Open bar

Is it in your budget to keep paying for drinks? As a guest I hate when an open bar turns to cash and it’s very confusing. Also I normally see people load up on drinks and get really drunk really fast when they know the free drinks are going to run out.

I would personally up the limit if you have room in your budget, I mean I feel like people should be grateful but I feel it would be weird to all of a sudden they go get something to drink and they have to pay after not paying before.

Loaded question! People get really rude about this so don't panic if that happens.
Overall I believe in having the wedding you can afford, if it's $500 for free drinks then okay. Overall in some areas cash bar is seen as rude and some it's normal to do cash bar the whole event. You should see if you can ask around about what other people did to gauge what's common in your region.

I would raise the limit. Depending on your guest count, $500 is very low for an open bar. I personally don’t think that guests should be responsible for paying for anything at your wedding. I also think it’s confusing to switch from open to cash bar in the middle of an event.

Personally I don’t think guests should have to pay for any part of your wedding including drinks. Now if you’re working on a small budget and that is reflected else where I think it’s fine. But if you have a ton of flowers , huge center pieces, 200+ guest count, and a super expensive dress but a cash bar I think it can look gift grabby. The reception is to thank your guests as well as celebrating marriage and if you’re going all out in areas for you but not fully hosting the guests it’s generally not taken well

View Quoted Comment I agree that $500 doesn’t sound like it’ll be enough at all— do you know what the average cost of drinks at your venue is? For many, considering the cost per beverage and the number of guests, it would be possible that amount wouldn’t cover a drink for everyone , which I think would create a really big issue. (Think: two guests hanging out, one was first in line and the bar and is a fast drinker and is already on his second , the other is ready for their first drink, goes up to the bar, and is asked for $7....that gets awkward!). So, I’d definitely up your starting spend to make sure you can cover everyone.

Tbh I don’t think the event that switches to a cash bar at a certain point towards the end is the *worst* but I think if you go that route an established end point is best . Ex: cover drinks through cake cutting, and have it announced. Announcing is always a better route so no one is “surprised” at the bar, that’s when people get off put. A fine line as the end point is ideal so you’re not hitting your number in the middle of dinner, when someone is just looking for a glass of wine to wash their food down, and the person in front of them gets a free drink and suddenly they have to pay!

I'd raise it but if it's not in your budget then tell the venue or something to only do the cheaper options which usually is just wine and beer that way $500 could at least stretch more

If you can raise the limit we are doing 200 for just the the rehearsal dinner. If not it is fine.

Id say leave it as is you are totally fine. People tend to get rude on open bar/cash bar questions. Ive been to weddings with totally open bar, been to ones that only supplied soda, and ive been ones that were cash bar. Its a wedding, an event that guests have been invited to. Im personally not offended when i have to pay for drinks at a wedding, i get weirded out when brides say that guests shouldnt have to pay for anything at a wedding. Like what? Were paying hundreds of dollars for them to eat...they can pay for something...personally for our wedding we are doing a certain amount of wine and beer and when our amount is gone, then its a total cash bar. Oh well. Our venue didnt even offer us an open bar option. My fh and I dont even drink so dont care about it. It is what it is. We are putting that money we are saving towards other aspects and costs of the wedding

I personally think it’s rude to have people pay for their drinks at a wedding.

I would start the tab higher in the first place even if you switch to cash. $800 at least.
If you are having a cocktail hour, skip the alcohol then. Serve non alcoholic beverages and appetizers. Call it refreshments and appetizers hour. Then announce the bar opening 20 minutes before dinner.

Honestly do you girl! Do what fits in your budget. If your guests are upset that the bar has reverted to cash bar, that say more about them than you. Having an open bar is not a necessity. Because at the end of the day it's coming out of your pockets and not theirs.
I think its rude when guests feel entitled to unlimited alcoholic drinks. Celebrating your union doesn't equate to drinking and if it does, soda, juice, or water can and will quench that thirst. 🙄🙄
Also, if you decide to have the bar revert to a cash bar, just have the host, DJ, or whomever make the announcement and that should clear most of the confusion.

View Quoted Comment I like all these suggestions, but what about also seeing if you can limit your bar to beer and wine only? That may make the 500 you're committed to go a little further. Personally, I'm weird and I just like it one way or another. Either cash bar all night or open all night. I think people may be confused if it switches half way through. If you are going to do all or any portion of it as a cash bar, be sure to tell your guests ahead of time so they can come prepared.

Do what works for your budget! I don't believe at all that guests should get free drinks all night.

We are supplying our own achohol so once we're out we're out.

I think you should do WHATEVERRR you want! I don’t get why people get so upset over there not being an open bar. 🙄 I’ve been to weddings that had a cash bar and I didn’t even think twice. Why would I expect to drink on their dime? Whatever works for your budget is what you should do. The real people who love and care for you will just be happy to be there and celebrate with you two. I agree with Yosa about making an announcement of some sort when reverting to cash bar just so there won’t be any confusion.

Do whatever you need to, but $500 is just the minimum. If you are only comfortable paying the minimum that is fine then the guests pay. I would let your guests know though rather than it being a surprise. I don't bring enough cash to a wedding unless I am told. But I would need to consider the amount of guests to make a decision if $500 was even scraping the surface as far as drinks go. If you have 200 guests $500 is gonna go nowhere I am afraid.

If you can afford it do open bar longer.

I would do beer and wine only to extend what the $500 will get you/the life of the bar. If you can afford to extend the bar budget, I would. It is never ideal to ask your guests to pay for anything at a wedding you have invited them to. But, if you can't afford to extend it, then there really is not another option.

View Quoted Comment

Thank you for this, it really helped me decide on what to do.

I would raise the limit as long as it fits in your budget, I think it would be confusing for guests for it to change from open bar to cash during the reception.