Outside Alcohol at Venue

Maybe it’s just me, but I would never even think of bringing my own booze to a wedding.

It doesn’t sound tacky, and although I wouldn’t bring outside alcohol to a wedding, I have seen people do it. Especially minors. I say word it however you want, $500 is $500 and I wouldn’t want to lose it. But I also think, people tend to do what they want.

View Quoted Comment I agree, I wouldn’t either but, a lot of guests know we are Fireball drinkers and we drink shooters so I want to make sure people aren’t bringing anything in

View Quoted Comment Thank you!

I think it would be fine to make a note on the back of the invitation, especially since that’s a lot to pay for a violation! I would also try to spread the word by mouth as much as you can

I don't really see people bringing outside alcohol to a wedding, but you can add that note to your details card if you are doing one.

Ugh, I don't know what to say. Hardcore drinkers and/or underage drinkers may not want to pay open bar prices. I think you should always say when a cash bar is there, but you do you run a risk of more people bringing their own. I can understand why the venue wants to be reimbursed if they miss out on $$$$s.

If Fireball is the only thing you’re worried about people sneaking in, can you just add it to your bar menu? You know your crowd, but is making a statement about it going to offend your guests or tempt them to do exactly what you don’t want them to do? Are your guests spending the night on property? This seems like a petty, though not uncommon, approach by the venue. I’d probably just budget to have to pay the fine (since you can’t control other people) and maybe you’ll be pleasantly surprised to not to need to pay it post-wedding. I’ve been to a wedding where a similar fine was circulated by word of mouth but the venue so poorly stocked and serviced the bar that guests unfortunately disregarded the rule.

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Many, many venues will not allow shooters. Too much liability issues.

What type of venue is this? I’ve never heard of anyone (or even thought of) bringing their own alcohol to a wedding, unless it was like a backyard wedding. If it’s an established wedding venue I can’t imagine people would bring it. I feel like that is kind of common knowledge

By liquor license regulations and law, 90-100% of places with liquor licenses may not allow liquor to be brought in by patrons or guest. It varies by area and state. But since it is overwhelmingly not allowed by law, assume your guests will not bring liquor without checking with you. It will offend most polite or law abiding guests to see you warning people to do what they should know to do already. Kind of like posting in the hallway outside the bathroom , do not leave the toilet area without thoroughly wiping yourself: what you are saying may be good advise, but people get their backs up when told something they think anyone but a child would do without being told. . . . There are people who will brink flasks of liquor to some weddings and social events. But most of these people k ow it is not allowed, do not care, and would do it anyways. . . As for the venue fining you the amount of your security deposit, in any place I have heard of that would get thrown out as not legal. They can only penalize you if encourage people to do it, and they can prove it. You are renting the space, inviting guests. But you are not responsible for individual guest's misbehavior, whether it is lifting up skirts, pouring ice water down people's necks, illegally smoking, or bringing in and serving yourself liquor in a licensed place. The person who did it is the only one who could be prosecuted and fined, or just thrown out. They can only fine you if you do it, or actively encourage it. So as a matter of manners, do not write it anywhere. Just assume that your guests will not do it, unless they talk about it. Then tell only those people, do not do it, or do not come. . . What would invitations and wedding websites look like if everyone was warned against everything they know they should not do. For John and Jane's wedding, please do not spit on the floor or at anyone, shoot up heroin, snort cocaine, take off all your clothes in a public area, bring people who are not invited with you, have tantrums if you don't get what you want immediately.. .. .. The list would be endless. General social manners say you only warn people about exceptional things they could not be aware of or safety issues particular to your situation. But do not list as prohibited all the many things prohibited by law, or usual behavior. It is good social manners to assume your guests are reasonably able to do what is generally required in public situations, without being told no-no's by the hosts. Don't bring liquor where usually not allowed by law, is an unnecessary thing to say.

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Everyone here seems to think its unheard of? I feel like the majority of the weddings I went to had open bottles out for anyone to grab and they were* in fact, high end weddings with insane venues? why is my venue and most others not cool with it ? feeling some major pressure from most of my drinking family members to have bottles available on top of our bar service.

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Hi there! It's a liability issue for the most part. How will consumption be monitored if people are just drinking their own liquor? In any case, it's best to host whatever alcohol you can afford without having a cash portion for the bar. Guests shouldn't have to pay for anything at your wedding. If family is giving your pressure to host more than you can afford,, they're the ones being rude.