Open bar - Wedding Party Only?

You definitely need to treat everyone equally. No special treatment for wedding party. It is fine to offer a limited bar of just beer and wine. No cash bar.

Please don't do this.

I still can't wrap my head around having to pay for drinks at a wedding. Host everyone equally and host properly which means you don't ever charge guests for anything. BTW I drink wine or vodka at weddings, not beer although my DH fits your stereotype.

I'm going to just echo everyone's sentiment. If you can't afford an open bar for everyone, then just have beer and wine for everyone. If you think mostly people will be having beer anyway because "it's Wisconsin" but you still want liquor there then you can scale back the amount of liquor choices or do a consumption bar, or only allow liquor for certain parts of the night and then only beer and wine during dinner or whatnot but a cash bar for anyone, especially if some people get an open bar while others don't, is so rude.

I didn't realize being from Wisconsin gave free reign to be rude to guests. You learn something new every day!

This is all kinds of rude. If you are going to offer an open bar, offer it to ALL your guest and not just some of them.

Just offer beer wine and soda and don't do the liquor. But to say some have to pay and others not is so rude. If word got out you did this you would piss off a lot of people cause you are stating your wedding party means more to you than everyone else there.

If you are going to do this, it has to be prior to the ceremony before guests arrive, if you are getting ready at the venue; which is what we did. Otherwise, it is very rude. Either have a full open bar for everyone, or do beer and wine only for everyone. Cash bars are unacceptable.

NO NO NO!!!! You cannot tier your reception by offering certain perks so some people. I would also advise against a cash bar.

Oh no please don't do that I don't think that would be a good idea.

Don't.

Didn't read all the comments, just here to say I went to one wedding ever as a guest that was alcohol-tiered like this. Worse than a cash bar, worse than a dry wedding, is anything akin to this kind of cluster. Confusing, awkward for guests and bartender alike. And comes off as so incredibly rude....My friends and I still talk about that wedding, and not in a good way.

When we went to the bar and tried to order a drink and were told no, it's only for the wedding party, we actually left and went to find somewhere that would serve us equal to the next person in line.

It should be the same across the board!

Smh

OP - I seriously hope you rethink this. It's a bad idea for all the reasons previously mentioned. Best solution if cost is an issue is open bar for all w/beer and wine

No way.

Why would you even think to do this?

Absolutely not!! If it can't be open bar for everyone, forget the whole idea and beer and wine for everyone!

One of those moments in these forums when you read the subject line, and then read the post, and see the number of responses... and already know all of the responses.

please do not do this

Noooooo please don't do this!!! All guests need to be treated equally. If you can't afford to host an open bar for all your guests, then skip it.