bring more than my phone, ID and keys to a wedding in the first place, let alone cash or a credit card if it's local.

If you can only afford beer and wine for everyone, then everyone gets that. If you can only afford liquor for the wedding party, there should be no liquor. You can also do one or two cocktails if you really want liquor, but offer it to everyone.

For what it's worth. We considered doing champagne for just FH and I and not for everyone because it was a solid $200 for champagne and renting/buying flutes. We ended up saying no champagne toast at all. A lot of people are upset, especially our parents because it's traditional, but unless they pay for it, everyone is toasting with whatever drink they have - water, wine, a shot of whiskey...whatever their drink of choice is.

Don't isolate any guests from the rest. Everyone should be treated equally.